Swedish ski jumper Jan Boklöv pioneered the V-style technique that transformed ski jumping in the 1980s.
Boklöv began using a pronounced V shape with the skis during flight after discovering that the position improved aerodynamic lift. Although judges initially marked down his style, the technique allowed him to jump farther and became increasingly influential. He won the 1988–89 FIS Ski Jumping World Cup overall title.
The traditional parallel-ski position had dominated ski jumping for decades. By spreading the ski tips apart while keeping the tails closer together, jumpers could create a more aerodynamically effective arrangement. The change was eventually accepted by the sport’s scoring system because distance and flight performance became too powerful to ignore.
Boklöv is sometimes confused with Jens Weißflog, who became one of the most successful jumpers to adopt the technique. Weißflog won Olympic titles using both the traditional parallel style and the newer V style, illustrating the transition between eras.