Ski jumping has steadily gained popularity over the last few years, and the daring athletes who fly through the air for up to 250 metres thrill winter sports fans worldwide. Who would have thought that it is also possible to race down the jumps on skis in summer and fly through the air like a bird? Since 1994, numerous ski jumping competitions have even been held as part of the Ski Jumping Grand Prix in the summer. Of course, the summer ski jumps are also used by professionals for training purposes. SnowTrex has compiled some information about ski jumping in the summer.
The ideal ski for summer
How do skis glide on the jump when there is no snow? This is made possible, among other things, by the special preparation of the skis. At first glance, summer and winter skis look very similar, but the decisive difference is the type of wax used on the skis. If the skis are used for summer ski jumping, a special wax is applied, which is not removed before the jumps. In classic ski jumping, the skis are also waxed, but most of the wax is removed so that only a very thin layer remains on the skis. This ensures that the skis are optimally prepared for the surface of summer and winter ski jumps.
The right ski jump for summer
Of course, in addition to the right skis, you also need the right surface so that everything runs smoothly when taking off and landing on the hill. There are so-called mat hills, which can be used in both summer and winter. The landing area of the hills, i.e. the area where the ski jumpers land, is covered with broom-like plastic mats – hence the name of these hills. The run-out, i.e. the area behind the landing where the athletes brake, is also covered with these mats. The surface is watered by lateral glands so that the skis glide well even without snow. Even in winter, the mats remain on the slopes and are covered with a net so that the snow has a good grip.
Of course, ski jumpers have to build up high speeds when taking off. This is made possible by special rails on the jump. The athletes’ skis run in ceramic rails. These are watered and, thanks to cooling units, some of the water freezes, allowing the skis to glide optimally on the film of water and the ice underneath. With this surface, the flyers accelerate from 0 to 90 km/h on some jumps, sometimes in less than 2 seconds.
Summer training on the mat ski jump
The summer season for ski jumpers is not only fun for the jumpers and spectators, but also serves as a supplement to training. Thanks to the mat ski jumps, the professionals are not dependent on snow and can optimise their technique even at higher temperatures. Incidentally, there are also several mat ski jumps in Germany. These can be found in Bad Griesbach, Hinterzarten and Klingenthal, for example. It’s well worth a visit.
Summer Grand Prix
The Summer Grand Prix is the most famous ski jumping competition that takes place in summer. Over the years, the event has become increasingly popular with jumpers and spectators alike. The Summer Grand Prix, or Ski Jumping Grand Prix, takes place annually in the form of a series of ski jumping competitions at different locations. The usual rules of the Ski Jumping World Cup in winter apply and the scoring is based on the FIS points system. In addition to sporting entertainment, musical entertainment is also offered in some cases.
So, even in summer, you don’t have to miss out on ski jumping. And the advantage of summer ski jumping is that spectators don’t have to wrap up so warmly. Provided the summer weather is good, that is! Fans who are unfortunately unable to attend in person can watch the spectacle on television. Have fun and enjoy the show!
