Section 5: Rules of Play
5.1 Competition Format
- Olympic Winter Games and World Championships: in principle 4 heats (Art. 10.6.1). Combined cumulative time of all heats determines the final ranking.
- Continental Championships and all other official IBSF races, including the World Cup: 2 heats (Art. 10.6.1)
- At least one heat must be completed for a race to be officially valid (Art. 10.6.1)
- Training: see 4.1; each athlete needs two accident-free training heats to race (Art. 10.1.5)
5.2 The Start
- Athlete positions the sled at the start block, gripping the front handles (bumpers)
- On the start signal (green light or audible tone), the athlete sprints while pushing the sled for 30–40 m
- After building maximum speed, the athlete dives head-first, face-down (prone) onto the sled
- The start is the only phase where the athlete can generate speed — after loading, momentum comes entirely from gravity
- Start time (measured over approximately 50 m) is a critical performance differentiator; top athletes complete the push phase in under 5 seconds
5.3 Sliding and Steering
- Athletes steer by shifting body weight: pressing the right shoulder into the sled to turn left, and vice versa
- Knee pressure against the sled frame provides additional directional control
- Toe spikes dragged lightly on the ice surface create friction on one side for fine steering adjustments
- Head position affects aerodynamics; athletes keep their chin tucked and body streamlined
- Arms are held tight alongside the body or sled after loading; arms dragging on ice results in friction and time loss
- No mechanical steering devices, brakes, or moving parts on the sled are permitted
5.4 Finishing
- Only the head-first prone position is allowed, and after timing starts at the 50 m point the athlete may not lose contact with the sled (Art. 10.6.5)
- Athlete must cross the finish beam on the sled, and the beam must be broken by the athlete’s helmet (Art. 10.6.5)
- After a crash, the athlete is ranked if they cross the finish beam in contact with the sled (Art. 10.6.5)
- After crossing the finish, the athlete rides into the deceleration zone and uses toe spikes and body drag to slow the sled
5.5 Equipment Inspection Between Runs
- Sled and athlete are weighed immediately after a heat on the Jury’s request, with no modification allowed beforehand; the athlete may request a second weighing and has up to 5 minutes to clear snow and ice first (Art. 10.14)
- Sled dimensions and runner profiles may be checked against IBSF templates at any point during competition
- Any modification to the sled between inspection and the start is prohibited