General Comments on the FIS rules

Rules for the Conduct of Skiers and Snowboarders

(Wording 2002)

Skiing and Snowboarding like all sports entail risks. The FIS Rules must be considered and ideal pattern of conduct for a responsible and careful skier or snowboarder and their purpose is to avoid accidents on the piste. The FIS Rules apply to all skiers and snowboarders. The skier or snowboarder is obliged to be familiar with and to respect them. If he fails to do so, his behavior could expose him to civil and criminal liability in the event of an accident.

1. Respect for others

Skiers and snowboarders are responsible not only for their own behaviour but also for their defective equipment. This also applies to those using newly developed equipment.

2. Control of speed and skiing or snowboarding

Collisions usually happen because skiers or snowboarders are moving too fast, out of control or have failed to see others. A skier or snowboarder must be able to stop, turn and move within the ambit of his own vision. In crowded areas or in places where visibility is reduced, skiers and snowboarders must move slowly especially at the edge of a steep slope, at the bottom of a piste and within areas surrounding skilifts.

3. Choice of route

Skiing and snowboarding are free activity sports, where everyone may move where and as they please, provided that the abide by these rules and adapt their skiing and snowboarding to their personal ability and to the prevailing conditions on the mountain. The skier or snowboarder in front has priority. The skier or snowboarder moving behind another in the same direction must keep sufficient distance between himself and the other skier or snowboarder so as to leave the preceding skier or snowboarder enough space to make all his movements freely.

4. Overtaking

A skier or snowboarder who overtakes another is wholly responsible for completing that manoeuvre in such a way to cause no difficulty to the skier or snowboarder being overtaken. This responsibility rests with him until the overtaking manoeuvre has been completed. This rule applies even when overtaking a stationary skier or snowboarder.

5. Entering, starting and moving upwards

Experience proves that joining a piste or starting again after stopping are the sources of accidents. It is absolutely essential that a skier or snowboarder finding himself in this situation enters the piste safely and without causing an obstruction or danger to himself or others. When he has started skiing or snowboarding properly again - even slowly - he has the benefit of rule 3 as against faster skiers and snowboarders coming from above or behind. The development of carving skis and snowboards allows their users to carve and turn upwards on the slopes. Hence they move opposite to the general downhill traffic. They must, therefore, make sure in time that they can do so without endangering themselves and others.

6. Stopping on the piste

Except on wide pistes stops must be made at the side of the piste. One must not stop in narrow places or where it is difficult to be seen from above.

7. Climbing and descending on foot

Moving against the general direction poses unexpected obstacles for the skiers and snowboarders. Footprints damage the piste and can cause danger to skiers and snowboarders.

8. Respect for signs and markings

The degree of difficult of a piste is indicated in black, red or blue. A skier or snowboarder is free to choose whichever piste he wants. The pistes are also marked with other signs showing direction or giving warnings of danger or closure. A sign closing a piste, like one denoting danger, must be strictly observed. Skiers and snowboarders should be aware that warning signs are posted in their own interests.

9. Assistance

It is a cardinal principle for all sportsmen that they should render assistance following an accident independent of any legal obligation to do so. Immediate First Aid be given, the appropriate authorities alerted and the place of the accident marked to warn other skiers and snowboarders. FIS hopes that a hit and run offence in skiing and snowboarding will incur a criminal conviction similar to hit and run offence on the road and that equivalent penalties will be imposed by all countries where such legislation is not already in force.

10. Identification

Witnesses are of great importance in establishing a full and proper report of an accident and therefore everybody must consider that it is the duty as a responsible person to provide information as a witness. Reports of the rescue service and of the police as well as photographs are of considerable assistance in determing civil and criminal liability.