How Jumping Points Convert to Skiing Time

Nordic Combined Points-to-Time Conversion: The Math Behind the Magic

The points-to-time conversion is the mathematical engine of Nordic combined’s Gundersen format. It translates ski jumping performance into cross-country starting positions — and getting this conversion right is what makes Nordic combined uniquely fair across two very different sports. FIS sets the conversion rates.

The Core Formula

Individual events: 1 jumping point = 4 seconds of cross-country starting gap.

This means:

5 points behind = 20 seconds behind.
10 points behind = 40 seconds behind.
25 points behind = 1:40 behind.

How Jumping Points Are Calculated

Jumping points in Nordic combined follow the same FIS system as standalone ski jumping:

Distance points: based on the hill’s K-point. Landing exactly on the K-point earns 60 points (normal hill). Each meter beyond the K adds points (e.g., 2.0 per meter on a normal hill); each meter short subtracts the same.
Style points: five judges award 0–20 points for form and landing. Highest and lowest are dropped; remaining three are summed. Maximum: 60.
Wind compensation: bonus/deduction based on wind conditions during the jump.
Gate compensation: bonus/deduction based on the starting gate position.

Total jump score = distance points + style points ± wind compensation ± gate compensation.

The leader’s score becomes the reference (time = 0:00). All other athletes’ gaps are calculated relative to the leader.

Why 4 Seconds Per Point?

The 4-second rate was calibrated to create competitive cross-country races. FIS analyzed historical data to determine a conversion that would:

Give jumping specialists a meaningful but not insurmountable advantage.
Allow cross-country specialists to realistically catch up.
Produce finishes that are often decided in the final kilometers.

If the rate were higher (say, 6 seconds per point), jumping would dominate — skiers would have too much ground to cover. If lower (2 seconds), jumping would be nearly irrelevant. The 4-second rate has proven remarkably balanced over decades of competition.

Practical Examples from Beijing 2022

Normal Hill / 10 km Individual:

Jumping leader: Ryōta Yamamoto (JPN) — score: 135.7 points.
Vinzenz Geiger (GER) — score: 114.0 points — deficit: 21.7 points.
Starting gap: 21.7 × 4 = 86.8 seconds (1:26.8 behind).

Geiger started nearly 1:27 behind but won the cross-country race convincingly enough to claim gold — one of the largest comebacks in Olympic Nordic combined history.

Large Hill / 10 km Individual:

Gaps were tighter, with several athletes within 10 seconds of the leader — creating a dramatic pack race in the cross-country phase.

Team Event Conversion

In the team relay:

Each team’s four athletes each take one jump.
All four scores are summed for a team total.
The highest team total starts at 0:00.
Other teams’ gaps: (leader’s total - team’s total) × 4 seconds.

With four jumps per team, the range of scores is wider, often creating larger starting gaps. However, the 4 × 5 km relay distance gives strong skiing teams plenty of time to close gaps.

Edge Cases

What if two athletes tie in jumping? They start the cross-country at the same time, side by side.

What if the jumping gap is enormous (50+ points)? The trailing athlete starts 3:20+ behind. While theoretically possible to catch up, it’s practically very difficult because the athlete can’t draft off anyone. Gaps larger than 2:00 are rarely overcome.

What about DSQs? If an athlete is disqualified in jumping (equipment violation, for instance), they cannot start the cross-country race and receive no overall result.