Wind and Gate Compensation in Ski Jumping

Ski Jumping Wind and Gate Compensation: Leveling the Playing Field Against Nature

Wind is the single most uncontrollable variable in ski jumping. A gust of headwind can extend a jump by 10+ meters; a tailwind can shorten it by the same amount. Gate changes — lowering or raising the starting point — directly affect in-run speed and therefore distance. FIS’s compensation system attempts to neutralize these factors, ensuring medals are won by skill rather than luck.

Wind Compensation

How wind affects jumping:

• Headwind: acts as lift under the jumper’s body and skis during flight, increasing distance.
• Tailwind: pushes the jumper downward, decreasing distance.
• Crosswind: can destabilize the jumper and reduce distance unpredictably.

How compensation is calculated: FIS uses a linear model specific to each hill’s profile. The model correlates wind speed (measured in meters per second at multiple points along the hill) with expected distance change. The formula produces compensation points:

• Headwind → negative compensation (points deducted, because the wind helped).
• Tailwind → positive compensation (points added, because the wind hurt).

The exact values depend on the hill’s size and geometry. On a large hill, a 1 m/s headwind might generate a deduction of 7–10 points; a 1 m/s tailwind might add a similar amount.

Wind measurement: anemometers (wind sensors) are positioned at several heights along the hill. Wind speed is averaged over the duration of the jump (from takeoff to landing). The data feeds directly into the scoring system.

Gate Compensation

Why gates are changed: The starting gate (the point on the in-run where the jumper begins) determines the jumper’s speed at takeoff. Higher gates produce more speed and longer jumps. The jury can lower the gate if wind conditions make jumps dangerously long, or raise it if tailwind makes distances too short.

Gate changes can happen between rounds or even between individual jumpers within a round.

How compensation works:

• Lower gate (shorter in-run, less speed): the jumper receives bonus points to compensate for the reduced distance potential.
• Higher gate (longer in-run, more speed): points are subtracted.

The compensation per gate step is published for each hill and is calculated using the hill’s profile and the expected distance change per unit of in-run speed change.

Combined Effect

A jumper’s total score includes both wind and gate compensation:

Total = Distance + Style + Wind Comp + Gate Comp

In practice, wind and gate compensation can swing a jump’s score by 10–20 points — equivalent to 5–10 meters of distance. This is significant: it can easily be the difference between first and tenth place.

Controversy and Limitations

The compensation system, while a major improvement over no adjustment, isn’t perfect:

• Micro-gusts: wind changes faster than the averaging period can capture. A brief gust during the critical flight phase may not be fully reflected in the compensation.
• Vertical wind profiles: wind speed varies at different heights above the hill. The measurement points may not capture what the jumper experiences at their specific flight altitude.
• Gate changes mid-round: when the jury changes the gate between jumpers, athletes who’ve already jumped can’t benefit from the adjustment. The compensation points attempt to equalize, but athletes and coaches sometimes dispute the adequacy.

At Beijing 2022, several ski jumping events featured significant gate changes due to variable wind, and the compensation system was scrutinized when results didn’t match spectator expectations of distance performance.

The Mixed Team Controversy

The 2022 Beijing mixed team event was marred by disqualifications (for suit violations, not wind) and gate changes that dramatically affected the competition. While the wind compensation system functioned as designed, the cumulative effect of variable conditions, gate adjustments, and suit DQs created an event widely regarded as chaotic — reinforcing the difficulty of managing outdoor variables in a precision sport.