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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Landing jumps from a height

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michael.hsu.5059
Posts: 37 - Karma: 284
Hey guys, newbie freestyle skier here.

I've only done maybe about a quarter of a season of jumps and sliding boxes. Before that I had an 8-year gap of no skiing and even before that I was just general skier, maybe intermediate level. I am still very much a novice; only done small to medium straight air jumps. Half the time I'd approach the jump with too little speed in fear of "over jumping" and so just end up landing on the flat part right before the ground starts curving downhill.

I see videos of people doing jump tricks all the time, flying up maybe about 10+ feet into the air. That is about the height of my roof. Today I was up there and I look down and I wonder how do those skiers not land with their ankles crushed and poking right through the soles of their feet? How do you land from that height and not suffer extreme injuries?

Is landing on the "sweet spot" at an angle down the hill really supposed to remove that much of the force? Or am I really just supposed to "get used to it" and grow steel ankles?

Any help to understand this would be appreciated!
10 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52567 - Karma: 173,916
Even steel ankles are no match for ski patrols dynamite.
10 years ago
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marrows
Posts: 399 - Karma: 656
michael.hsu.5059landing on the "sweet spot" at an angle down the hill


thats how
10 years ago
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,673
theabortionatorEven steel ankles are no match for ski patrols dynamite.


10 years ago
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r.simp
Posts: 361 - Karma: 670
If you clear the knuckle you'll be fine
10 years ago
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GoodasGold
Posts: 174 - Karma: 507
you're maintaining momentum when you land, not going to a dead stop like jumping off a house
10 years ago
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white.powder
Posts: 187 - Karma: 777
Thats why the landing goes down...you will hurt yourself much more if you land on the knuckle (before the landing)... the more the jump is big, the more the landing will be steep, just try it with more speed and you'll see that you don´t even feel it when you land (unless you have absolutly no muscle in your legs).
10 years ago
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freewillie
Posts: 431 - Karma: 3,326
RsimpsonIf you clear the knuckle you'll be fine


white.powderThats why the landing goes down...you will hurt yourself much more if you land on the knuckle (before the landing)... the more the jump is big, the more the landing will be steep, just try it with more speed and you'll see that you don´t even feel it when you land (unless you have absolutly no muscle in your legs).


Also pitch your body forward so that your skis/feet match up with where you are landing...otherwise you get a case of the banged up shins
10 years ago
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Swandog7
Posts: 4957 - Karma: 9,033
They normally don't take it to flat or Big Air Dave zone
10 years ago
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McLS
Posts: 1985 - Karma: 6,454
You land with a forward motion more than a downward motion, which is why if the landing is well made and you land right, it doesn't hurt at all. In fact I end up hurting my legs MUCH more on shitty low angled landings for small/medium jumps rather than really nice steep landings for bigger jumps. Landing on the knuckle (flat part) will always hurt like a bitch though, because it doesn't carry out your motion.

When the landing is well made you should end up having a close angle of "falling" to the angle of the landing, which is why it doesn't hurt.

So tips are go do some bigger jumps if you feel the ones you hit still hurt when you land right.

And try to land with your skis parallel to the landing (it can sound stupid, but a lot of times, landing just a bit backseat will hurt, shins especially). So pop, tuck and bend knees on landing!
10 years ago
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michael.hsu.5059
Posts: 37 - Karma: 284
Thanks so much for the responses guys! I'll stop worrying so much about it next time!

Is it possible to get too much speed to completely overshoot the downhill and land when it flattens out? Or is the size of the jump and amount of runway designed so that you can't overshoot even though you went full speed into the jump?
10 years ago
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Willows
Posts: 442 - Karma: 2,632
The downwards going landing will "catch" you as you land. You will know when you're landing in the "sweet spot", it just feels right. (at least if the jump is shaped well enough)
10 years ago
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APunx176
Posts: 1189 - Karma: 2,628
As everyone else has said, if you clear the knuckle itll feel a lot better. As for progressing, don't be afraid to knuckle it the first few times. Start small and get bigger. Eventually you will be clearing jumps easy.
10 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7066 - Karma: 26,554
michael.hsu.5059Thanks so much for the responses guys! I'll stop worrying so much about it next time!

Is it possible to get too much speed to completely overshoot the downhill and land when it flattens out? Or is the size of the jump and amount of runway designed so that you can't overshoot even though you went full speed into the jump?


Ha ha, yes, this is what Swandog meant by taking it to the Big Air Dave zone.
10 years ago
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michael.hsu.5059
Posts: 37 - Karma: 284
Sorry what is Big Air Dave zone?
10 years ago
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9718 - Karma: 65,556
michael.hsu.5059Thanks so much for the responses guys! I'll stop worrying so much about it next time!

Is it possible to get too much speed to completely overshoot the downhill and land when it flattens out? Or is the size of the jump and amount of runway designed so that you can't overshoot even though you went full speed into the jump?


oh it is very possible. a very well made jump will make it harder to do but there's no stopping it past a point

don't worry though, the key is to work your way up. start with small jumps and hit the sweet spot (the ideal part of the landing to tough down on), try to not ever hit the knuckle anymore.. that's painful and dangerous.

do it over and over while you progress to slightly bigger jumps. it's basically just a bunch of mental math that you will pick up pretty quickly, the same way you quickly learn the appropriate speed and angle to throw a ball when you want it to get to your buddy 40 feet away. soon it'll be second nature

feel free to shoot me any questions via PM
10 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7066 - Karma: 26,554
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/616250/Big-Air-Dave--Episode-1
10 years ago
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michael.hsu.5059
Posts: 37 - Karma: 284
Titsandwich11oh it is very possible. a very well made jump will make it harder to do but there's no stopping it past a point

don't worry though, the key is to work your way up. start with small jumps and hit the sweet spot (the ideal part of the landing to tough down on), try to not ever hit the knuckle anymore.. that's painful and dangerous.

do it over and over while you progress to slightly bigger jumps. it's basically just a bunch of mental math that you will pick up pretty quickly, the same way you quickly learn the appropriate speed and angle to throw a ball when you want it to get to your buddy 40 feet away. soon it'll be second nature

feel free to shoot me any questions via PM


Thanks man, really appreciate your help!
10 years ago
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michael.hsu.5059
Posts: 37 - Karma: 284
OregonDeadhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/616250/Big-Air-Dave--Episode-1


Wow that must've hurt a lot
10 years ago
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Willows
Posts: 442 - Karma: 2,632
michael.hsu.5059Sorry what is Big Air Dave zone?


it is what makes ACLs go "pop!" =D
10 years ago
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bedin
Posts: 482 - Karma: 1,972
michael.hsu.5059Thanks so much for the responses guys! I'll stop worrying so much about it next time!

Is it possible to get too much speed to completely overshoot the downhill and land when it flattens out? Or is the size of the jump and amount of runway designed so that you can't overshoot even though you went full speed into the jump?


Definetly possible to overshoot the landing, but only if your goin WAY too fast. I managed to do it, missed the landing completely, and broke my collarbone.
10 years ago
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michael.hsu.5059
Posts: 37 - Karma: 284
bedinskiDefinetly possible to overshoot the landing, but only if your goin WAY too fast. I managed to do it, missed the landing completely, and broke my collarbone.


Man...is it pretty much guaranteed injury of some kind if you overshoot medium jumps and up?
10 years ago
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270on420out
Posts: 7522 - Karma: 51,280
michael.hsu.5059Man...is it pretty much guaranteed injury of some kind if you overshoot medium jumps and up?


No. But it is very likely. However, I know a guy who undershot
10 years ago
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270on420out
Posts: 7522 - Karma: 51,280
Rest of my reply got cut off. I know a guy who undershot and tore his acl, and was out for 6 months, but I also know a guy who overshot and tore his aorta, lacerated his kidney, and got a massive concussion, but he was back skiing in 2 months. (65 foot jump btw) So know I always prefer overshooting rather than knuckling.
10 years ago
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chicknfriedsteak
Posts: 984 - Karma: 4,693
Oh my God, a thread created by a newb that isn't drawing hate. Is this even newschoolers?
10 years ago
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