Ski jumping has been around since the early 1800s. Ski
jumping combines aerodynamics and a pair of brass ones. Ski jumping
is usually performed during the winter, but recent technology allows us to
do it on plastic during the summer. Ski Jumping is a pretty
simple sport; go off a ramp and try to glide in the air above the hill for a
distance. The distances are created into a point score and the person with
the most points at the end of the competition win.
A ski jump starts at what is called the in-run. You slide
onto a start bar at the top of the ramp with your skis in the
"grooves". The groves are exactly what they
sound like. The groves create a track for your skis to
insure that you are going in the right direction (as you have no
poles for balance or maneuvering) as well as creating an even
playing field. Your jump will start at the top of the ramp to maximize
your gravitational potential energy. Push off the start pole with your arms
and get in a tuck position to ensure that you reach maximum speed by
making sure that you are as aerodynamic as possible. Keep your skis in the
center of the grooves to avoid any unwanted friction on the sides of the
grooves. This friction is unwanted because it will slow you down and make your
jump shorter.
As you reach the bottom of the ramp, explosively extend your
legs and jump up and out. Your speed, and power will determine how far you
jump. While you're in the air, you should adopt a spread eagle-esk stance
with your legs outward, but with your arms at your side for balance.
This will prolong your flight and ensure that you get your maximum
potential jump.
When you start your land, bring your skis out of the
split-position and put them underneath your body and over your legs. Bend your
knees and lean back when bracing for impact. You will be
going very fast, so after recovery you should slow down
quickly. You've now just done a ski jump. Hopefully you went 250 meters.
Remember: The ski jump is potentially one of the most
harmful sports around if you are not a properly trained veteran. While you’re
up in the air for that long, wind is a huge factor that must be considered. Be
careful and get a proper coach before trying any of this stuff.
