Ski Jumping Suits at the Edge of Olympic Rules

With just over three months to go until the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, official training for the Nordic ski jumping large hill event was held on October 31, 2025, at Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium in Sapporo. The session took place two days before the All-Japan Championships.

Sound Behind the Competition

The scrape of skis along the inrun and the dry, hollow thud of landings on snowless ground echoed across the mountains. Yet cutting through these familiar, almost soothing sounds of competition was another noise altogether: the steady mechanical whir of a sewing machine, continuing late into the night from a nearby office.

In 2025, the rules governing ski jumping suits were revised twice, once in the spring and again in the autumn. The list of items subject to inspection expanded, and enforcement became stricter. "Keeping pace with those changes isn't easy," said Yuya Ogata, who tailors competition suits for athletes at Mizuno.

Ogata handles suit adjustments for the Japanese team, and in the days leading up to competitions, his work often stretches late into the night.

The suits are made of thick polyurethane, and sewing them together requires considerable force

Precision at the Edge of the Rules

Because looser suits can generate greater lift and extend flight distance, recent regulations require ski jumpers to wear suits that fit closely to the body. Detailed standards now govern everything from seam placement and material thickness to air permeability. Those tasked with making adjustments must have the precision and technical skill to bring each suit as close as possible to the limits of what the rules allow.

*The suits are made from thick polyurethane. Sewing them together requires considerable strength. Mizuno Technics Hikami Factory, Tamba City, Hyogo Prefecture (©Sankei by Toshiya Nishimura)*

At the same time, an athlete's body can change from day to day, making compliance difficult to maintain. Disqualifications for suit violations are not uncommon, even after strong performances. As a result, the pressure and responsibility carried by the suit adjusters can be as intense as that borne by the athletes themselves.

Even so, working conditions at competition venues are far from ideal, perhaps a reflection of ski jumping's status as a relatively niche sport. Even at the All-Japan Championships, where the country's top athletes compete, Ogata carries out last-minute adjustments by setting up his sewing machine in a corner of an office used by event officials.

Thirty Minutes Before Takeoff

On this day, a skier wearing a brand-new yellow suit stepped into the improvised workspace: Noriaki Kasai, the sport's oldest active competitor at 53. A quick inspection showed that the suit fell short of regulations in the inseam and thigh areas. Ogata was asked to make the necessary fixes before official training began.

*Wearing the newly adjusted suit, Kasai went on to place fourth at the All-Japan Championships (October 31, 2025, Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium)*

"The inseam was one centimeter short of the regulation requirement. Making up that difference is extremely difficult," Ogata recalled with a wry smile. "There was far too much work and far too little time. It's been a long while since I felt that kind of pressure."

Two days later, Kasai finished fourth at the championship, keeping alive his hopes of competing in a ninth Olympic Games. After the event, he shook Ogata's hand and, with a smile, offered a single verdict:

"The finish is perfect!"

(Read the article in Japanese.)

Authors: The Sankei Shimbun