This Autumn is "Winter" Style - Okurayama Ski Jumping Double Header

The ski jumping large hill competition will be held on November 1st and 2nd at the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium (K123m, HS137m) in Sapporo. The November 1st event is the UHB Cup, and the November 2nd event is the All Japan Ski Championship Large Hill, which also serves as the NHK Cup.

This autumn's jumping tournament is scheduled to be held using a winter-style ice track, where ice and snow are laid on the inrun. This will be the first time in seven years, since 2018, that an autumn tournament has been held using a winter-style inrun.

The definition of summer and winter jumping (though there are exceptions) is that summer jumping uses a ceramic rail with water flowing over it, while winter jumping involves sliding on ice or snow.

When it was last held on a winter rail, the autumn tournament was intended to serve as the domestic opening event for winter sliding on snow, aiming to prepare athletes for the transition to winter and the overseas World Cup. However, due to factors such as rising temperatures and the schedule falling within October, as well as considerations for fairness, safety, and smooth tournament operation, the ice track was sealed off in autumn, and the format was changed to the summer style using ceramic rails.

The landing hill (landing area) is a hybrid, similar to summer jumping, where green, noodle-like artificial material is spread out. Because there is no snow cover, the ground surface is thinner, the landing surface is lower, and the height difference from the takeoff table (kante) is greater. The condition of the ground surface is different from winter. The hill size (HS) is 137m, and the hill record and profile are based on summer figures.

There is also a way of thinking that defines winter as November to March (or April) and summer as (April or) May to October. However, since the Summer Grand Prix in Klingenthal was also held on an ice track, and new rules for equipment and the like are only applied domestically starting in December, there is a strong perception that this is the conclusion of the summer season.

If rain causes the snow to melt, it is possible that the track will be changed to a ceramic rail.

Update History
November 1st: Added points regarding the hybrid nature of the HS, etc.
November 4th: Added theory based on the schedule, partially revised text