Aerodynamic position, maximum speed around 100 km/h and taking to the skies in wide flight. The time stops. A leap of faith. Because if it is already a true heroism to jump into the void supported only on skis, can you imagine doing it in its maximum splendor? It is what represents Ski Flying, a modality that is integrated into the sport of ski jumping and which is also part of the World Cup.
But, what is the ‘Ski Flight’? In essence, the same as the traditional ski jump. As for results, something different and more spectacular: longer flight time, much longer jumps. The springboards, as dictated by the regulations of the International Ski Federation for official competitions since 1972, are 120 (Olympic Games) and 90 meters long, based on individual or team tests. In order for one of these structures to belong to the Ski Flying modality, its calculation point must exceed 185 meters. As a curiosity, this discipline can only be practiced on snow, so it is not held during the summer competitions that are on grass.
Sepp Bradl made history by becoming the first vaulter to break the 100 meter barrier
The origin of this cocktail of recklessness and spectacle dates back to 1934, the year the first K-90 trampoline was built of measurements above the average of that time in Planica, a Slovenian town that still occupies its place on the World Cup calendar. Two years after seeing the light, the Austrian Sepp Bradl made history by becoming the first vaulter to break the 100 meter barrier with a jump of 101.5. One small step for man, but one giant step for humanity…
Kraft’s imperial flight
After the Second World War, the rise of the modality began, so more Ski Flying springboards began to be built throughout Europe until reaching the ccurrent five that houses the Old Continent: Planica, Vikersund (Norway), Oberstdorf (Germany), Bad Mitterndorf (Austria) and harrachov (Czech Republic). The records followed one after the other until another important milestone came in 1994 with the imperial flight of the Finn Toni Nieminen, who was the first jumper capable of exceeding 200 meters. Also Planica was the scene: 203 meters.
And we come to the present times, where everything seems possible. Vikersund, with its imposing Vikersundbakken (name given to his trampoline), enters the scene. The Slovenian Peter Prevc left his mark among the pioneers of this sport by being the first mortal to reach 250 meters in 2015. The record did not last long, since two years later, the Austrian Stefan Kraft embraced the impossible in the Norwegian town: 253.5 meters.
253.5 meters: the current world record has been held by Stefan Kraft since 2017 in Vikersund (Norway)
A world record that stands since March 2017 and that in the coming days (March 17 to 19) it will be put to the test again on the occasion of the penultimate stop of the 2022/23 World Cup season. On paper, it will not be Kraft who starts with the favorite band (only two victories this year in the World Cup) over a Norwegian territory decorated to celebrate the possible victory of the great dominator of the course: Halvor Egner Granerud.
The man from Oslo leads the World Cup with authority over Dawid Kubacki -the only one capable of minimally keeping his pulse throughout the competition- and aspires to leave the Crystal Globe on track with the last two tests to go: Lahti (23 to 26 March) and the classic Ski Flying closure in Planica (March 30 to April 2). If he succeeded, Granerud would win his second championship title, after that of 2021. Will Kraft’s record fall? Place your bets.