Winter Olympic sports question and lols thread

[BigCat]

Spend plenty of time on the slopes but have never understood what the little pine branches sticking up from the snow in specific patterns is all about. Have noticed this watching various skiing/alpine sports over the years.

Also have you noticed that all the American spectators seem to be shirtless?

[Annyong]

For ski jump it's so they can see the land as they come closer.



myguess

[BigCat]

Sorry I should rephrase. I realize it's some kind of visual cue for either the athletes or judges, but why not little flags or paint instead of tree limbs? The 'specific patterns' part of the Q was just to point out that they're not incidental.