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.