How Ski Jumping Works

Wondering "how ski jumping works?"  Look no further. To the casual observer, ski jumping may look like nothing more than a person skiing down a long ramp, and launching himself, skis and all, into the air, where he flies along as speeds sometimes reaching as much as 59 miles per hour. It is much more than that, though, as ski jumping requires the participant to assume the V-style position that is needed to make his jump as aerodynamically perfect as possible, after he has become airborne.

Ski jumping requires specific equipment, also. Participants wear a special kind of garment called a jumping suit. This suit has to keep them warm while they are flying through the air but not weigh them down. Ski boots are also needed for ski jumping. The boots must be designed to keep the skis on the boots both during the initial downhill approach and the jump itself. Professional ski jumpers do not just hurtle themselves off of any surface; rather, they use ramps and launch areas specifically designed for ski jumping. For this and other reasons, no one should attempt to try ski jumping without proper training, the right equipment, and the right venue for such a sport.

References:

http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-ski-jumping/additional-information/about-the-sport_146098ob.html

http://www.pocanticohills.org/olympics/skijumping.htm "