Judging Stations

Ski jumping is judged as well as measured, and the judging stations at Planica show how. Besides the distance flown, which is measured by video and electronic systems, each jump is awarded style points by a panel of five judges, who watch from towers beside the landing slope. The judges' towers at Planica stand at the side of the hill, high enough to give a clear view of the take-off, the flight and the landing, and they are an essential part of the equipment of any big ski-jumping venue. Visitors who come to the Nordic Centre can see them, and in some cases visit them, and learn how the system works.

The rules for scoring are straightforward in principle. Each jumper starts with twenty points for style from each of five judges, who deduct points for faults in the flight, such as an unbalanced position of the skis, poor control or a ragged landing, and for failing to land in the telemark position, with one ski ahead of the other and the knees slightly bent. The highest and lowest marks are discarded, and the remaining three are added together, so that the maximum for style is sixty points. These are combined with the distance points, which depend on how far the jumper has flown relative to the hill's calculation point, and, in modern competitions, with adjustments for the speed of the wind and the length of the in-run, so that jumpers in different conditions can be compared fairly. In ski flying, the same system applies, although the distances are far greater, and at Planica, they are among the longest in the sport.

For visitors, the judging stations are a way of seeing the sport from the inside. Standing in a tower, you can see how the whole hill looks from the judges' point of view, how quickly a jump unfolds and how difficult it is to assess a landing in a split second. At the Planica Nordic Centre, interactive displays allow guests to try their own hand at judging, scoring simulated jumps and comparing their marks with those of the experts, and the experience gives a new respect for the work of the officials. Tours and special events sometimes give access to the stations themselves.

The stations form part of a wider set of sights in the valley. The Gorišek Brothers' hill and the Large Rožman/Bloudek hill are the main jumps, the Planica Zipline, the Ski Jumping Simulators, the Heroes of Planica interactive game, the Disc golf park and the Planica wind tunnel are further attractions, and the Nordic Centre has a museum. The valley hosts the FIS Ski Flying World Championships from time to time and the World Cup finals most years. Check opening times and tour availability before visiting.