Section 8: Safety Considerations
8.1 Course Safety Infrastructure
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 safety net): A secondary net installed behind the A-net to provide additional deceleration distance. Required at all locations where the A-net alone does not provide sufficient stopping distance.
- Airbag fencing: Inflatable barriers placed in front of hard objects (lift towers, timing huts, trees, rocks) that cannot be removed. Airbags absorb impact energy and are required at all World Cup and Olympic courses.
- Padding: Foam padding on all rigid structures within 5 m of the course edge, including timing equipment, camera positions, and fence posts.
- Fencing: Spectator fencing separates the public from the course. Officials-only zones are marked and enforced.
8.2 Personal Protective Equipment
- Helmets: Mandatory for all events (EN 1077 Class A for speed events).
- Back protectors: Mandatory in DH and SG. Must meet EN 1621-2 standards. Increasingly worn in all events.
- Airbag vests: Wearable inflatable vests that deploy on impact via accelerometer trigger. Permitted and increasingly common in speed events.
- Shin guards: Integral to slalom racing; protect against repeated high-force gate contact.
- Cut-resistant undergarments: Recommended to protect against ski edge lacerations in crashes.
8.3 Medical and Emergency Protocols
A fully equipped medical team must be on-site for every competition, including physicians, paramedics, and at minimum one ambulance positioned at the finish area. For DH and SG events, a helicopter must be available on standby (or within a response time specified by the TD, typically under 5 minutes) for emergency evacuation. Medical sleds with immobilisation equipment are positioned at intervals along the course. If a competitor crashes and does not immediately rise, the race is stopped (red flag) and medical personnel are dispatched. The competitor may not be moved until cleared by medical staff.
8.4 Weather and Visibility Conditions
The competition jury has authority to delay, interrupt, or cancel a race based on weather conditions:
- Wind: Sustained winds exceeding 8 m/s (29 km/h, 18 mph) at exposed sections of the course may trigger a delay. Higher gusts may warrant cancellation.
- Visibility: Flat light, fog, or heavy snowfall that prevents competitors from reading terrain safely is grounds for delay or cancellation. The TD and jury assess visibility from multiple points on the course.
- Temperature: Extreme cold (below −20 °C / −4 °F) or warm conditions causing dangerous surface softening may trigger delays. Snow temperature and air temperature are monitored.
- Snowfall: Heavy snowfall during a race may necessitate interruption to allow course workers to clear gates and maintain visibility. The jury determines whether conditions allow a fair competition.
If a race is stopped after a significant number of competitors have started, the jury may declare the partial results valid, re-run the event, or cancel entirely, depending on the circumstances and the proportion of the field that completed their runs.
8.5 Course Maintenance During Competition
Course workers continuously maintain the racing surface between competitors. In SL and GS, workers reset dislodged gate poles and repair ruts caused by turning. In DH and SG, workers may apply salt or water injection to harden the surface in warm conditions. The jury may institute “course holds” (temporary breaks) to allow major surface repairs without disadvantaging later starters.