Section 8: Safety Considerations
8.1 Course Certification
All competition venues must be inspected and certified by the FIS Technical Delegate before the first training session. The TD verifies feature dimensions, snow depth in landing zones, run-out areas, and spectator exclusion zones. No competition may begin without TD sign-off.
8.2 Snow and Landing Conditions
- Landing zones for all jump features must have a minimum snow depth of 1.0–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) of packed snow.
- Halfpipe walls must be consistently shaped and free of exposed ice, rocks, or debris.
- SBX courses must be groomed and inspected between heats to maintain consistent conditions.
8.3 Wind and Visibility Limits
- Halfpipe / Slopestyle / Big Air: Maximum sustained wind 8 m/s (18 mph). Higher gusts may trigger a competition hold.
- SBX: Maximum 12 m/s (27 mph). Visibility must allow riders to see the next feature from the previous one.
- PGS: Maximum 10 m/s (22 mph). Low visibility may lead to postponement.
8.4 Medical and Emergency Protocols
- A medical team with stretcher and toboggan access must be stationed at every jump, pipe, or high-speed section.
- An ambulance must be on-site with a clear evacuation route to the nearest trauma center.
- Safety nets and padding (B-net) must be placed at high-speed sections of SBX courses and along the sides of the halfpipe deck.
- An athlete who is unconscious, suspected of concussion, or unable to descend under their own power must be medically evaluated before being permitted to continue competing.
8.5 Athlete Course Inspection
Athletes are given a formal inspection period before competition to walk or ride the course at reduced speed. By starting, the athlete accepts the course conditions. Any hazards identified during inspection must be reported to the jury immediately.
8.6 Concussion Protocol
FIS applies a standardized concussion management protocol across all snowboard disciplines. Any athlete who shows signs of concussion (loss of consciousness, confusion, balance deficits, or visible distress after a crash) must be immediately removed from competition and assessed using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT). Return-to-competition requires physician clearance after a minimum 24-hour symptom-free period and completion of a graduated return-to-sport protocol.
8.7 Night Events and Artificial Lighting
- Big Air and Halfpipe events are frequently held under artificial lighting for spectator appeal and broadcast scheduling. Minimum illumination of 1,200 lux is required across all competition features.
- Athletes must receive training opportunities under the same lighting conditions before competition.
- Backup power generators are mandatory to prevent power failures during night events.
8.8 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.