Equipment Outfitters

Pointing your skis downhill as fast as you can is something that millions of us do every year when taking in any one of several ski resorts or cross country touring centers around the globe. Each skier has sought out a bump or jump from time to time, and all can appreciate the rush that even a small launch into the air can provide. That thrill has driven skiers to seek jumps for as tong as there have been skis.

In the small town of Telemark, Norway; Sondre Norheim revolutionized skiing when he developed the loose heel binding system for nordic (cross country) skiers. The “telemark” turn and style of nordic skiing was born from the techniques Sondre developed, and soon accomplished nordic skiers began building small jumps to test their skills.

The first nordic skiing and jumping contests are believed to have been held in 1892.

The first dedicated jumping hill was built in Oslo in that same year. That location is still host to the annual Holmenkollen Ski Festival.

As Norwegians began emigrating to other countries, most notably the U.S. and Canada, they brought their nordic skills with them, and nordic skiing and jumping competitions gained a new base of enthusiasts. Ski Jumping was included in the first Winter Olympics. The “Nordic Combined” Olympic medals are awarded to athletes competing for best in the world honors for combined cross country racing and ski jumping ability to this day.

As ski jumping matured, many techniques were created in an effort to travel the maximum distance possible. A scoring system for jumps was created that considered not only distance but also style for each jumper. Over time, jumping styles included “windmilling” their arms while in flight, stretching their arms forward until landing, leaning over their skis in a jack-knife position, and finally the modern “V” style. Each style was considered state of the art for its time.

As ski jumping styles changed, so did the skis themselves, gradually becoming longer and wider. Modern jumping skis average 8ft 2in-8ft 10in (2.50-2.65m) in length and are roughly twice the width of traditional nordic skis. As the skis got longer and wider, they added lift to the skier, thus making for longer and longer jumps.

Finding the lift

Olympic Ski Jumping hills have traditionally measured 90 and 120 meters (300 and 395 feet). The rating is based on the distance from the jump to the “K-Point” on the hill. The K-Point is the point at which the hill begins its transition to a flat surface. To illustrate this measurement, a 90-meter jump has a K-Point that is 90 meters from the jump, a 120-meter jump has a K-Point that is 120 meters… and so on. As ski jumping equipment enabled jumpers to clear the K- Point by greater and greater distances, a new K-Point was needed.

The new K-Point was established at 140 meters (460 feet), and the sport of ski jumping became the sport of ski flying. The basic techniques are the same for ski flying as ski jumping. Today, the most frequently used technique is the “V” style in which the skier points their skis so that the tails are nearly touching, and the tips are wide apart, creating a V shape. With the “V” style, skiers are able to use the additional lift the position offers, and fly a trajectory that keeps them only 10 feet (3m) above the slope below them, versus older techniques that could have the skier hovering 20 or more feet above the slope.

Flying the jump

To jump, the skier starts down the hill to the jump site from a seated position high above the take off point. Skiers crouch down to optimize their aerodynamic form and minimize wind resistance. In this position, they accelerate to speeds exceeding 60 mph (96kph) before reaching their take off point. At the take-off point, the skiers lunge forward toward the tips of their skis, adding the final lift-generating form, their body. The take off point is not flat, but sloped downward at 11 degrees.

On landing, the skier uses a traditional telemark-style position, with one foot in front of the other. In that position, the front foot is flat with the knee bent, and the back heel is slightly elevated with the knee low and bent. This is the correct landing position for both ski jumping and ski flying.

Each jump is scored based on the style of the jump from take-off to the landing, and the distance traveled relative to the K-Point. Style points are awarded by a panel of five judges. Each can award up to 20 points for style. The highest and lowest scores are discarded, and the sum of the remaining scores is the skier’s style total. Therefore, the maximum style points available to a jumper is 60.

Distance points based on the K-Point are added or subtracted based on a predetermined scale and are given in meter and half-meter increments. Skiers reaching the K-Point are automatically awarded 60 points. Distances beyond or short of the K-Point add or subtract from the overall distance score. Distance points are added to style points, and a winner is chosen. The current distance world record is held by Norwegian Espen Bredsen, who flew 209 meters (686ft).

Galondee Jumping

One of the less structured extreme ski jumping styles is referred to as galondee. In galondee jumping, skiers jump for distance using traditional alpine skiing equipment. Alpine skis use a fixed heel and toe binding system with rigid boots. Alpine skiing is the style generally practiced at ski resorts using lift-served terrain.

Galondee jumps are not nearly as long distance as ski jumping or flying using nordic equipment, since the fixed heel limits the skier’s ability to generate lift. While galondee jumping can be done on ski jumping hills, it is often done in natural settings using steep hills with bumps and drop offs that are available. Galondee jumping competitions do exist, however, the spirit of most events is less structured than galondee jumping’s Olympic counterparts.

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