A student making final adjustments and checks before beginning the glide. The building directly behind him is the start house (Okurayama Observatory), used by officials and competitors during events (and tourists the rest of the time). This is where you can get a bird's eye view of the ski jump (and some very nice ice cream)

This photo was taken from the chair lift during the ascent to the start house. You can see moderate snowfall in low wind conditions. High school students are waiting on either side of the start line for their turn to jump. The seat the jumper is preparing on can be moved to any point on that section of the ramp. Note the grooves in the snow on the ramp from previous jumps.

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