Why is it important that the ski jumps are measured? Why is a stiffened seam prohibited? And how could the measurement be improved? We explain a few important backgrounds to the ski jumping scandal that overshadowed the World Cup in Trondheim.
Again and again ski jumper or ski jumpers are disqualified due to non -compliant suits in competitions. A real scandal turned into the 2022 Mixed Mixed competition-five athletes did not exist, which led to partially bitter discussions about the quality of the suit test. Last weekend another scandal around suits shook the world ski jumping world. A scandal that sports show expert Sven Hannawald says: “In my worst nightmare I would not have thought that it would come.”
Aalbu: “We cheated”
A video appeared from the Norwegian team hotel in which suits were sewn. Norway’s head coach Magnus Brevig was present when additional seams were inserted into suits. That is forbidden. When the allegations could no longer be denied, Norway’s sports director Jan Erik Aalbu confessed on Sunday (09.03.2025) that two suits were knowingly manipulated: “We cheated”said Aalbu.
Stability and width – that’s why the additional seam is prohibited
In the suits of Johan André Forfang and Marius Lindvik, seams from the knee to the crotch are said to have been additionally reinforced. What does this manipulation bring? Austria’s head coach Andreas Widhölzl explained im ORF: “The seam means that the suit becomes stiffer. This is clever, but not in the regulations.” The forbidden reinforced, stiffened or additional seam that was sewn into the suits means that the jumper has more stability in flight. More stability means less movement of the ski jumper, less movement means calmer flying. Quiet flying can lead to a larger width because the jumper has to make less braking -ending compensation movements.
A change that for Poland’s head coach Thomas Thurnbichler has an effect “like doping”.
Step length, tightening density, scope
The reinforced seam is not the only way to get advantages through a changed suit. The World Association FIS has been trying to create equality among the ski jumpers for years through changes in regulations. From stride length to suit density to attached electronic chips, it is to ensure that the athletes win because of their ski jumper and not because of their suits.
The suit must consist of an air -permeable fabric, the suits may only be four millimeters and a maximum of six millimeters thick. In addition, the suit must not have more than four centimeters to the body so that the suit does not inflate like a balloon. However, the suit must have at least two centimeters, so it must not be too tight. In the crotch, the suit can stand out for a maximum of three centimeters.
Chips for checking
In order to ensure all of this, the suits are checked before the jump from a suit team of the FIS. So that the jumper does not change the right fit, the tightening legs can no longer be pulled towards the knee on the ski jump, which used to be a popular technology to increase the area in the crotch. With seven electronic chips (in women five) the fit is fixed, the jumper is tested before and after the jump with a scanner.
A change of suit between the first and second jump is not allowed. The jumpers can only have eight jumps over the entire season, and two additional suits were allowed for the World Cup.
Hannawald: “Give control to the machine”
For a long time, the measurement was carried out completely manually and according to the inspection of the inspectors. With the introduction of the chips, this process is now partially done electronically. Sportschau expert Sven Hannawald demands that the test will be handled even further technically: “Perhaps the monitoring of the suits must be handed over to a machine. As the scanner exists, there is also the possibility to have it checked by a computer program”according to Hannawald.
After all, the computer would not put an eye on as many controllers may do: “The computer doesn’t care about half a millimeter, then there is red. And then the jumpers come with three millimeters of air”said Hannawald in the sports show.
“Springer win now …”
Hannawald also suspects that not only the Norwegians manipulate: “Techniques are now being jumped that you could not jump two months ago. You would have driven every ski jump from 60 meters”the 50-year-old suspects that only the tip of the iceberg was uncovered at the World Cup in Trondheim. “Now Springer, who partly had to do at the beginning of the season, win in the second round.”
The RAW-Air tour also begins in Norway on Wednesday (March 12th, 2025). Ski jumping is currently shaking the hardest scandal for years. And a sequel is to be feared this week.