Capturing Ski Jumping Biomechanics with Markerless Motion Capture

August 28, 2025
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Summary

How do you study ski jumpers soaring at 80 km/h? At Hokusho University, researchers used Theia3D’s markerless motion capture to record over 600 real-world jumps — uncovering performance insights that lab-based studies simply can’t replicate.

Rethinking Ski Jumping Research with Markerless Motion Capture 


At Hokusho University, researchers led by Keizo Yamamoto are pioneering new methods to study the biomechanics of ski-jumping in real-world conditions. By leveraging Theia3D’s markerless motion capture technology, the team has collected one of the largest datasets of ski jumping movements ever recorded, offering new insights into performance, technique, and aerodynamics.
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Experimental Setup 
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  • Cameras: 10 SONY RX02 cameras strategically positioned at the Miyanomori Ski Jumping Stadium (HS = 100m, medium hill).
  • Environment: Real-world outdoor ski jumping conditions, with athletes reaching takeoff speeds of ~80 km/h on a 10° slope.
  • Trials Collected: 624 ski jumps to date, including 85 men and 53 women.
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Key Outcomes 
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The research combines biomechanical analysis and aerodynamic simulation:

  • Joint angles: Hip, knee, and trunk movement across the takeoff phase.
  • Aerodynamic profiles: Numerical simulations to study airflow and lift/drag during the flight phase.
  • Performance insights: Real-world technique adaptations that cannot be fully replicated in a laboratory setting.

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Workflow & Efficiency
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Despite the challenges of working in a large outdoor stadium, the workflow has been streamlined:

  • Setup: Equipment (cameras, PC, hub) installed the day before measurement.
  • Data Collection: Over 100 jumps recorded per day with a single button press.
  • Analysis: User-friendly “ANALYZE” function after calibration accelerates data processing.

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Why Field Measurements are Important
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Traditional lab-based biomechanics studies are limited in their ability to replicate the true dynamics of ski jumping. Wind resistance, aerodynamics, and athlete technique interact in ways that can only be captured outdoors. Markerless motion capture makes it possible to measure authentic in-sport movements at scale, revealing performance insights previously hidden.

“Markerless motion capture has greatly expanded the world of my research. By collecting large-scale data in real environments, we hope to uncover movement techniques and skills that could not be elucidated using previous methods.”

‍– Keizo Yamamoto, Hokusho University



Impact
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This work represents a significant advancement in ski jumping research and highlights the potential of markerless motion capture in sports science. By combining biomechanics with aerodynamic analysis, Keizo’s team is helping to shape the future of athlete performance research in high-speed, complex environments.
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Ready to see how Theia3D can power your research?

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Summary