A new academic study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine focused on the FIS discipline of Women’s Ski Jumping. Former ski jumper Oleane Marthea Rebne Stenseth from Norway and three colleagues created the study.

The study was supported by the FIS Ski Jumping and Medical Committees as well as FIS Women’s Ski Jumping Race Director Chika Yoshida. In total, 83 active female ski jumpers were invited to take part in the study. Sixty-nine athletes consented to participate, and in-season injury data was gathered for 67 athletes (81%). 

The study, whose objective was to describe the incidence, type, aetiology and severity of injuries sustained by FIS World Cup level female ski jumpers, came to the conclusion that injuries among elite female ski jumpers that result in time loss from training and competition were sustained on the ski jumping hill and poor weather conditions may be a risk factor. The knee is the most common site of injury and ACL rupture is the most common injury.

Regarding the injury risk relative to jump distance, most injuries occurred during jumps that were shorter than the hill size. Jumping distances are reduced for women compared to men due to concern for increased injury risk, but the present study suggests longer jumps and larger hill size may not be associated with more injuries.

This is the first study to describe the epidemiology of Women’s Ski Jumping injuries and it will be important to continue high-quality injury surveillance for several seasons.

The full study can be accessed here.