Section 1: Introduction
1.1 Overview and History
Freestyle skiing encompasses multiple acrobatic ski disciplines governed by FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation) under ICR Book VI — Joint Regulations for Snowboard / Freestyle Ski / Freeski. The sport originated in the 1960s as "hotdogging" — exhibition skiing combining mogul runs, ballet, and aerials. It gained Olympic recognition gradually: Moguls debuted as a medal sport in 1992 (Albertville), Aerials in 1994 (Lillehammer), Ski Cross in 2010 (Vancouver), and both Halfpipe and Slopestyle in 2014 (Sochi).
1.2 Olympic Disciplines
The current Olympic programme includes five freestyle skiing disciplines, each with men's and women's events:
- Moguls: Technical bump skiing with two aerial jumps and a timed speed component.
- Aerials: Acrobatic jumping from snow-built kickers, performing somersaults and twists before landing.
- Ski Cross (SX): Head-to-head racing over a course featuring jumps, banked turns, and rollers.
- Ski Halfpipe: Athletes perform tricks on the walls of a carved halfpipe.
- Ski Slopestyle: Athletes navigate a course of rails, boxes, and jumps, choosing their own line.
1.3 Competition Calendar
FIS oversees the World Cup circuit (November–March), World Championships (biennial), and Olympic Games (quadrennial). Continental cups, NorAm Cup, Europa Cup, and national championships form the lower tiers of the competitive pyramid. FIS points determine athlete rankings and Olympic qualification quotas.
1.4 Mixed Team Events
FIS has introduced mixed team events in Aerials and Ski Cross at the World Championship and Olympic level. In mixed team Aerials, a team of three athletes (at least one of each gender) each performs one jump; scores are combined for a team total. In mixed team Ski Cross, teams of two (one male, one female) race in relay format (ICR Art. 4800–4810 Dual Moguls / Aerials Team rules; ICR Art. 7800 Ski Cross Team Event). These events appear alongside the individual programmes and carry separate medals.
Section 2: Equipment
2.1 Skis
- Moguls: Minimum 180 cm (70.9 in) for men, 170 cm (66.9 in) for women. Narrow-waisted, soft-flex skis designed for rapid bump absorption and quick edge-to-edge transitions.
- Aerials: Minimum 160 cm (63.0 in). Shorter, wider skis that provide stability during takeoff and landing. Aerials skis have limited sidecut since carving is not required.
- Slopestyle / Halfpipe: Minimum 160 cm (63.0 in). Twin-tip design (upturned tail) for switch (backward) skiing. Center-mounted bindings for balanced rotation.
- Ski Cross: Minimum 170 cm (66.9 in) for men, 160 cm (63.0 in) for women. Stiffer, race-oriented skis with more sidecut for high-speed carved turns.
All skis must have functioning release bindings certified to DIN/ISO standards. Bindings must be set according to the athlete's weight, ability level, and discipline.
2.2 Protective Equipment
- Helmet: FIS-approved helmet mandatory in all five disciplines. Must conform to EN 1077 (Class A for race events, Class B minimum for park events) or equivalent ASTM standard.
- Back protector: Mandatory for Aerials, Ski Cross, and Halfpipe at World Cup level. Strongly recommended for all disciplines. Must meet EN 1621-2 standard.
- Shin guards: Mandatory for Slopestyle to protect against rail impacts.
- Goggles: Impact-rated ski goggles required. Must not impair peripheral vision.
Ski Cross — new for 2026/27: cut-resistant base-layer garments (top and pants) became mandatory competition equipment for all Ski Cross athletes beginning with the 2026/27 season, alongside the redesigned gate-panel hardware described in Section 3.5, per FIS's published 2026/27 Ski Cross safety requirements (FIS Snowboard, Freestyle & Freeski Technical Committee, Spring Meetings 2026).
2.3 Poles and Accessories
- Poles: Mandatory for Moguls (used for balance and rhythm). Optional for other disciplines. Exposed sharp points are prohibited.
- Speed suit: Permitted in Moguls for aerodynamic advantage. Must not incorporate rigid fairings or non-textile panels.
Section 3: Playing Area
3.1 Moguls Course
- Length: 220–270 m (722–886 ft).
- Width: Minimum 18 m (59 ft). The course is carved into natural or machine-built mogul bumps approximately 1.2 m (4 ft) apart trough-to-trough.
- Gradient: 26–32 degrees. A consistent pitch ensures uniform bump formation.
- Air bumps (kickers): Two air bumps positioned on the upper and lower thirds of the course, with the top air bump's takeoff placed at 15% of the course length and the bottom air bump's takeoff at 20% of the course length from the finish line. Per the Mogul Air Bump Criteria (ICR Art. 4204.3): jump height 50–70 cm, takeoff angle 26°–35°, landing zone gradient greater than 26°, air bump width 130–150 cm, maximum distance from the end of the last bump to the takeoff 5.0–6.0 m, and from the airbump takeoff to the end of the landing 15.0 m (top bump) to 18.0 m (bottom bump).
- Control gates: Nine (9) control gates, defined by flags maximum 0.75 m wide by 1.20 m high, are set on the course at equally spaced intervals, with track width (not including the flags) measuring 8–12 m (ICR Art. 4204.4).
- Timing: An electronic timing system records the athlete's run time from start wand to finish wand, with hand timing mandatory as a backup at all times (ICR Art. 4204.6).
3.2 Aerials Site
- Kickers: Three snow-built jump ramps with table heights of 2.0 m (6.6 ft), 3.2 m (10.5 ft), and 3.8 m (12.5 ft). The 3.8 m kicker is used for triple somersault dives.
- In-run: A steep, groomed in-run track approximately 60–70 m (197–230 ft) long, allowing athletes to reach takeoff speeds of 55–65 km/h (34–40 mph).
- Landing hill: Approximately 38-degree pitch, covered with soft, groomed snow. The knoll (steepest section) must begin immediately after the kicker lip to match the athlete's trajectory.
- Water ramp: Used in summer training. Athletes land in an aerated pool after jumping from artificial kickers. The pool is typically 15 m (49 ft) long, 10 m (33 ft) wide, and 3.5 m (11.5 ft) deep.
3.3 Halfpipe
- Length: Minimum 150 m (492 ft).
- Width: 19–22 m (62–72 ft) from lip to lip.
- Wall height: 6.0–7.0 m (19.7–23.0 ft), commonly referred to as a "22-foot superpipe" (measured as the vertical height of the transition wall).
- Gradient: 17.5–18.5 degrees along the pipe's longitudinal axis.
3.4 Slopestyle Course
- Length: Minimum 400 m (1,312 ft).
- Width: Minimum 30 m (98 ft).
- Features: 6–9 features arranged in sections — typically a jib section (rails, boxes, wall rides) followed by a jump section (2–3 progressively larger jumps with gap distances of 10–25 m / 33–82 ft).
3.5 Ski Cross Course
- Length: 800–1,200 m (2,625–3,937 ft).
- Vertical drop: 130–250 m (427–820 ft).
- Features: Banked turns (berms), rollers, step-ups, step-downs, and tabletop jumps. Course design must allow 4 athletes to race side-by-side at all points.
- Gates (redesigned for 2026/27): A Ski Cross gate consists of one stubby flex pole (turning pole: 55 cm length above the hinge, 30–35 mm diameter) and one rigid long pole (outside pole: 110 cm length, 27–32 mm diameter, non-splintering material), connected by a triangular gate flag of wind-permeable material (base length 110 cm, long-side height 70 cm, short-side height 35 cm) that must release immediately if hooked by a ski or hand (ICR Art. 7203). Missing a gate results in disqualification.
Section 4: Players & Officials
4.1 Competitors
- Moguls and Aerials: Individual competition. Field sizes typically 20–30 athletes per gender.
- Halfpipe and Slopestyle: Individual runs. Qualification rounds narrow the field to 12 finalists.
- Ski Cross: Head-to-head heats with 4 athletes per heat. A timed qualification run seeds the bracket.
4.2 Judging Panels
- Moguls: 7 judges total — 5 turns judges (high and low dropped, 3 counting) and 2 air judges (scores averaged). A pace time system independently calculates the speed score.
- Aerials: 5 judges score each jump. High and low are dropped; 3 counting scores are summed and multiplied by the DD.
- Halfpipe / Slopestyle: 6 judges use an overall impression scale (0–100). High and low are dropped; 4 counting scores are averaged.
- Ski Cross: No judges — first to finish wins. Photo-finish timing determines placement.
4.3 Officials
A Technical Delegate (TD) appointed by FIS oversees course certification, equipment checks, and rule enforcement (ICR Art. 7303, common section 2008). A Chief of Competition manages race-day logistics (ICR Art. 7304). Start referees, section/gate judges (Ski Cross, ICR Art. 7313.2), and video review officials support the competition jury.
Section 5: Rules of Play
5.1 Moguls Format
Moguls competitions run in one of three formats depending on the level of competition (ICR Art. 4203.2):
- Traditional World Cup Format: a single Qualification round (Q1) is held, with the top 16 competitors advancing to Final 1 (F1); the top 6 from F1 advance to Final 2 (F2).
- Phased Finals World Cup Format: run over two stages, which may span two days. In Stage 1, each competitor performs one run (Q1) and the top 8 advance directly to F1. In Stage 2, competitors ranked 9th–32nd after Q1 perform a second run (Q2), with their better of Q1/Q2 counting; the top 8 from that group advance to complete the 16-athlete F1 field.
- Championship Format (used at the Olympic Winter Games and FIS World Ski Championships): all competitors complete a first run (Q1), with the top 10 advancing directly to F1. The remaining competitors complete a second run (Q2), with their better of Q1/Q2 counting; the top 10 from that group also advance, creating a 20-athlete F1 field.
In every format, F1 consists of one round with the top 6 advancing to F2, the single-run Super Final that decides the result (ICR Art. 4203.2). Athletes must perform two distinct aerial maneuvers on the designated air bump sites; jumps of the same category must differ as defined in ICR Art. 4210.2 (loop, inverted flip, off-axis, straight rotation, upright, and grab categories). Turns are assessed for fall line discipline, carving technique, and consistent absorption of bumps.
5.2 Aerials Format
Qualification: 2 jumps, best score counts. Top 12 advance. Final 1: 2 jumps, combined score. Top 6 advance to the Super Final. Super Final: 1 jump determines the winner. Athletes submit their intended dives in advance, including the number of somersaults, twists, and body position. The degree of difficulty (DD) ranges from approximately 2.1 (single somersault) to 5.0+ (triple somersault with multiple twists). The Jury retains authority to cap the maximum DD permitted in a given competition — for example, limiting the field to double flips with multiple twists or triple flips with a single twist, and specifically capping Men's Aerials at a DD of 3.55 or 4.175 and Women's Aerials at 3.55 — based on FIS Sub-Committee Moguls/Aerials guidelines (ICR Art. 4116).
5.3 Halfpipe Format
Qualification: best of 2 runs. Top 12 advance to the final. Final: best of 3 runs counts as the athlete's score. A typical run includes 5–7 "hits" (tricks performed on the pipe walls). Judges reward amplitude (height above the lip), difficulty of rotation and flips, variety of tricks, execution quality, and progression (innovation or increased difficulty during the run).
5.4 Slopestyle Format
Qualification: best of 2 runs. Top 12 advance. Final: best of 3 runs. Athletes choose their own line through the course features, selecting which rails or boxes to hit and which side of jumps to approach. Judges evaluate difficulty, execution, variety, amplitude, style, and use of the course.
5.5 Ski Cross Format
A timed solo qualification run determines seedings. Athletes are then placed in a bracket of 4-person heats. In each heat, the top 2 finishers advance. This elimination continues through quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. Contact is permitted but intentional pushing, pulling, or blocking results in disqualification. Crashes are part of the sport — athletes who fall may still advance if they cross the finish line in an advancing position.
Section 6: Scoring
6.1 Moguls Scoring Breakdown
- Turns (60%): Maximum 60.00 points. Judges assess fall-line skiing, edge control, body position, consistent rhythm, and speed maintenance through the bumps (ICR Art. 4206.1).
- Air (20%): Maximum 20.00 points. Two air judges score each of the two jumps on execution (form, landing) multiplied by the jump's DD. The two jump scores are summed (ICR Art. 4206.2).
- Speed (20%): Maximum 20.00 points. The Speed Score is calculated as 48 − 32 × (Competitor Time ÷ Pace Time), capped at a maximum of 20.0 (ICR Art. 4206.3). Pace Time is the course length in metres divided by the FIS Pace Speed standard — 10.30 m/s for men and 9.00 m/s for women (ICR Art. 4207.2).
6.2 Aerials Scoring
Five judges each score 0–10 (in 0.1 increments) on air (takeoff angle, height), form (body position, symmetry, tightness), and landing (balance, absorption, cleanness). High and low scores are dropped; 3 remaining are summed and multiplied by the DD. Example: scores of 8.5, 8.0, 8.5, 7.5, 8.0 → drop 8.5 and 7.5 → 8.0 + 8.5 + 8.0 = 24.5 × DD 3.525 = 86.36 points.
6.3 Halfpipe and Slopestyle Scoring
Six judges score each run on an overall impression basis from 0 to 100. The highest and lowest scores are dropped; the remaining four are averaged. Key scoring criteria: amplitude, difficulty, variety, execution, and progression. Falls result in significant deductions but do not automatically zero the score if the majority of the run was completed.
6.4 Ski Cross Scoring
No scoring system — placement is determined by finish order. Timing to 1/1,000th of a second is used for the qualification run and to resolve any photo-finish disputes in heats. The only judgment is by section judges and video review officials who assess potential rule violations (ICR Art. 7403, 7404).
6.5 Tiebreaking
In judged disciplines (Moguls, Aerials, Halfpipe, Slopestyle), ties are broken by comparing the second-best run score, then the third-best, and so on. For Moguls specifically, tied competitors are first re-ranked by the better Turns score, then by the better Air score (without DD), then by the faster time, per ICR Art. 4207.3. In Ski Cross, if two athletes cross the finish line simultaneously (per photo finish), the higher-seeded athlete advances. In overall World Cup standings, head-to-head results break ties.
6.6 World Cup Points
For Moguls, Aerials, Halfpipe, and Slopestyle, FIS World Cup points are awarded based on finishing position: 1st = 100 pts, 2nd = 80 pts, 3rd = 60 pts, scaling down to 30th = 1 pt. Points accumulate across the season to determine the discipline-specific and overall World Cup standings. The Overall Freestyle Skiing World Cup globe considers results across all five disciplines.
Ski Cross — new for 2026/27: effective 1 July 2026, Ski Cross World Cup points moved to the Park & Pipe points methodology, under which point allocation scales with the size of each event's start field — a smaller start field yields fewer points per placement than a full-field event — replacing the flat position-based table previously applied uniformly across all five freestyle skiing disciplines (per the FIS World Cup Rules Snowboard/Freestyle/Freeski/Ski Cross 2026/27).
Section 7: Violations & Penalties
7.1 Ski Cross Penalties
- Yellow card: Warning for minor contact or course-cutting that did not materially affect another athlete's result. No immediate disqualification, but accumulation of yellow cards across the season can lead to suspensions.
- Red card: Disqualification from the heat for intentional pushing, pulling, blocking, or dangerous riding that endangers another athlete. The athlete is ranked last in the heat.
- Gate miss: Missing a gate in Ski Cross results in disqualification from that heat.
7.2 Aerials Penalties
- Performing a dive that differs from the submitted dive sheet: the actual DD (typically lower) is applied to the scores.
- Exceeding the declared DD without prior notification: scoring may be adjusted downward by the jury.
- Dangerous landing (e.g., landing on the head or back): the jump is scored 0 for safety reasons.
- Did Not Start (DNS) is imposed for the second jump if a competitor performs a first jump but not a second; the competitor is ranked on the first-jump score alone (ICR Art. 4119).
7.3 Moguls Penalties
- Gate fault / DNF: A competitor who fails to pass a control gate correctly — both ski tips and both feet crossing the gate line between the two inside gate poles — commits a Gate Fault and receives a Did Not Finish (DNF) ruling; the skier may not climb back up the course to regain the gate and must exit and ski safely to the bottom (ICR Art. 4210.3.3, 4210.4).
- Loss of ski(s) or stop: A competitor who loses one or both skis, or stops for 10 seconds or more, receives a DNF for that run. Loss of poles alone does not result in DNF provided the competitor finishes (ICR Art. 4210.3.2).
- Re-entering the course after a DNF: A competitor who intentionally re-enters the course to resume a run after receiving a DNF automatically receives a disqualification (DSQ) and may also be subject to a financial sanction (ICR Art. 4210.3.4).
7.4 Equipment Non-Compliance
Athletes whose equipment fails pre-competition inspection (skis too short, bindings not certified, helmet non-compliant) are not permitted to start until the issue is corrected. If discovered after the run, the result may be disqualified.
7.5 General Infractions
- Failure to appear at the start within the allotted time: DNS (Did Not Start).
- Unsportsmanlike conduct or verbal abuse toward officials: yellow card or disqualification.
- Doping violations: handled per FIS Anti-Doping Rules and WADA Code.
Section 8: Safety Considerations
8.1 Course Preparation
All competition venues must be inspected and certified by the FIS Technical Delegate before the first training run. Landing areas require minimum snow depth (typically 1.0–1.5 m / 3.3–4.9 ft of packed snow) to ensure safe impact absorption. Course features are hand-shaped and machine-groomed, with measurements verified against FIS specifications.
8.2 Wind and Weather Limits
- Aerials: Maximum sustained wind speed 4 m/s (9 mph) at kicker height. Gusting conditions may lead to competition hold or cancellation.
- Moguls: Maximum 8 m/s (18 mph). Visibility must allow athletes to see the full course from the start.
- Halfpipe / Slopestyle: Maximum 8 m/s (18 mph). Wind affects amplitude and landing safety on exposed features.
- Ski Cross: Maximum 12 m/s (27 mph). Higher tolerance due to the racing nature, but visibility must remain adequate for safe racing at speed.
8.3 Medical Requirements
- A medical team with stretcher and toboggan access must be stationed at every jump, kicker, or feature location.
- An ambulance must be on-site with a clear evacuation route to the nearest hospital.
- For Aerials, an airbag landing system must be available during official training sessions for athletes attempting new or high-difficulty maneuvers.
8.4 Athlete Responsibility
Athletes are responsible for inspecting the course during the official inspection period. By starting, an athlete accepts that the course conditions are safe. Athletes are encouraged to report any hazardous conditions (ice patches, exposed rocks, damaged features) to the jury before competition begins.
8.5 Concussion Protocol
FIS follows a standardized concussion management protocol. Any athlete suspected of concussion (loss of consciousness, disorientation, balance problems, or visible distress after impact) must be immediately removed from competition and evaluated by the event medical team using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT). An athlete diagnosed with concussion may not return to competition until cleared by a physician, with a minimum 24-hour rest period before beginning a graduated return-to-sport protocol.
8.6 Night and Artificial-Light Events
- Moguls and Aerials events may be held under artificial lighting for broadcast purposes. Lighting must provide minimum 1,200 lux across the competition area with no dark zones or glare on the snow surface.
- Athletes must have the opportunity to train under artificial lighting before competing in night events.
- Emergency lighting (backup generators) must be available in case of primary power failure during a night event.
8.7 Anti-Doping
FIS enforces anti-doping rules in accordance with the WADA Code. In-competition and out-of-competition testing is conducted at all World Cup, World Championship, and Olympic events. Athletes in the FIS Registered Testing Pool must provide whereabouts information. Violations result in provisional suspension, hearing, and potential multi-year bans.
