Ski jumpers reach impressive speeds, typically between 80-100 km/h (50-62 mph) at takeoff, depending on the hill size and conditions. These velocities allow them to soar impressive distances while maintaining aerodynamic form.

Speeds by Hill Type

Ski jumping hills vary, influencing top speeds during the in-run and takeoff.

  • Normal hills (up to 100m jumps): Around 80-90 km/h (50-56 mph) at takeoff, as athletes accelerate down a 35-degree gradient in a tucked position.
  • Large hills (up to 140m): Similar 90 km/h peaks, with finely tuned ski prep and body weight optimizing acceleration.
  • Flying hills (extreme distances): Up to 102 km/h on the in-run, hitting max speed at the "table" before launch.
  • Record attempts (like 2024 Iceland jumps): Even higher in custom setups, though official comps cap around 100 km/h for safety.

In flight, they briefly decelerate during position shifts but regain speed, often landing near 100 km/h.

How They Build Speed

Athletes hurtle down ice-channeled ramps, leaning forward with arms back and knees bent for minimal drag. Balance is key—any wobble costs km/h. Fun fact: From the gate, that 35-degree slope feels like 60 degrees, ramping heart rates sky-high!

"Athletes accelerate to a speed of around 90km/h on normal and large hills. Around 102km/h on flying hills."

Recent Trends & Records

As of February 2026, speeds haven't drastically shifted post-2022 Olympics, but tech tweaks (wider skis, V-style aero) keep pushing limits. Trending chatter on forums notes how wind and timing can swing speeds by 5-10 km/h—watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Doodles hype for visuals! Ryoyu Kobayashi's record-breaking Iceland leap highlighted perfect conditions for ultra-high velocities.

Hill Type| In-Run Speed| Takeoff Speed| Landing Speed| Example Distance
---|---|---|---|---
Normal| ~85 km/h| 80-90 km/h| ~85 km/h| 90m 13
Large| ~95 km/h| 90 km/h| ~95-100 km/h| 120-140m 17
Flying| 100+ km/h| 102 km/h| 100 km/h| 200m+ 3

TL;DR: Ski jumpers hit 80-102 km/h at takeoff, flying like human missiles—pure adrenaline engineering.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.