Ski jumping facts for kids
Peter Prevc in Titisee-Neustadt, March 2016
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| Highest governing body | International Ski Federation (FIS) |
|---|---|
| First played | 22 November 1808 Olaf Rye, Eidsberg church, Eidsberg, Norway |
| Characteristics | |
| Team members | M Individual (50) L Individual (40) Team event (4) |
| Type | Nordic skiing |
| Equipment | Skis |
| Venue | Ski jumping hill |
| Presence | |
| Olympic | 1924 (men) 2014 (women) |
| World Championships | 1925 (men's nordic) 1972 (ski flying) 2009 (women's nordic) |
Ski jumping is an exciting winter sport where athletes try to jump as far as possible on their skis. They slide down a special ramp and then launch into the air. The goal is to make the longest jump, but how well they jump (their style) also affects their score.
This sport first started in Norway in the late 1800s. From there, it became popular across Europe and North America in the early 1900s. Ski jumping is part of a group of sports called Nordic skiing, which also includes cross-country skiing.
Contents
How Ski Jumping Works
A ski jumping area, often called a hill, has three main parts. First, there's the in-run, which is the long ramp where jumpers pick up speed. Then comes the take-off table, a flat spot where they launch into the air. Finally, there's the landing hill, where they land.
Scoring Your Jump
Each jump gets a score based on two things: how far you jump and your style. The distance score is linked to a special line on the landing area called the K-point or construction point. This line is like a target for jumpers to reach.
Five judges watch each jump to score the style. Each judge can give up to 20 points. They look at how smooth the take-off is, how stable the flight is, and how well the jumper lands.
Jumping Styles Over Time
The way ski jumpers jump has changed a lot over the years. In the past, jumpers kept their skis parallel and their arms pointing forward. Today, most jumpers use the "V-style". In this style, the skis are spread out in a "V" shape. This helps jumpers fly farther and more stably.
Ski Jumping Competitions
Ski jumping has been a part of the Winter Olympics since the very first games in 1924. Women started competing in ski jumping in the 1990s. The first time women's ski jumping was an Olympic event was in 2014.
All the big ski jumping competitions are organized by the International Ski Federation (FIS).
World Records and Summer Jumps
Stefan Kraft holds the official record for the world's longest ski jump. He jumped an amazing 253.5 meters (about 831 feet) in 2017. This record was set on a special ski flying hill in Vikersund, Norway.
Ski jumping isn't just for winter! It can also be done in the summer. For summer jumps, the in-run tracks are made of porcelain, and the landing slope is covered with wet plastic. The biggest summer competition is the FIS Ski Jumping Grand Prix, which started in 1994.
Related pages
Images for kids
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The Salpausselkä ski jumping hill in Lahti, Finland
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Telemark landing
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Kongsberger technique
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A ski jumper after landing on a hill equipped for summer events
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Sara Takanashi is a very successful female ski jumper. She has won the World Cup title four times.
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The all-time longest jump was achieved in Vikersund in 2017.
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Sepp Bradl was the first ski jumper to jump over 100 meters in 1936.
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In 2003, Daniela Iraschko became the only female ski jumper to reach 200 meters.
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See also
In Spanish: Salto de esquí para niños
