REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
- Ski jumpers hold their skies in a V shape to maximise air lift once they leave the take-off ramp.
- By remaining in the air for a longer period of time, skiers can improve their jump distances.
- Swedish jumper Jan Bokloev first introduced the V Style in 1985, but it wasn’t embraced by all Olympic medalists until 1992.
- The V style also helps slow the jumper down on landing because it producers more drag at the later phase of the jump.
In ski jumping, it’s all about how far you fly.
Skiers initially hold their bodies in a position that reduces air drag in order to gain as much speed as possible coming down the take-off ramp, or in-run. But once in the air, athletes change their posture and the position of their skis to maximize air lift, which increases the length of their jump.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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SEE ALSO: Why speed skaters swing their arms side-to-side
