Ski Jumping - 2010 Tickets

ABOUT THE SPORT

An incredibly technical and graceful discipline, in which competitors seem to defy gravity as they hang in the air over the hill. Amazing skill is required to fly 80 meters through the air and land perfectly with only your skis and arms to balance yourself.

Jumping competitions are decided by a combination of points for distance and style. Points for distance are determined by the length reached in relation to the jump’s critical (K) point. Five judges award each jumper up to 20 points for style. Each competitor jumps twice, with the gold medal going to the jumper with the greatest aggregate points.

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HISTORY OF SKI JUMPING

Norwegian nordic athlete Sondre Nordheim is credited with the first officially measured ski jump in 1860. The first ski jumping contest was held in Trysil, Norway, in 1862. Throughout the mid-1800’s, ski jumping was part of ski carnivals in Norway, but the sport gained added prestige when, in 1892, the Norwegian royal family decided to donate the “King’s Cup” trophy to the winner of the annual meet held in Holmenkollen.

The sport was brought to the United States by Norwegian emigrants, and the first ski jumping meet in the U.S took place Feb. 8, 1887. It was won by Norwegian emigrant Mikkel Hemmestvedt.