10 FIS RULES FOR CONDUCT OF SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS

1. Respect for others
A skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that he does not endanger or prejudice others.

2. Control of speed and skiing or snowboarding
A skier or snowboarder must move in control. He must adapt his speed and manner of skiing or snowboarding to his personal ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the density of traffic.

3. Choice of route
A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead.

4. Overtaking
A skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder above or below and to the right or to the left provided that he leaves enough space for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or involuntary movement.

5. Entering, starting and moving upwards
A skier or snowboarder entering a marked run, starting again after stopping or moving upwards on the slopes must look up and down the slopes that he can do so without endangering himself or others.

6. Stopping on the piste
Unless absolutely necessary, a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in such a place, a skier or snowboarder must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.

7. Climbing and descending on foot
A skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side of the piste.

8. Respect for signs and markings
A skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings.

9. Assistance
At accidents, every skier or snowboarder is duty bound to assist.

10. Identification
Every skier or snowboarder and witness, whether a responsible party or not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident.

General Comments on the FIS Rules

Skiing and Snowboarding like all sports entail risks.
The FIS Rules must be considered an ideal pattern of conduct for a responsible and careful skier or snowboarder and their purpose is to avoid accidents on the piste.
The FIS Rules apply to all skiers and snowboarders. The skier or snowboarder is obliged to be familiar with and to respect them.
If he fails to do so, his behaviour could expose him to civil and criminal liability in the event of an accident.

Rule 1
Skiers and snowboarders 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
Collisions usually happen because skiers or snowboarders are moving too fast, out of control or have failed to see others. A skier or snowboarder must be able to stop, turn and move within the ambit of his own vision.
In crowded areas or in places where visibility is reduced, skiers and snowboarders must move slowly especially at the edge of a steep slope, at the bottom of a piste and within areas surrounding skilifts.

Rule 3
Skiing and snowboarding are free activity sports, where everyone may move where and as they please, provided that they abide by these rules and adapt their skiing and snowboarding to their personal ability and to the prevailing conditions on the mountain.
The skier or snowboarder in front has priority. The skier or snowboarder moving behind another in the same direction must keep sufficient distance between himself and the other skier or snowboarder so as to leave the preceding skier or snowboarder enough space to make all his movements freely.

Rule 4
A skier or snowboarder who overtakes another is wholly responsible for completing that manoeuvre in such a way to cause no difficulty to the skier or snowboarder being overtaken. This responsibility rests with him until the overtaking manoeuvre has been completed. This rule applies even when overtaking a stationary skier or snowboarder.

Rule 5
Experience proves that joining a piste or starting again after stopping are the sources of accidents. It is absolutely essential that a skier or snowboarder 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 or snowboarding properly again – even slowly – he has the benefit of rule 3 as against faster skiers and snowboarders coming from above or behind.
The development of carving skis and snowboards allows their users to carve and turn upwards on the slopes. Hence they move opposite to the general downhill traffic. They must, therefore, make sure in time that they can do so without endangering themselves and others.

Rule 6
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
Moving against the general direction poses unexpected obstacles for the skiers and snowboarders.
Footprints damage the piste and can cause danger to skiers and snowboarders.

Rule 8
The degree of difficulty of a piste is indicated in black, red, blue or green. A skier or snowboarder 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 and snowboarders should be aware that warning signs are posted in their own interests.

Rule 9
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 and snowboarders.
FIS hopes that a hit and run offence in skiing and snowboarding will incur a criminal conviction similar to 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
Witnesses are of great importance in establishing a full and proper report of an accident and therefore everybody must consider that it is the 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 determing civil and criminal liability.

10 FIS RULES OF CONDUCT FOR CROSS-COUNTRY SKIERS

1. Respect for others
A cross-country skier must ski in such a manner that he does not endanger or prejudice others.

2. Respect for signs, direction and running style
Trail marking signs must be respected on any trail marked with an indicated direction. A skier shall proceed only in that indicated direction and ski in the indicated running style.

3. Choice of trails and tracks
On cross-country trails with more than one packed track, a skier should chose the right-hand track.
Skiers in groups must keep in the right track behind each other. With free running style, skiers shall keep to their right-hand-side of the trail.

4. Overtaking
A skier is permitted to overtake and pass another skier to the left or right.
A skier ahead is not obliged to give way to an overtaking skier, but should allow a faster skier to pass whenever this is possible.

5. Encounter
Cross-country skiers meeting while skiing opposite directions shall keep to their right.
A descending skier has priority.

6. Poles
A cross-country skier shall make the utmost effort to keep his poles close to his body whenever near another skier.

7. Control of speed
A cross-country skier, and especially going downhill, shall always adapt his speed to his personal ability and to the prevailing terrain and visibility and to the traffic on the course.
Every skier should keep a safe distance from the skiers ahead. As a last resort, an intentional fall should be used to avoid collision.

8. Keeping trails and tracks clear
A skier who stops must leave the trail. In case of a fall, he shall clear the trail without delay.

9. Accident
In case of an accident, everyone should render assistance.

10. Identification
Everybody at an accident, whether witnesses, responsible parties or not, must establish their identity.

FIS (Wording 2002)