The turning point came in 1985 when Swedish jumper Jan Bokloev introduced the “V Style.” The skis are placed in a “V” shape, rather than parallel, and the head is placed down between the skis.

The V style also helps slow the jumper down on landing because it producers more drag at the later phase of the jump. In ski jumping, it's all about how far you fly.

This small change revolutionized the sport, and since then, gold-medal winners have used the V style to make it to the podium. Further reading: Learn more about Team USA Nordic ...