Section 8: Safety Considerations
8.1 Jumping Phase Safety
- FIS-approved helmet mandatory for all jumps; chin strap must be fastened
- Competition jury monitors wind conditions continuously; jumping halted if crosswind exceeds safe thresholds (typically >3 m/s sustained crosswind)
- In-run gate adjusted by the jury based on wind, snow, and athlete safety; athletes cannot request gate changes
- Landing area maintained with groomed and shaped snow; minimum snow depth requirements enforced
- Medical team with stretcher positioned at the base of the landing hill; ambulance on standby
- Fall protocol: if an athlete falls during landing, competition is paused to clear the outrun before the next jumper
8.2 Cross-Country Phase Safety
- Temperature limits apply: competition cancelled or shortened if ambient temperature drops below -20 °C (-4 °F) or wind chill below -25 °C (-13 °F)
- Course controllers stationed every 500 m with radio communication to race control
- Emergency snowmobile access to all course sections within 3 minutes
- Athletes showing signs of hypothermia, exhaustion, or collapse are removed by medical personnel
8.3 Transition Area Safety
- Transition area must be fenced and controlled to prevent unauthorized access
- Non-slip surfaces or mats at the equipment change area to prevent falls
- Team support personnel limited to designated areas; no more than 2 team staff per athlete in the transition zone
- Equipment laid out in pre-assigned positions to avoid collisions between athletes during simultaneous transitions
8.4 General Safety Provisions
- Competition may be cancelled, postponed, or shortened at any time if conditions become unsafe for either discipline
- If the jumping phase is completed but the cross-country cannot be held (e.g., extreme weather), the competition may be rescheduled or the jumping results may stand as provisional (jury decision)
- All venues must have an emergency action plan reviewed by local emergency services before competition
- Anti-doping controls conducted per WADA and FIS Anti-Doping Rules; selected athletes tested after competition