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Nordic combined is the marriage of air and earth, of the soaring freedom
of ski jumping and the endurance of a cross-country skiing race.
It is both an individual and a team sport. For the first time in the
Olympics, the teams this year will consist of four athletes on a
4x5-kilometer relay. (The contest used to feature three-person teams on a
3x10-meter course.)
The jumping is first. Athletes take two jumps and are judged on distance
and style, on a scale of 0-20, by five judges. The highest and lowest
scores are thrown out. During flight, an athlete's legs should be
parallel and straight, skis should be on the same plane and arms should
be held against the body. Upon landing, one ski should be forward with
the other back.
The jumping is key because the finish there determines the starting order
of the cross-country race.
The cross-country race is freestyle -- racers can use any style they want
-- and is a virtual free-for-all after the staggered start based on the
jumping results. The first athlete or team across the finish line in the
cross-country portion of Nordic combined is the winner.
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