Boklov and his game-changing ski jump leap

It was just a routine training ski jump for Swedish teenager Jan Boklov 30 years ago, but a freak wind and a bit of luck turned it into a revolution for his sport.
Boklov's skis were blown into a V shape that dramatically extended his jump. The daredevil athlete had to fight the ski jump establishment, but finally won a battle to get it accepted.
The accident happened in 1985, on the Lugnet slope which is hosting the nordic ski world championships.
"The wind was blowing hard, I had a groin injury, it was difficult to balance: at that point my skis separated to form a 'V'," Boklov explained on the sidelines of the event.
"A few minutes before I put in a jump of 75 metres. And with the skis in a V, I jumped 90 metres!
"I said to myself 'something's just happened' -- during the jump I felt as if I was flying."
Luckily Boklov's leap into ski-jumping folklore had been caught on camera.
With his coach he tested and retested the technique in coming months, smashing his collarbone three times in the process.
"Inevitably when you're trying something new you cross a boundary into the unknown -- that comes with risks," he shrugged.
Wind tunnel trials confirmed that jumping with skis in a 'V' formation increased 'the carry' down the slope by 28% - helping the skier stay in the air longer.
If Boklov thought that after stumbling on this key to greater success it would be all downhill from then on, he could not have been more mistaken.
The new style met with fierce opposition from traditionalist judges. He was marked down time and time again for his technique.
"I was jumping much further than the others, but I was systematically getting lower marks for style," he recalled.
Refusing to let old-guard officials stand in his way, Bolkov persevered.
"The thing I'm most proud about is not discovering the technique - my greatest pride is sticking at it, in having kept going despite all the resistance from the judges and against a lot of people's advice."
A turning point came in 1988, when, despite outjumping local hero Matti Nykanen, it was the Finn and not him who was awarded victory in a World Cup race in Lathi.
"On the podium Nykanen took me aside and said 'you're the real winner'. I felt like I'd won. His gesture helped change the judges' outlook."
The following year, Boklov, now 48, won the World Cup with five successes.
But he was barely able to enjoy the spoils of his discovery as he broke his leg in 1990 and then failed to rediscover his top form.
Boklov retired in 1993, but his legacy to ski jumping is plain for all to see at the world championships where the big hill jump.
"When I created this style, I did it for myself. I didn't do it to say 'Hey, look at what I invented, I'm a hero'.
"Nowadays, people recognise me. Even the great jumpers of the day are happy to have their photos taken with me.
"That's enough for me," said the unsung hero of ski jumping.
Source: AFP