Techniques Used by Olympic Ski Jumpers in the Transition from Takeoff to Early Flight

Abstract

This study was concerned with identifying important flight characteristics of the ski jump at the end of the early flight phase and describing how these characteristics developed from the run-in through the takeoff and during the early flight phase. The K90 individual competition of the 1994 Olympic Winter Games was analyzed. The 2-D data (takeoff) were collected by a high-speed video camera, and the 3-D analysis (early flight) used an algorithm whereby two cameras followed the jumpers through the early flight phase. Center of mass (CM) velocities at takeoff and after early flight and CM heights at these positions had no significant linear correlations with total distance. Only small differences in these parameters were distinguished between better and poorer performers. Significant differences between jumpers were identified in angular parameters at takeoff and in early flight. A combination of five defined flight angles yielded an R2 value of .84. It was found that the complex movement sequences involved in ski jumping were therefore more important in their contributions to optimal flight position than the ballistic properties of the ski jumper reduced to a single point model.

Analysis of the beginning of the early flight phase of the ski jump in athletes with different performance levels

“…This group also exhibited higher explosiveness in the knee joint, supported by the higher knee extension angular velocity 5 m behind the edge of the hill, which is comparable to the fi ndings of Arndt et al (1995), who reported similar results as measured at the jumping hill edge. Janura et al (1999), in contrast, conducted a study with the Czech Republicʼs teams to compare competitors in diff erent age categories and found that the SJ group had a large ankle angle to the horizontal along with a small knee extension of the angular velocity at the jumping hill edge.…”

“…Thus, it is necessary to consider these diff erences in the comparison of the ski jump execution of the competitors at diff erent performance levels (Arndt, Brügemann, Virmavirta, & Komi, 1995;Schmölzer & Müller, 2005).…”

Kinematic Analysis of the Take-Off and Start of the Early Flight Phase on a Large Hill (HS-134 m) during the 2009 Nordic World Ski Championships

“…Lillehammer Winter Games indicated that less than 15% of the variance in total performance (distance jumped) could be explained by centre of mass (CoM) parameters at take-off (Arndt et al, 1995). Observation of ski jump competitors is used to determine parameters that influence the length of the jump.…”

The Factor Structure of Chosen Kinematic Characteristics of Take-Off in Ski Jumping

“…Based on these findings, it can be suggested that the realization of take-off is probably very individual and that subjects perform the take-off using different combinations of take-off factors (Arndt Bruggemann, Virmavirta & Komi, 1995). Using statistical methods require a large number of take-offs by a large number of individuals under the same jumping conditions.…”