 Piste
Rules
Piste
rules for skiers and snowboarders |
Rule 1 - Respect for others
A skier must behave
in such a way that he does not endanger or prejudice others.
Skiers are responsible not only for their own behaviour but also
for their defective equipment. This also applies to
those using newly developed equipment.
Rule 2 - Control of speed and skiing
A skier must ski in control.
He must adapt his speed and manner of skiing to his personal
ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and
weather as well as to the density of traffic.
Collisions usually happen because skiers are travelling too
fast, out of control or have failed to see others. A skier
must be able to stop, turn and move within his own vision.
In crowded areas or in places where visibility is reduced,
skiers
must ski slowly especially at the edge of a steep slope, at
the bottom of a piste and within areas surrounding ski lifts.
Rule 3 - Choice of route
A skier coming from behind must choose
his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers
ahead. Skiing is a free activity
sport where everyone may ski where and as they please, provided
that they abide
by these
rules and adapt their skiing to their own personal ability
and to the prevailing conditions on the mountain. The skier
in front
has priority. The skier skiing behind another in the same
direction must keep sufficient distance between himself and
the other
skier so as to leave the preceding skier enough space to
make all his
movements freely.
Rule 4 - Overtaking
A skier may overtake another skier above
or below and to the right or to the left provided that
he leaves enough space for the overtaken skier to make any
voluntary
or
involuntary movement. A skier
who overtakes another is wholly responsible for completing
that manoeuvre in such a way as to cause
no difficulty to the skier being overtaken. This responsibility
rests with
him until the overtaking manoeuvre has been completed.
This
rule applies even when overtaking a stationary skier.
Rule 5 - Entering and starting
A skier entering a marked
run or starting again after stopping must look up and
down the
run to
make sure that he can do so without endangering himself
or others.
It is absolutely essential that a skier finding himself
in this
situation enters the piste safely and without causing
an obstruction or danger to himself or others. When
he has started skiing properly again - even slowly -
he has the benefit of rule 3 as against faster skiers
coming
from
above or behind.
Rule 6 - Stopping on the piste
Unless absolutely necessary,
a skier must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow
places or
where visibility
is restricted. After a fall in such a place, a skier
must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.
Except on wide pistes stops must be made at the side
of the piste. One must not stop in narrow
places
or
where it
is difficult to be seen from above.
Rule 7 - Climbing and descending on
foot
Both a skier
climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side
of the piste. Moving
against the general direction poses unexpected obstacles
for the skiers. Footprints damage
the piste and
can cause danger to skiers.
Rule 8 - Respect for signals and markings
A skier must
respect the signals and markings. The degree of difficulty of a piste
is indicated in black, red or blue. A
skier is
free to choose
whichever piste he wants. The pistes are also marked
with other signs
showing
direction or giving warnings of danger or closure.
A sign closing a piste, like one denoting danger,
must be strictly
observed.
Skiers should be aware that warning signs on
pistes are in their own interests.
Rule 9 - Assistance At accidents
Every skier
is duty bound to assist. It is a cardinal principle
for all sportsmen that they should render assistance following
an accident independent
of any legal obligation to do so. Immediate First
Aid should be given, the appropriate authorities
alerted
and the place
of the accident marked to warn other skiers.
FIS hopes that a hit
and run offence in skiing will incur a criminal
conviction similar to a hit and run offence on
the road and
that equivalent penalties
will be imposed by all countries where such legislation
is not already in force.
Rule 10 - Identification
Every skier and witness,
whether responsible party or not, must exchange
names and
addresses following
an accident. Witnesses
are of great importance in establishing a full
and proper report of
an accident
and therefore
everybody must consider that it is his duty
as a responsible person
to provide information as a witness. Reports
of the rescue service
and of the police as well as photographs are
of considerable assistance in determining civil
and
criminal liability.
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