schansspringen

Schansspringen, commonly known as ski jumping in English, is a winter sport in which athletes descend a steep inrun to a take-off ramp, launch into the air from a jumping hill, and attempt to land on the slope below while traveling as far as possible and preserving technical style. Jumps are evaluated on distance and style, with distance points awarded according to the hill’s K-point and style points given by five judges. Modern technique typically features a wide V-shaped, aerodynamically optimized flight, with the landing performed in a telemark or a controlled parallel position.

Competitions are held on hills of different sizes. Normal hills have a smaller K-point, large hills are larger, and ski flying hills are designed for the longest distances. Each jump earns points for distance relative to the hill’s K-point and for execution judged by form, stability, and landing. The sport emphasizes precision in timing and take-off, balance in flight, and an accurate, safe landing.

Historically, schansspringen originated in Norway during the 19th century as improvised hill jumping and evolved into an organized sport with standardized hill measurements and scoring in the 20th century. It is governed internationally by the International Ski Federation (FIS) and features major competitions such as the FIS World Cup, World Championships, and the Winter Olympics. The Four Hills Tournament, held on four different hills in Germany and Austria, is one of its best-known annual events. Women’s ski jumping has grown in prominence and gained Olympic status in 2014, with its own World Cup and championships. Safety equipment, including helmets and regulated ski suits, is mandatory in competition.