This is how the Poles deceived their rivals in the hardware war. The main weapon “smuggled” at the Olympic Games

When the Polish team was flying to Beijing, there was still a discussion about the ban on the use of its hardware novelty – which the jumpers used at the World Cup competition in Willingen. At that time, it was considered that the FIS, by prohibiting their use, would take away the largest weapons in order to allow them to return to competition in the leading P-rate in the so far disastrous season.

But what if it was not shoes that were the most important element of the Polish hardware game? If they were just a smoke screen? This is what ski jumping is like – in the multitude of regulations and their unclear interpretations, most national teams are constantly trying to outsmart their rivals, cause chaos and irritation in their opponents, and at the same time, most importantly, try to help themselves on the hill. Poles are also participating in this hardware war.

They stopped the peculiar car so that the truck could run over the border

Before every event – and especially before the Olympic Games – the teams of each national team often pull out of the sleeve two kinds of technological innovations to help them achieve the best possible results.

The rule is simple: the first kind of news are those that stand out visually, cause confusion among rivals, but those who use them do not bring as many benefits as could be imagined. They are essential, but not essential – they do not make the jumpers land ten meters away. They are such a lure that distracts attention from novelties that actually improve jumps and can give them an advantage over their rivals.

Figuratively, though obviously a punishment, it can be compared to the way cartels smuggle drugs. A passenger car with illegal cargo is trying to get across the border. He is stopped and does not reach his destination. But the cartel knows it, writes this transport off the game. Because at the same time when the individual attracts the attention of the sub, a truck with a much larger load passes over the border, which no one is interested in.

And it seems that the Poles released this person in Willingen. At that time, Polish jumpers were forbidden to use improved Nagaba boots with a changed backplate. They primarily helped Peter, who was better able to guide skis in the air in them. For the other jumpers they were a comfortable and good solution, but at the same time did not bring significant effects. Anyway – according to the FIS the modification was out of the rules, the federation disqualified Willingen and Stefan Hul.

New fabric and a new way of sewing overalls

There has been a lot of confusion around the equipment of the Poles, even greater than that expected by the team of the representation. The Poles initially hoped that the shoes would pass inspection, it was their plan A. For the rest of the staff and for the FIS, however, they were too visible not to arouse controversy. There were protests, complaints from other staffs, nervous smiles at the coaching tower and fear that Poles suddenly returned to the game in the technological race. But when everyone’s attention was drawn to the shoes, a truck with a larger product passed through the boundaries of imprecise regulations and mysterious interpretations – let’s stick to this pictorial comparison for a moment.

It turns out that Poles tried to “smuggle” two other elements during the Olympics – the way the suits were sewn with the use of new fabrics, as well as slightly modified ties.

We know the most about the jumpsuits that have been the bane of Polish jumpers in recent months. It was in this element that Poles lost the most in terms of other representations. Especially throughout December last year, until the end. Then, however, they started looking for new, hitherto unused materials. They came mainly from the German company Meininger, but also from the Swiss Schoeller Textiles. At the beginning of January in Bischofshofen, blue costumes appeared at the Poles. They brought some results right away (a few jumps over 130 meters by Dawid Kubacki or Pawa Indic), but they were not supposed to be the main weapon.

“They are not against the regulations, but they are already over the limit”

The Polish staff did not arrive until Willingen. It’s about Meininger’s lime matter. In the slang of Polish jumpers it is called a “bee” or even a “drone” because it also appears in combination with black matter. The staff did not want to waste it unnecessarily, so the entire sewn garment does not always contain only one type of fabric. This mixed version on the Meiniger official website can be purchased under the name “neon front / black rear”. Cost? 90 euros for one coverall, although the price depends on its size.

– There are two main elements that will make a difference: the aerodynamic function and the airborne safety of the competitor. This suit is designed to aid in flight, give advantages in certain cases, but at the same time ensure safety in blasts. I do not want to go into details, because these are secrets that few people know about, says Wolfgang Meininger, a manufacturer of materials for sewing suits.

Meininger points out that apart from the materials, the effectiveness of the suits is also increased by the way Polish trainers sew them. The most important are the sheets – dies, shapes for sewing new models of outfits, on which the staff has been working throughout the season. Are they legal? – They are not inconsistent with the regulations, but they come to the limit – we hear from the staff. – The coaches changed the way of sewing: elastic bands, straps, they looked everywhere for the possibility of reaching the limit of compliance with the regulations and it was possible to do it best for a long time – to explain the person from the environment of the Polish representation.

The Poles have their suit specialists

All the novelties were tested already in summer. – Many people were nervous that our staff was training in lock up. that journalists do not have access to them, and clubs cannot always appear on the hill with us. And it was all because of the novelty tests. The point is not for anyone to observe them, but for no one to know exactly what is being modified. Everyone knows that the Norwegians try to deal with shoe soles, because they have a great specialist. Peter Slatnar helps the Soviets with visas and skis. And we have a coverall specialist and we have proven this for many years and we continue to prove it – one of the activists tells us.

And he explains that such leadership in the area of ​​suits has allowed to build a good relationship with their manufacturers. Poles do not have a problem with the availability of material or large orders (even several dozen jumpsuits for a jumper), and in the case of other cadres there would be significant problems with it. Although officially Meininger or Schoeller Textiles are obviously open to the public. – I would like to emphasize that we have a great cooperation with the entire Polish staff. I can count on us – assures Wolfgang Meininger.

Here, however, we come to the key question – do the suits made of other materials, made in a new way, bring effects on the hill? The answer may be the bronze medal of Dawid Kubacki from the normal hill. During the first training sessions in China, the jumper uses two types of suits – white and black fabric. The turnaround will take place during qualifying – then Kubacki will wear “bee” for the first time. The first jump was not phenomenal – 94 meters, but during the competition – 103 and 104 meters. These jumps of the day sound.

It is worth adding that there were nervous moments on the way to this success – PZN activists reacted very nervously during the competition to information about the disqualification for Halvor Egner Granerud’s suit. In the case of Poles, however, no one found any irregularities.

The best equipment is kept for the most important jumps

We hear that the staff are very pleased with the new suits. What about Polish players? – How much time I give him [Andrzejowi Zapotocznemu, ktry peni rol trenera technicznego w kadrze – red.] Said to make me “bee”. I asked, and now they don’t let them jump – laughed Kubacki on a large hill. The Polish staff wanted to use “bees” only in key moments.

Apart from Kubacki’s statements, it is also indicated by the fact that in the qualification at the larger of the facilities in Zhangjiakou, as in the second series of Saturday’s competition, when the jumper no longer had a chance to fight for medals, he was not wearing a lime or lime-black outfit. Kamil Stoch and Piotr ya did not use them either. The best equipment is kept for the most important jumps.

– It is known that the coaches have their insights here. As for me, these suits are no different. With a good jump, either one or the other will still want to fly. These are not dramatic differences, they are much better captured and can be indicated by the staff – added Kubacki in an interview with Eurosport.

You can be glad that Poles are fighting in the war for equipment. But…

The maneuver with overalls turned out to be successful, the Poles managed to join the technological war in which other cadres participated. Choby, a German – coach Stefan Horngacher and his staff tweaked the rules, because on a large hill Karl Geiger jumps in a suit commonly considered to be illegal. Avoid disqualification, win a bronze medal – ahead of 4.1 points. On Monday, I pick up another band on the team.

However, it does not end with the Germans – according to our information, in the competition on a large facility, most teams manipulated the equipment. That is why it took place without official protests – probably everyone had to hide and he could lose from the increased controls.

And this is exactly what the jumps become – more and more disappointing, less and less understandable for an ordinary fan. On the one hand, you can be glad that in this hardware war, Poles are able to find themselves and compete with the rest of the game. On the other hand – it is a pity that this season, nervous deliberations about overalls, ties, skis or even gloves distract from pure sport. In this field a lot has to change in ski jumping.