Flying with the Mind
Mental Training to Support Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined.
Keywords:
nordic skiing, sport psychology, mental skills, well-being, performanceAbstract
Ski jumping and Nordic combined are among the most fascinating disciplines in Nordic Skiing: gliding down the jump ramp, athletes reach speeds of up to 90 km/h. Once they have reached this speed, they must perform a jump with their skis in a ‘V’ position during the flight phase and land using the Telemark technique. The cross-country skiing section of the Nordic combined transforms the gaps into a direct challenge in which the winner is the one who crosses the finish line first, adopting the best strategy: the audience is caught up in an adrenaline-filled atmosphere until the very last breath. The disciplines are carried out in highly challenging environments, in which the maximum expression of technical skill, motor control, emotional regulation and psychophysiological energies over several days are decisive. This chapter will present the fundamental technical aspects, combined with the mental aspects that have emerged from scientific research in the field of sports psychology, with the aim of highlighting how mental skills can support performance. Finally, there will be a focus on the impact that the use of technological doping and the need to maintain a low body weight can have on the development of sporting culture and the well-being of athletes. The aim is to provide an initial overview of the scientific research carried out to date, promoting the importance of psychologists trained in sports psychology in these disciplines, which are as fascinating as they are still little known.
References
- Bessone, V., & Schwirtz, A. (2021). Landing in ski jumping: A review about its biomechanics and the connected injuries. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise, 3, 238–248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-021-00104-w
- Cei, A. (2011). L’allenamento mentale negli atleti. In F. Lucidi (Ed.), SportivaMente. Temi di psicologia dello sport. Edizioni Centro Studi Erickson.
- Currie, A. (2010). Sport and eating disorders - Understanding and managing the risks. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, 1(2), 63–68. https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34872
- FIS. (2024–2025). Guidelines for measuring and control procedure. Fédération Internationale de Ski.
- Franzoni, S. (2011). Attivazione e disattivazione nello sport. In F. Lucidi (Ed.), SportivaMente. Temi di psicologia dello sport. Edizioni Centro Studi Erickson.
- Gramaccioni, G. (2006). Imagery nello sport: Stato dell’arte. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia dello Sport, 2(2), 45–58.
- Kusserow, M., Amft, O., Gubelmann, H., & Tröster, G. (2024). Arousal pattern analysis of an Olympic champion in ski jumping. Sports Technology, 17(3), 192–203. https://doi.org/10.1080/19346182.2024.00000
- Küttel, A. (2020). From Olympic athlete to sports psychological consultant within the ski jumping context: A self-narrative. Journal of Career Studies, 7(1), 55–69. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcs.0000
- Lombardo, C. (2011). I disturbi dell’alimentazione nello sport. In F. Lucidi (Ed.), SportivaMente. Temi di psicologia dello sport. Edizioni Centro Studi Erickson.
- Losnegard, T., Kocbach, J., & Sandbakk, Ø. (2025). Pacing demands in competitive Nordic skiing. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 20(1), 4–16. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2025-0001
- Müller, F., Hocke, S., & Canal-Bruland, R. (2025). Pick your battles: Elite ski-jumpers’ motives affect world cup performance depending on competition type. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 69, 102636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102636
- Sandbakk, Ø., Strøm Solli, G., & Kjøsen Talsnes, R. (2021). Preparing for the Nordic skiing events at the Beijing Olympic in 2022: Evidence based recommendations and unanswered questions. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise, 3, 257–266. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-021-00110-y
- Schupfner, R., Pecher, S., Pfeifer, E., & Stumpf, C. (2020). Physiological factors which influence the performance potential of athletes: Analysis of sports medicine performance testing in Nordic combined. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 48(3), 314–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.2020.1749520
- Sundgot-Borgen, J., & Klungland Torstveit, M. (2004). Prevalence of eating disorders in elite athletes is higher than in the general population. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 14(1), 25–32. https://doi.org/10.1097/00042752-200401000-00005
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Marcella Bounous, Marta Gentile
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided that appropriate credit is given and the original publication in this journal is acknowledged. Authors may enter into additional non-exclusive arrangements for the distribution of the published version (e.g., deposit in institutional repositories or inclusion in books), provided the initial publication in this journal is acknowledged.
