Since this summer, the crotch length is checked right before the start. What's measured there, is the crotch length of the jumping suits. The crotch length is already measured for many years, but so far it was done as part of the general equipment control after the jump.

We explain why this is now done differently:

1.) What is measured and why?

The whole procedure is carried out for one reason only: the equality of opportunity. The only thing that's measured at the start is the crotch length of the jumping suit. All the other parameters are still measured at random after the jump.

Some basics as explanation: The parameters of every athlete are measured before the season (for example: height, arm length, leg length, crotch length, bodyweight, and so on).

According to this data the athlete is only allowed to use the corresponding equipment, like e.g. skis and suit.

In this special case it's only about one measurement: the crotch length. As stated in the rules, there can only be a difference of 3 cm between the suit and the body in the crotch. These values are checked at the start.

For example, if the crotch length of an athlete is 80 cm (this is the individual value measured before the season), then, when measured with the suit, the distance between the ground and the lower edge of the suit can only by 77 cm.

If it's less, then the allowed tolerance of 3 cm is exceeded -> the suit is too big. The athlete will have to go down the hill using the lift and not the inrun.

Why is this measurement important?

Every centimeter more suit (especially in the crotch) means more surface, comparable to the wing of an airplane.

The control point at the start now eliminates the possibility that an athlete pulls down the suit, or makes any other changes to a correct suit, in order to get a larger surface.

The suits are elastic and this kind of manipulation is possible. After the landing the suit can be brought back to the correct form with various body movements (like stretching, for example).

After the control at the start, it is not allowed to "manipulate" the suit through pulling it down or making any other changes.

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Here's what the coaches and Walter Hofer told Berkutschi:

Alexander Stoeckl (Head coach NOR):

"The advantage of the new control point is, that there will be less speculations about the fact that athletes manipulate the suit before they jump. This leads to more fairness, an increased equality of opportunities among the athletes and hopefully to more exciting competitions. The main difference between measuring it after or before the jump is that it's possible to make changes to the suit or that you can make modifications to the crotch length, which is relatively decisive in ski jumping, on the way to the control, if it is done in the outrun.

But if the measuring is done before the jump, then there won't be that much of a difference. This means that the athletes really jump with the crotch length that they are supposed to have. That's why I think it's a step towards fairness and not a big thing. It's difficult to say how big the difference is if you pull the suit down for one or two centimeters. This would have to be calculated aerodynamically. I think that it makes quite a big difference."

Lukasz Kruczek (Head coach POL):

"This is a right step. Now there won't be any discussions about whether the control is carried out in a good way or not. You have to learn to deal with it, it's a new situation for the athletes and the coaches. I think it should stay this way, we just have to make sure that it doesn't disturb the athletes in their preparation and that everything runs smoothly.

There were always discussions, that some athletes manipulate the suits. Not everyone can do that, you have to know how. If the suit has to be compliant to the rules during the jump and the control is made after the jump, then there's enough time to make changes to the suit after the jump. I think that with this control we now have the situation that the suit is okay for the jump. We hope that this control at the start eliminates the possibility to manipulate."

Walter Hofer (FIS Race Director):

"It was always important, because it's a decisive factor when it comes to the equipment. It is not possible to do the measuring right after the jump at every facility, sometimes it's necessary to walk a bit to the control. This is uncomfortable for the athlete with the full equipment and there was also always the possibility of a manipulation. That's why the coaches wanted to be a bit more on the safe side and suggested to carry out the control before the jump. This is basically not in our intention, because we don't want to stress the athletes with controls before the jump, but in summer we will now try that and so far we got positive feedback by the athletes and the coaches. We will now work on preparing this procedure for the winter."

Also Austrian head coach Heinz Kuttin has a positive opinion of the new system: "We are very satisfied with the new measuring method. For a long time the athletes wanted to have the suits measured the way they are used for the jump. So the speculations we always had over the last couple of years will be prevented."

Source: fis-ski.com