Section 8: Safety Considerations
8.1 Course Approval
The Jury must formally approve the course before the first Official Training. A Jury member inspects the course before each day's training and periodically during the competition (ICR 3605).
8.2 Snow and Course Conditions
- The halfpipe must have compact, consistent snow in the walls and be ready for training at least one day before the first scheduled session (ICR 3102.2.2).
- Park and pipe courses must be entirely closed off by barriers. In critical places, the Jury may require safety installations such as mattresses, pads and nets (ICR 3102.1).
- SBX courses must be entirely closed off by barriers and secured with suitable safety material in agreement with the Jury (ICR 5102.2.1, 5102.2.2).
8.3 Athlete Course Inspection
Before the first official training on each competition day, a course inspection is held for coaches and competitors, sliding down the course without riding the features. Teams can then raise concerns with the Jury (ICR 3606).
8.4 Night Events and Artificial Lighting
- Big Air and Halfpipe events are frequently held under artificial lighting for spectator appeal and broadcast scheduling. The light level anywhere on the course may not be less than 80 lux (ICR 2034.2.1).
8.5 Anti-Doping
FIS enforces anti-doping rules per the WADA Code. In-competition and out-of-competition testing is conducted at all World Cup, World Championship, and Olympic snowboard events. Athletes in the FIS Registered Testing Pool must provide quarterly whereabouts information. Violations result in provisional suspension, a formal hearing, and potential multi-year bans with disqualification of results.