Ski jumping might look simple enough: A skier heads down a hill and then jumps as far as possible. However, organizers carefully design the hill and landing area to meet international standards, while the skiers must follow the scoring regulations to receive a top score. These rules protect the skiers from injury and make the sport about more than who can jump the farthest.
Equipment
You must wear equipment approved by the International Ski Federation to participate in any sanctioned event. You must bring your own equipment to the event and ensure that it meets all of the necessary standards. If using a new technology available for ski jumpers, ensure that the governing body has approved this technology for use in competition. Your equipment cannot include anything that artificially aids your performance or creates a health risk for you during the event. According to the official website of the Olympic Movement, as of 2009, 57 percent of your ski length must come at the front end and the suit you use must be made entirely from the same material.
Hill
Hills come in various sizes, depending on the type of event. Small hills come with a length up to 49 m, medium hills between 50 m and 84 m and normal hills between 85 m and 109 m. Large hills come 110 m and longer, while flying hills come over 185 m. Organizers must ensure that these hills have an incline that provides enough speed to reach maximum distance. The landing area must not have any obstructions and include enough snow for a safe landing.
Flight Rules
Judges give skiers a score based on several factors on the approach and while in the air. The skier must make an aggressive move at takeoff and then move into an aerodynamic position that maximizes flight. Judges look for you to have your legs completely stretched out in a stable body position. Your body and skis must take a symmetrical position throughout your flight. Judges deduct points from your score for not following these rules.
Landing
On the landing, the judges want to see you split your legs, bend your knees and come to a smooth landing with your skis parallel to the ground. They also factor your distance into the score because every jump features a designated landing area. If you come up short of the landing area, you receive a deduction of points for every meter. If you pass the landing area with your jump, you gain points for every meter. Judges then add your scores together to come up with a final tally.
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