Ski Jumping World Cup

The ski jump and the village of Oberstdorf are reflected in the goggles of Japanese ski jumper Noriaki Kasai during the practice for the first event of the 4-hills ski jumping tournament in the southern German winter sport resort of Oberstdorf, December 28, 2008. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)

Ski Jumping is an amazing spectacular soprt you have to see with your own eyes to believe. Televsion footage really fails in giving the idea of what these athletes are able to do (Top jumpers can achieve jumps of about 140 meters).
This gallery picks up some of the best shots from the current Ski Jumping World Cup.


Austria's Markus Eggenhoffer soars through the air during the ski jumping FIS World Cup competition, on December 21, 2008 in Engelberg, Switzerland. Austria's Gregor Schlierenzauer won ahead of Austria's Wolgang Loitzl and Switzerland's Simon Amman. (NICHOLAS RATZENBOECK/AFP/Getty Images)


A ski jumper takes a run during a practice session during the summer FIS Grand Prix in Ski Jumping in Zakopane, Poland back on August 29th, 2008. (REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)


Germany's Martin Schmitt lands during the second event of the four-hills ski jumping tournament in the southern German winter sport resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, January 1, 2009. (REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler)


Austria's Wolfgang Loitzl soars over thousands of spectators during the first event of the four-hills ski jumping tournament in the southern German winter sport resort of Oberstdorf, December 29, 2008. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)


Norway's Roar Ljoekelsoey competes during the world Cup ski jumping on November 29, 2008 in Kuusamo-Ruka, Finland. (OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)


Switzerland's ski jumping World Cup overall leader Simon Ammann soars through the air during the qualification for the first event of the 4-hills ski jumping tournament in the southern German winter sport resort of Oberstdorf, December 28, 2008. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)


Simon Ammann from Switzerland soars through the air during the first event of the four-hills ski jumping tournament in Oberstdorf, Germany on December 29, 2008. (REUTERS/Michael Dalder)


Austria's Gregor Schlierenzauer speeds down the ski jump during the practice for the first event of the 4-hills ski jumping tournament in the southern German winter sport resort of Oberstdorf, December 28, 2008. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)



An unidentified athlete prepares for his jump during the practice of the first event of the four-hills ski jumping tournament in Oberstdorf, December 28, 2008. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)


Austria's Thomas Morgenstern performs during the qualifying run of the World Cup Ski jumping HS 142 (hill size 142 meters) on November 27, 2008, in Kuusamo-Ruka, Finland. (OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)


Switzerland's Andreas Kuettel speeds down the ski-jump during his first round jump at New Year's stage of the Four Hills Tournament in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Peter Klaunzer)

To view more pictures visit the complete gallery @ THE BIG PICTURE