Air resistance is a significant factor used by ski jumpers to increase their jump distance.
Ski jumpers crouch going down the ramp to reduce their X-section area and therefore their air resistence. Once they leave the ramp, ski jumpers try to increase their X-section area to increase their air resistence like Ski Divers to slow their vertical fall. But they have to land safely, so they keep their skis at a minimum angle.
Austrian Stefan Kraft in the Men’s Olympic Ski Jump at Milano Cortina 2026
Abby Hughes, USA, practicing in a wind tunnel.
Abby Hughes, USA, in the air
Here are the X-section areas for Abby Hughes:
Mathspig calculated the X-section area by the old-fashioned method of counting squares and rounding off the final count. Mathspig sized the two pics of Abby Hughes so that her head was the same size in both pictures.
Here is the formula for Air Resistance of Drag:
D = ½CApv2
Where C is the drag coefficient or constant, which depends on the shape and spin of an object. It is found by testing the object in a wind tunnel.
A is the X-section Area,
p is the density of the air and
v the velocity of the object.
More here.
As Abby Hughes has tripled her X-section area in the air, she will have tripled the vertical drag during her jump. This will slow her descent.
Gold in the Men’s Ski Jump at the 2026 Winter Olympics goes to:
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