Alpine Skiing vs Alpine Skiing — Same Game, Different Rules

FIS specifies minimum ski lengths and sidecut radius values per discipline to balance performance and safety (ICR Article 222). Minimum ski lengths: Downhill: Men 218 cm (85.8 in), Women 210 cm (82.7 in); Super-G: Men 210 cm (82.7 in), Women 205 cm (80.7 in); Giant Slalom: Men 193 cm (76.0 in), W...

Skis: FIS-approved per discipline; slalom skis 165 cm minimum (men) / 155 cm (women); GS skis 195 cm minimum (men) / 188 cm (women); Bindings: FIS-approved with appropriate DIN setting; Boots: FIS-approved per discipline

Slalom course: short turns through closely-spaced gates; vertical drop typically 140-220 m for women / 180-220 m for men; gate count high (55-75 gates); Giant slalom course: longer turns through wider-spaced gates; vertical drop 250-450 m; gate count lower (35-55 gates); FIS-approved homologated ...

All courses for FIS-sanctioned competitions must be homologated (officially inspected and approved) by a FIS Technical Delegate. Homologation certificates specify the approved vertical drop, course length, and safety infrastructure.

NCAA team: 6 skiers per team in each gender (men's + women's events scored separately, combined for team championship); Top 3 individual scores per gender count toward team total per event; Officials: technical delegate (TD), course setters, gate judges, starter, finish judges, FIS-certified timer

Alpine skiing is an individual timed competition (except for the Team Event). Competitors must hold a valid FIS licence issued through their national ski association.

Each event: 2 runs on 2 different course sets; Time = sum of run 1 + run 2; lowest combined time wins; Course inspection: 30-60 min before each run; no run-throughs allowed

Course inspection rules differ by discipline: Downhill: Competitors must complete a minimum of one official training run (typically three training runs are scheduled over preceding days). Inspection is conducted by skiing the course at reduced speed.; Super-G: No course inspection on foot and no ...

All FIS-sanctioned competitions use electronic timing to 1/100th of a second (0.01 s). The primary timing system uses photocell beams at the start and finish lines.

Individual event: lowest combined 2-run time wins; NCAA team scoring: places 1-30 score points per published table (1st = 60 pts, 2nd = 50 pts, etc., scaling down); Team total: top 3 scores per gender per event combined

The competition jury may impose DSQ, time penalties, or written warnings. Competitors may appeal jury decisions to the FIS Legal & Safety Committee.

Missed gate: DSQ from the run; Course interference (e.g., not following marked course): DSQ; Equipment violation (illegal ski length, illegal binding setting): DSQ

FIS mandates extensive safety infrastructure along every competition course: A-net (inner safety net): High-tensile nylon netting installed at the immediate course edge in high-risk zones (compressions, jumps, sharp turns). Designed to catch a racer who leaves the course at speed.; B-net (outer s...

Mandatory FIS-approved helmets reduce head-injury risk. Course safety: B-net safety fencing on dangerous sections; padded gates; safety crews at risk points.