Ski jumping explained: a short guide for English readers

Why does a shorter jump sometimes win?

A shorter jump wins when wind and gate points make up for the missing metres. The total combines distance points, style marks and, when the system is in use, wind and gate compensation (Source: FIS ICR ski jumping, art. 422.1, 430 and 433, edition June 2026: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/x/c67426c343/icr-ski-jumping-2024_e_clean.pdf). Official FIS results lists show which way the compensation works. At the World Cup in Lahti on 4 March 2018, an inrun 0.64 m shorter earned 4.8 extra points. A tailwind of −0.38 m/s earned 3.9 extra points there (Source: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/ddc821e898/2018jp3142rl.pdf). At the World Cup in Zakopane on 28 January 2018, a headwind of 1.54 m/s cost 16.6 points (Source: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/c59f2d7fa2/2018jp3078rl.pdf). So a jumper in tailwind or from a lower gate can score more with fewer metres. As of October 2026.

Wind and gate factors are calculated for each hill separately. The FIS construction norm (German edition, September 2018, section 5) defines the gate factor via an inrun 3 metres shorter in calm air. The gate factor is one third of the resulting distance difference. The wind factors come from the distance change at 3 m/s headwind (+3 m/s) and 3 m/s tailwind (−3 m/s). Both are multiplied by the hill's points per metre (Source: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/842346e3d4/bau-norm-2018-2.pdf). As of October 2026.

Here is a worked example with the values of the 2018 Olympic normal hill in Pyeongchang. That hill had a K-point of 98 m, a hill size of 109 m and 2.0 points per metre. Its wind factors were 8.00 (head) and 9.68 (tail) points per m/s. A 103 m jump with 0.8 m/s headwind scores 70.0 − 6.4 = 63.6 distance and wind points. A 100 m jump with 0.4 m/s tailwind scores 64.0 + 3.9 = 67.9. With equal style marks, the shorter jump wins by 4.3 points (own calculation). On that hill, a measured tailwind of −0.67 m/s earned 6.5 extra points (Source: official FIS results list: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/3b1049cd60/2018jp3095rlq.pdf). As of October 2026.

How are distance points calculated?

Distance points start from 60 at the K-point. Each metre beyond or short of it adds or subtracts the hill's metre value. The metre value depends on the K-point distance. Under ICR art. 433.2 (edition June 2026), it is 2.0 points per metre for K-points of 80 to 99 m. It is 1.8 for 100 to 134 m and 1.6 for 135 to 164 m (Source: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/x/c67426c343/icr-ski-jumping-2024_e_clean.pdf). In ski flying, the K-point is worth 120 points and each metre 1.2 points (Source: ICR art. 454.4.4, same source: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/x/c67426c343/icr-ski-jumping-2024_e_clean.pdf). As of October 2026.

Distance is measured to an accuracy of half a metre. It runs from the take-off edge to where both feet are in full contact with the landing slope. Technical measuring systems are allowed, with distance measurers on the slope as a back-up (Source: ICR art. 432, edition June 2026: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/x/c67426c343/icr-ski-jumping-2024_e_clean.pdf). As of October 2026.

How do the style judges score a jump?

Five judges score each jump, with up to 20 points each. The highest and lowest marks are discarded and the other three are added. The legend on official FIS results lists explains this (Source: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/3b1049cd60/2018jp3095rlq.pdf). Judges deduct up to 5.0 points for the flight, 5.0 for the landing and 7.0 for the outrun. Landing without a telemark costs at least 3.0 points. A fall before or on the fall line costs 7.0 points (Source: ICR art. 431.2, edition June 2026: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/x/c67426c343/icr-ski-jumping-2024_e_clean.pdf). As of October 2026.

A telemark landing means one foot set forward, the feet roughly a foot's length apart. Both legs are clearly bent to absorb the impact. This is the definition in the FIS Style Judging Guidelines (Source: version of 15 June 2024: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/x/727b866905/judgingguidelines-2024-09-26.pdf). As of October 2026.

What do K-point and hill size mean?

The hill size (HS) names the size of a ski jumping hill. It is the distance from the take-off edge to the end of the landing area, the L-point. The K-point is the construction point used for distance points. The ICR (edition June 2026, art. 411.1) classes normal hills from HS 85 to 109 m and large hills from 110 to 149 m. Ski flying hills start at HS 200 m (Source: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/x/c67426c343/icr-ski-jumping-2024_e_clean.pdf). In the FIS construction norm, landing at the K-point should still feel gentle. At the L-point, a limit is reached beyond which a safe landing is no longer assured (Source: section 6.3: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/842346e3d4/bau-norm-2018-2.pdf). As of October 2026.

How does a World Cup competition run?

A men's World Cup competition normally has official training, a qualification round and two scored rounds. The qualification cuts the field to 50 jumpers, or 40 in ski flying. Only the top 30 of the first round jump again, in reverse order of their scores. World Cup points run from 100 for a win to 1 for 30th place (Source: FIS World Cup rules, ski jumping men, edition 2026/2027, art. 3.1, 4.2.5 and 4.3.1: assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/x/2d9d6fc3b4/wcrglj-men-2024-e_markedup.pdf). As of October 2026.

The rest of this site is in German. The scoring article Wie Skisprung-Ergebnisse entstehen covers the same ground in more depth.