I usually don't like sports mangas. Sometimes they are boring and there's even been a few I found where the author obviously doesn't know the sport very well. I've only found a few gender-benders that are really worth reading, most recycle the same ideas and jokes and gets kind of boring. So Nononono for me is a pleasant surprise.
The author does a great job of making ski jumping exciting and interesting. The story has good drama and adversity. Yes, there are a few unrealistic even downright silly parts but if you are not too picky its forgivable. Its tough to juggle so many genre categories: Sport, drama, gender-bender, romance, etc., and I think the author for the most part has done a decent job of blending them without making a mess.
The art is ok in some places in others its downright hilarious and great (those closeups of the emperor's face).
I'm up to chapter 70 and all in all I'm really enjoying this series.
Update---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, it seems that the manga maybe wasn't doing so well and they started then to get a bit heavy handed with the fan service to try to boost sales, which was a shame because I thought it was a good story and didn't need the extra boobie shots. People keep bringing up Elfen Lied which is the mangaka's other in/famous work. Let me say that the comparison is not correct as this is nothing like the gore feast and madness of Elfen Lied. However, Nononono has always been a seinen and mature work even with all the challenges and inspiring stuff going on. The attempted rape was in line with that crazy character, but I thought it was too detailed and fan-servicy. It then does get some weird characters thrown in at one of the tournaments to either spice things up or because the author was stretching for ideas. Finally this manga was axed so we got an incomplete ending with many plot threads left dangling. All of this detracts from the pretty good first half of the manga. Its still one of my favorite manga but I'm going to have to drop it from the 10 I gave it originally to 8.