"Ski Jumping Will Die in 10 Years": Disheartening Diagnosis After the World Championships

Johan Remen Evensen, the former unofficial world record holder with a jump of 246.5 meters, openly shares his concerns about the future of ski jumping in a recent commentary. The Olympic and World Championships medalist states unequivocally: "Ski jumping will die in 10 years."

As the ski jumpers prepare for the competition at the World Championships in Trondheim, Evensen notes the alarmingly low attendance at the women’s competition, where only 5,000 spectators showed up despite the capacity of 18,000.

"Ski jumping used to be our national sport, but now it struggles to attract crowds. If no action is taken, this sport will cease to exist in our country," he emphasized in NRK.

Evensen also pointed out that the rules complicate understanding of the competition. "I would remove the wind factor and compensation points; it should never have happened. Athletes say the system is fairer, but if only those most interested understand the rules, it's no wonder young people lose interest," he added.