The distance score is related to the construction point (also known as the K-point), which is a line drawn in the landing area and serves as a "target" for the competitors to reach.

[3] Ski jumping can also be performed in the summer on an in-run where the tracks are made from porcelain and the grass on the slope is covered with water-soaked plastic.

The recorded origins of the first ski jump trace back to 1808, when Olaf Rye reached 9.5 m (31 ft).

In the late 19th century, Sondre Norheim and Nordic skier Karl Hovelsen immigrated to the United States and started developing the sport in that country.

Revelstoke's was the biggest natural ski jump hill in Canada and internationally recognized as one of the best in North America.

[4] In 1935, the origins of ski flying began in Planica, Slovenia, where Josef Bradl became the first competitor in history to jump over 100 m (330 ft).

At the same venue, the first official jump over 200 m (660 ft) was achieved in 1994, when Toni Nieminen landed at 203 meters.

[5] In 1962 in Zakopane, Poland, the normal hill event was introduced at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

Competitors glide down from a common point at the top of the in-run, achieving considerable speeds at the take-off table, where they take off, carried by their own momentum.

The landing space is followed by an out-run, a substantial flat or counter-inclined area that permits the skier to safely slow down.

The classification of the hills are as follows:[7] Competitors are ranked according to a numerical score obtained by adding up components based on distance, style, inrun length (gate factor) and wind conditions.

They can award up to 20 points each for jumping style, based on keeping the skis steady during flight, balance, optimal body position, and landing.

[9] Gate and wind factors were introduced by the 2009 rules, to allow fairer comparison of results for a scoring compensation for variable outdoor conditions.

These rules have been credited with stopping the most severe cases of underweight athletes, but some competitors still lose weight to maximise the distance they can achieve.

This involves the landing with one foot in front of the other with knees slightly bent, mimicking the style of Telemark skiing.

[18] It runs between November and March every season, and consists of 25–30 competitions at most prestigious hills across Europe, United States and Japan.

[20] It is contested around the New Year's Day at four venues – two in Germany (Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen) and two in Austria (Innsbruck and Bischofshofen), which are also scored for the World Cup.

In January 1863 in Trysil, Norway, at that time 16 years old Norwegian Ingrid Olsdatter Vestby, became the first-ever known female ski jumper, who participated in the competition.

[30] A group of fifteen competitive female ski jumpers later filed a suit against the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on the grounds that it violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms since men were competing.

A further milestone was reached when women's ski jumping was included as part of the 2014 Winter Olympics at normal hill event.

As of January 2025, the official world record for the longest ski jump is 253.5 m (832 ft), set by Stefan Kraft at Vikersundbakken in Vikersund, Norway.

In a non-official event near Akureyri on Iceland, in April 2024 Ryōyū Kobayashi achieved a distance of 291 m (955 ft) after 10 seconds in the air and landing smoothly.

[33] Silje Opseth holds the women's world record at 230,5 metres (756 feet) which was set on 17th March 2024 in Vikersundbakken.