Rules & Regulations of Downhill Skiing

Competitive skiing is broken down into several subcategories, including alpine, freestyle and nordic, or cross-country, skiing. Alpine skiing is further demarcated into three disciplines, slalom, giant slalom and downhill. Slalom is raced on a short course with very quick, tight turns. Giant slalom is an expanded event that combines both slalom and downhill skills. Downhill is the longest, fastest and most demanding of the three.

Downhill is considered by many the preeminent alpine discipline. Downhill skiers can reach speeds of 80 miles per hour and may cover as much as 3,000 vertical feet in one run. This event requires strength, endurance, precision and concentration. A small mistake can be costly and often results in injury.

  1. Officiating Bodies

    • The rules and regulations for international alpine skiing competition are established and monitored by The International Ski Federation (FIS.) and the same basic rules apply for all FIS-sanctioned professional events, such as the World Cup, as well as top amateur events like the Olympic Winter Games.

      Non-FIS downhill ski racing events in the United States are governed by the United States Ski Association.

    Technical Data

    • To qualify in accordance with FIS standards, a men's downhill course must cover between 800 and 1,000 meters of vertical drop. Women's courses must drop between 500 and 800 meters. The courses may vary in overall length.

      Courses are marked with gates, made up of four slalom poles and two flags. A skier must pass through each gate on a course for the run to count. Course flags must be either blue or red in color, and stand approximately one to two meters in height.

    General Characteristics of the Course

    • The downhill is designed to test a racer's mastery of five elements: technique, speed, physical condition, risk and courage. In a race where the fastest time to the bottom wins, and winning times are decided by the smallest fraction of a second, all elements must come together flawlessly.

      Course marshals set the course, taking into account safety but also attempting to fashion a challenging course on any given mountain. Marshals set the gates at appropriate intervals and establish safe boundaries for the course. Safety barriers are erected in key locations and spectator galleries are positioned in safe zones.

    Training

    • Downhill events usually encompass two or three days, allowing one or two days for training and one day for racing. Racers and coaches are permitted an inspection of the course and competitors are required to participate in training runs to determine the starting order on race day. The course is set up exactly the same on training days as it is on racing days, including medical personnel, course marshals and other safety protocol.

      All training runs are timed and the fastest runs are recorded by officials on the scoreboard and announced by loudspeaker.

    Race Day

    • The downhill is raced in one run, except in the rare case where the required minimum vertical drop is not possible due to topography. In this case, two runs are organized and the score is the combined time of the first and second runs.

      All racers are required to begin and finish the race with a helmet, two skis and two ski poles. This requirement also applies to training runs.

      If a skier crashes or misses a gate and both skis remain on his feet, he may continue along the edges of the course to the bottom, even though his score will not count.

      At the end of the race, the skier with the fastest time is declared the winner.