Imagine the thrill and precision needed as Olympic ski jumpers launch themselves down a 378-foot slope at over 60 miles per hour, aiming to soar almost 500 feet through the air. This incredible feat, often seen in events like the men’s super team competition in the Italian Alps, demands absolute mastery of physics and split-second adjustments.
Widely regarded as one of the most exhilarating yet demanding disciplines in the Winter Olympics, ski jumping requires an almost innate understanding of complex, rapidly changing physics. Success, or even just a safe landing, hinges on an athlete’s ability to perfectly leverage momentum from the ramp and maintain optimal aerodynamics on their colossal skis.
Christoph Leitner, an electrical engineering professor at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, describes a jump as an intensely complex sequence, unfolding within just 15 seconds. The critical moment, the actual leap, occurs in a mere 300-millisecond window. During this fleeting period, every aspect of the jumper’s positioning and center of mass must be perfectly stable to achieve peak performance and maximize jump distance.
Throughout history, athletes have explored diverse methods to hone their jumping prowess, from traditional video analysis to more controversial tactics. Recently, a scandal in Norway saw some athletes and coaches face penalties for illicitly modifying speedsuits to gain extra lift. Moreover, international anti-doping authorities are reportedly looking into claims that certain jumpers might have even used drugs to enhance physical attributes for increased surface area and lift.
But a new, ethical technological frontier is emerging. Dr. Leitner and his team are pioneering a wearable device designed to give ski jumpers an unprecedented edge. This innovative system includes experimental goggles that can pinpoint issues with an athlete’s stance and pressure application while they speed down the ramp, moments before takeoff.
Unveiled at an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers conference in 2023, this advanced system utilizes sensors embedded in ski boots. These sensors constantly monitor the athlete’s body position and the subtle nuances of pressure applied to their skis. This crucial data is then beamed directly to special goggles worn by the jumper, offering immediate, actionable feedback. Dr. Leitner envisions this technology becoming a standard training tool for future Winter Olympics, potentially as early as the 2030 Games in the French Alps.
These boot sensors are key, constantly measuring the skier’s posture and transmitting this vital information straight to their goggles.
Achieving the perfect jump means finding the sweet spot where the lift from the skis – acting like miniature airplane wings – is maximized, while air resistance is minimized. Skiers fine-tune their speed and trajectory by precisely adjusting pressure through their shins and heels inside their boots.
During the exhilarating descent down the ramp, jumpers wearing Dr. Leitner’s goggles receive subtle, real-time cues. Small red or green lights flash in their peripheral vision, signaling whether immediate body adjustments are needed. Simultaneously, the full data stream is transmitted to a coach’s laptop at the base of the hill, offering a comprehensive overview.
According to Dr. Leitner, the main engineering hurdle was distilling complex sensor data into practical, athlete-friendly feedback. The risk was overwhelming jumpers with too much information, potentially causing overthinking, performance drops, or even dangerous accidents. The solution? Discreet, peripheral lights that offer just enough guidance for essential in-air adjustments, as the researchers discovered.
“We’ve developed a sensor system capable of collecting, processing, and storing data, either in the cloud or delivered as direct feedback to the athlete,” Dr. Leitner explained. He also noted that much of the detailed analysis can occur post-jump, once the skier has safely landed.
Early tests with junior ski jumpers in Switzerland are already showing promising results, indicating a measurable improvement in performance thanks to this new device.
Matheo Käch, a coach and researcher with Swiss Ski and Dr. Leitner’s collaborator, confirmed that the goggles are invaluable for diagnosing critical stance and pressure issues during the ramp descent. This allows coaches to identify the root cause of an imperfect jump even before it’s fully executed.
Beyond stance, the boot sensors provide crucial data to both athlete and coach, revealing if the skier’s weight distribution is off—too far back or forward—and helping to fine-tune the critical ski-to-body angle, essential for maximizing aerodynamic lift.
Currently, the device is undergoing trials with Switzerland’s junior and ‘B’ national ski teams. Dr. Leitner noted that initial data strongly suggests improved performance. The researchers are optimistic about broadening its application to other winter disciplines, such as assisting a biathlon athlete in perfecting their shooting stance.
“Athletes perform countless jumps, developing an intimate sense of their technique,” Mr. Käch remarked. “However, these ‘feelings’ lacked objective measurement. This device bridges that gap, allowing coaches to truly understand and quantify what an athlete is experiencing during a jump.”