SKI RACING RULES

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Be at the designated place of registration at the designated time. At away races the coach will register the team and distribute the bibs. To compete in the race you must have a bib. If you are late to registration and your bib is not at the place of registration, contact your coach to obtain your bib.  You may not be able to race if you arrive too late to register. 

Course Inspection

The course can only be inspected at the time designated for course inspection. When inspecting the course, you must have your bib visible; for example, draped over the outside of your jacket or tied around your waist outside your jacket.  The number need not be readable, but if asked by a race official to show the bib number, you must do so.

Inspection is done either by side stepping up the course from the bottom to the top, or by side slipping through the course top to bottom. Under no circumstances are you allowed to turn through consecutive gates at a speed anywhere close to racing speed.  To turn while inspecting the course, slow snowplow or kick turns should be used. 

Skiing and Training Near Course

Racers are forbidden to ski through the course except when racing or inspecting the course in the manner described above.  In addition, you are not permitted to shadow the course (that is, ski parallel to the course following the same line as the course) or ski in the area of, or very near, the course doing turns of the same radius as those of the course.  Training runs should be done on a nearby run. 

The Start

Racers who are not ready to start when their bib number is called may be disqualified.  In some local races you may, at the discretion of the jury, be allowed to start at the end of your age group, but at the important races you will be disqualified, so don't be late.  Note that since, in many races, there are gaps in the bib numbers and some racers may be on the start list but not be racing, you may not have as much time as you think.  The order of racers in the second run is determined by their times in the first run.  You should check the notice board or with your coach to determine when you will be racing.  Stay clear of the start ramp until you are called. 

Passing Through Gates

For slalom (SL) both your ski tips and boots must pass across the imaginary line between the two poles which form a gate; the gate line in slalom (SL) is the imaginary shortest line from the turning pole to the outside pole. See Figure 1. 

For giant slalom (GS), super giant slalom (SG) and downhill (DH), where two pairs of poles form each gate, both your ski tips and boots must pass across the imaginary line between the inner pole of each pair.  The gate line in GS, SG and DH, where a gate consists of two pairs of poles which hold banners, is the imaginary shortest line from pole to pole.  See Figures 2a and 2b. 

You may pass through the gates in any direction and in any order provided both ski tips and boots cross the line between every gate.  See Figures 4. 

Figures 4. Examples of a Legal Passage through Course

Binding Release

A binding release more than two gates above the finish in SL, GS or SG, or more than one gate in DH is a clear disqualification.  Racers may not continue on the course.  This rule may be waived in some non-scored events. 

Conversation with Gate Judges

You may ask the gate judge if you have passed through a gate, for example, if you ski past a gate, then you walk back up through it.  He/she will respond either "back" or "hike", in which case you have not passed correctly through the gate, or "go" or "clear",  in which case you have passed through correctly and can continue.  The gate judge can also say "back" or "go" without being asked by you whether you passed through correctly. 

Under no circumstances are you allowed to receive assistance from any person during your run. 

Interference with Other Racers

In most races runners are sent about every 30 seconds.  If for some reason a racer catches up to you (for example, if you fall or have to climb back up to a gate), you must give way to the other racer and make every effort to get out of their way and let them pass without slowing them down.

Finish

The clock stops when the timing beam is broken by any part of your body.  After finishing, leave the finish area as soon as possible and do not leave equipment (e.g., skis) lying or standing in the finish area.  If the finish area is not fenced in, leave plenty of room for racers to stop safely after completing their run.  When checking posted times, stay out of the finish area and do not obstruct racers stopping after their run. 

Requesting a Rerun

If you are blocked by a person or objects on the course, flagged down by a yellow flag in a downhill, or a gate knocked out by a previous competitor has not been replaced, and any of these cause you to loose significant speed or deviate from the racing line through the course, you may request a rerun. However, you must: 

1.  Leave the course immediately after the interference and may not ski through further gates.
2.  Obtain the name of the gate judge and the number of the gate where the interference occurred.
3.  Ask any member of the jury positioned along the course or at the finish for a rerun.
4.  Proceed directly to the finish; do not ski through the course and do not ski across the finish line, and ask for the finish referee.
5.  Be absolutely certain you deserve a rerun before you request one, because if your claim for a rerun is shown to be unjustified, you will be disqualified.

A rerun may also be granted due to a malfunction of the timing system. You may be granted a provisional rerun, but it will only be valid when it is confirmed by the jury when it meets after the race. 

Note that if you think you deserve a rerun, for example because a gate is missing, but continue your run, then you will not be allowed a rerun. 

Second Run

To be eligible to compete in the second run you must complete the first run and not be disqualified. However, in many local races when the field is not large, competitors who do not finish (DNF) or are disqualified (DSQ) in the first run may be allowed to race at the end of their group or after all other competitors have raced. Your coach will be notified if and when DNF and DSQ competitors can race. 

The order of racers in the second run is determined by the racers' times in the first run.   The racer finishing 15th starts 1st, 14th starts 2nd, and so on and the racer finishing first starts 15th.  Then the racer finishing 16th starts, followed by the 17th, 18th and so on. For some special events, or where time to run the event is limited, a different system may be used. 

At the end of the second run you must give your bib to the bib collector at the finish. If you are not entitled to a second run, you must give your bib to an official at the finish. It is your responsibility to ensure that you return your bib. Bibs are expensive to replace and you may be required to pay the replacement cost if you do not return it. 

Posting of Disqualifications

The list of racers disqualified (DSQ) during a run is posted on the race notice board (usually at the finish) immediately following the completion of each run of the race. It is the responsibility of all racers and coaches to check the notice board to see if they, or their racers, have been disqualified. If you are sure you have been unfairly disqualified, you may lodge a protest. 

Protests

You may protest against being disqualified or about the timekeeping. Various other forms of protests are allowed, but these are usually the responsibility of the coach. 

To protest a disqualification you must submit your protest immediately after the time the disqualification list is first posted. Similarly, to protest timekeeping you must protest immediately after the run has ended.  The protest should be lodged by your coach to a member of the jury (who should be present at the finish area or timing hut) and a bond must be paid which is refunded if the protest is upheld, or forfeited if the protest is denied. You and/or your coach must put your case to the jury. 

Helmet Requirement

Helmets must be worn in GS races, and SG and DH races and training.  Note that if a helmet is required, you cannot compete without one. 

Behavior and Courtesy to the Public

The support of the public is essential in order to retain the privilege of setting up racing and training courses on the runs we desire.  Hill space is limited and the public has given up space for the race.  Racers must be considerate and courteous to the public at all times,  and ensure that their actions, behavior and language are not upsetting or offensive.  They must, whether on race day or during training, wait their turns in the lift lines and have their lift passes to ride the lift.  On race day, allow for the length of the lineup when determining when to go up for your run. 

Based on information from the Ottawa Ski Club, with permission.