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Ski Jumping: Competition, K Line, Women Ski Jumping And Skiing Equipment
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Published: June 1, 2007
Ski jumping conjures the image of a colorfully clad, helmeted skier launching himself or herself off a massive ramp and soaring hundreds of meters to a roaring crowd below. For many mature persons, it also brings to mind the cart wheeling crash that for years represented the agony of defeat on ABC's "Wide World of Sports" show.
Ski jumping was born among Nordic soldiers in the 1500s who were taught to ski under a variety of conditions including jumping from an improvised ramp of sticks. Later, farmers took up the sport for fun and the first known ramp was built in Norway in 1800.
Ski jumping competitions first began in Trysil, Norway, in 1862, and first record jump listed was 23 meters in 1919. Ski jumping has the honor and distinction of being one of the two original Winter Olympics sports first held in 1924 in France. Ski jumping in parts of Europe is a popular spectator sport and stadiums are constructed to enable twenty thousand or more spectators to participate in events. One stadium in Predazzo, Italy, has six hills for jumping and five of them just for competition of varying lengths.
Ski jumping hills are measured using what is known as a calculation point or K point, which is the target jump distance for a ski jumper to reach. A line is drawn on the snow for this k point and this line is called the k line. Three different competition hills are used for the sport: Normal Hills with a k line distance of between 80 – 100 meters, Large Hills with k line distances of 120 – 130 meters and Ski Flying hills with a distance of 185 meters. The world record of 239 meters was set in 2005 by Bjorn Einar Romoren.
Women ski jumping is relatively new on the international scene. Women will be included in the 2009 Nordic Ski Championships for the first time, and The International Ski federation (FIS) has made a proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include women in the 2010 Winter Olympics. However, this proposal was denied because the IOC did not feel that women ski jumping was popular enough yet as a sport. Famous women ski jumpers include Anette Sagan from Norway, Eva Ganster and Daniela Iraschko from Austria, and Lindey Van from the USA.
Skiing equipment is very important to people who rely on it to land safely when ski jumping as far as 239 meters. Jump suits must also be attractive since ski jumps are not judged solely on distance, but also on style in the air and on a Telemark landing (one foot in front of the other). Jump suits are made of high tech materials designed to increase wind resistance, keep the body warm, and increase aerodynamic lift thereby stretching out the length of jumps. There are strict FIS rules about the air permeability of suits used in competitions, so no jumper can gain an unfair advantage.
Helmets are a ski jumping requirement as well as goggles, gloves, skis, and boots. Ski jumping skis are wide, long, and heavy with bindings like cross country skis that are not attached at the heel. Expect to pay approximately $1,200 for a full set of skiing equipment, and the market is predictably dominated by European companies.
Ski jumping appeals to our desire to overcome gravity and soar like a bird. It is a chest first courageous plunge down a steep ramp into frosty alpine air that is performed before thousands of fans holding their breath in awe. A longer, braver leap of faith has never been made without a parachute.
Sources:
New FIS-Regulations for Jump Suits. Meninger. 30 May 2007. http://www.meininger-jumpsuits.de/english/.
Ski Jumping-Equipment. ABC of Skiing. 2003-2007. MaxLifestyle.net. 30 May.
http://www.abc-of-skiing.com/ski-jumping/equipme nt.asp
“Ski Jumping.” Wikipedia. 24 May 2007. 30 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ski_jumping.
Ski Jumping Stadium. Valdifiemme2003.com. 2003. FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. 30 May 2007.http://www.valdifiemme2003.com/wm/y2003/2/2/2
Ski Jumping. Valdifiemme2003.com. 2003. FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.30 May 2007.
http://www.valdifiemme2003.com/wm/y2003/2/2
Related Articles
Ski jumping competitions first began in Trysil, Norway, in 1862, and first record jump listed was 23 meters in 1919. Ski jumping has the honor and distinction of being one of the two original Winter Olympics sports first held in 1924 in France. Ski jumping in parts of Europe is a popular spectator sport and stadiums are constructed to enable twenty thousand or more spectators to participate in events. One stadium in Predazzo, Italy, has six hills for jumping and five of them just for competition of varying lengths.
Ski jumping hills are measured using what is known as a calculation point or K point, which is the target jump distance for a ski jumper to reach. A line is drawn on the snow for this k point and this line is called the k line. Three different competition hills are used for the sport: Normal Hills with a k line distance of between 80 – 100 meters, Large Hills with k line distances of 120 – 130 meters and Ski Flying hills with a distance of 185 meters. The world record of 239 meters was set in 2005 by Bjorn Einar Romoren.
Women ski jumping is relatively new on the international scene. Women will be included in the 2009 Nordic Ski Championships for the first time, and The International Ski federation (FIS) has made a proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include women in the 2010 Winter Olympics. However, this proposal was denied because the IOC did not feel that women ski jumping was popular enough yet as a sport. Famous women ski jumpers include Anette Sagan from Norway, Eva Ganster and Daniela Iraschko from Austria, and Lindey Van from the USA.
Skiing equipment is very important to people who rely on it to land safely when ski jumping as far as 239 meters. Jump suits must also be attractive since ski jumps are not judged solely on distance, but also on style in the air and on a Telemark landing (one foot in front of the other). Jump suits are made of high tech materials designed to increase wind resistance, keep the body warm, and increase aerodynamic lift thereby stretching out the length of jumps. There are strict FIS rules about the air permeability of suits used in competitions, so no jumper can gain an unfair advantage.
Helmets are a ski jumping requirement as well as goggles, gloves, skis, and boots. Ski jumping skis are wide, long, and heavy with bindings like cross country skis that are not attached at the heel. Expect to pay approximately $1,200 for a full set of skiing equipment, and the market is predictably dominated by European companies.
Ski jumping appeals to our desire to overcome gravity and soar like a bird. It is a chest first courageous plunge down a steep ramp into frosty alpine air that is performed before thousands of fans holding their breath in awe. A longer, braver leap of faith has never been made without a parachute.
Sources:
New FIS-Regulations for Jump Suits. Meninger. 30 May 2007. http://www.meininger-jumpsuits.de/english/.
Ski Jumping-Equipment. ABC of Skiing. 2003-2007. MaxLifestyle.net. 30 May.
http://www.abc-of-skiing.com/ski-jumping/equipme nt.asp
“Ski Jumping.” Wikipedia. 24 May 2007. 30 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ski_jumping.
Ski Jumping Stadium. Valdifiemme2003.com. 2003. FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. 30 May 2007.http://www.valdifiemme2003.com/wm/y2003/2/2/2
Ski Jumping. Valdifiemme2003.com. 2003. FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.30 May 2007.
http://www.valdifiemme2003.com/wm/y2003/2/2
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