Japan's Noriaki Kasai soars over thousands of spectators during a trial round for the 62nd four-hills ski jumping tournament in Oberstdorf, southern Germany, on Sunday. The prestigious tournament starts in Oberstdorf and will end in Bischofshofen on Jan 6.
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nath
I've always wondered what the strategies are for this sport? What makes a good ski jumper?
sensei258
Actually, he's soaring in front of the spectators.
Mitch Cohen
There is a scoring system based on various factors, like jump height, landing, mid-air tricks, etc.
Can't believe it's nearly 4 years since the last winter olympics.. bring it on!
lucabrasi
@Mitch
Aren't you thinking of mogul? There are no mid-air tricks in jumping , but points are awarded for style, especially landing (one foot should be in front of the other).
Distance is important: you lose points if you don't reach the marked K-line (like par in golf), and gain points for passing it.
Technique is about achieving maximum take-off speed by keeping your body shape as aerodynamic as possible on the slopes and then flying as steadily as possible. But I aspect that the main attribute required is 100 percent lack of fear of shattering your collar-bone or turning your skull into splinters ; )
Gobshite
Arrive at the end of the arena alive and in one piece?
nath
This is what I thought... Aerodynamics makes sense too. I was trying to envision what they do during practice...
lucabrasi
@menpsycho
They work on lower body strength; if you watch them, they crouch way down about twenty feet from the end of the slope and really spring off the end like a grasshopper. That takes big leg muscles.
They work on maintaining the most aerodynamic position on the slope. Some top jumpers use actual wind-tunnels and measure how the air flows around them scientifically.
They water-ski out of season when snow's hard to come by.
They keep their weight down. The lighter you are, the further you'll fly (But if you're too light you'll lose out by having to use shorter skis).
velocity boy
That's not soaring. That's falling, with style... lots of style.
bass4funk
Love watching it. These people have guts. They get soooo high in the air and hold themselves stiff as a rod! Geez!