While Olympics fans are jumping for joy in Turin, Olympic ski jumpers are jumping for gold.

The Rules of the Game
Each ski jumper takes two official jumps off a large ramp on a snow-covered hill that's up to 394-feet-tall. Though the flight lasts less than 30 seconds, it can be breathtaking! The jumps are scored for distance and style. The distance the jumper leaps is measured from the takeoff point to the point between the jumper's two feet as he or she first touches the hill. Judges evaluate style based on the timing of the takeoff, how perfect it looks, how stable the skier is in the air, and the overall balance of the skier. The score for each of the two jumps are added together and the competitor with the highest total after the two rounds wins.

By Kelsey Darch