Flight style optimization in ski jumping on normal, large, and ski flying hills

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Aerodynamics
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Aerodynamic forces are critical for V-style ski jumping performance.
• Athletes must make rapid, complex adjustments to maximize jump length and flight stability.
• Optimization of flight parameters is essential for competitive success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize ski jumping aerodynamics using computational methods.
• To analyze the impact of different control strategies (angle of attack and body-ski angle) on jump performance.
• To investigate the influence of hill size on optimal aerodynamic strategies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized comprehensive wind tunnel data for optimization studies.
• Applied Pontryagin's minimum principle with angle of attack (α) and body-ski angle (β) as control variables.
• Simulated performance on Olympic hill profiles (HS 106m, HS 140m, HS 205m).

Main Results:

• Various combinations of α and β time courses can achieve similar jump lengths, enabling individualized competitive strategies.
• Optimal aerodynamic strategies differ based on hill size (HS).
• Minor equipment regulation changes had negligible impact on optimized flight, with higher in-run velocities compensating.

Conclusions:

• Individualized aerodynamic strategies are feasible and can lead to competitive success in ski jumping.
• Ski jumping aerodynamics must adapt to different hill sizes.
• Further research with in-situ athlete measurements is recommended for a deeper understanding of flight style optimization.