FIS Rules for Skiers and Snowboarders

The FIS Rules for skiers and snowboarders were adopted by the International Ski Federation FIS (Fédération Internationale des Ski). The FIS Rules originated in 1967 and have since been updated twice, most recently in 2002.

The FIS Rules are – for example, in contrast to traffic regulations – not a law and also not customary legal provisions. However, the FIS Rules and the POE Piste Regulations Draft, as expert summaries of the duties of care to be observed in the practice of alpine skiing for the protection of all participants, are of considerable importance in the legal assessment of skiing and snowboarding accidents. Knowledge of the FIS Rules is presumed for every piste user. Negligent conduct by a piste user cannot be excused by ignorance of the rules. As a skier, one can generally trust that other piste users will follow the piste rules.

According to general opinion, the FIS Rules also apply to snowboarders. Snowboarders must therefore adhere to the FIS Rules.

Courts regularly refer to the FIS Rules and the POE Piste Regulations Draft as a standard for assessment in cases of skiing accidents and snowboarding accidents. Anyone who fails to comply with the FIS Rules and thereby causes an accident resulting in property damage or personal injury is therefore liable to prosecution in many cases and will most likely be liable for damages.

Full Text of the FIS Rules

Preamble

Skiing and snowboarding, like all sports, involve risks. The FIS Rules, as a standard for sportsmanlike conduct by careful and responsible skiers and snowboarders, aim to prevent accidents on ski and snowboard slopes. The FIS Rules apply to all skiers and snowboarders. Every skier and snowboarder is obliged to know and observe them. Anyone who causes an accident in violation of these rules may be held civilly and criminally liable for the consequences.

FIS Rule No. 1: Consideration for other Skiers and Snowboarders

Every skier and snowboarder must behave in such a way that they do not endanger or harm anyone else.

Skiers and snowboarders are responsible not only for their faulty conduct but also for the consequences of defective equipment. This also applies to users of newly developed sports equipment.

In skiing, the principle of prohibiting endangerment applies. According to this principle, every skier must behave in such a way that they do not endanger or harm anyone else. Particular caution is required in so-called neuralgic piste areas (e.g., areas with oncoming traffic).

FIS Rule No. 2: Control of Speed and Manner of Skiing/Riding

Every skier and snowboarder must ski/ride within their sight. They must adapt their speed and manner of skiing/riding to their ability, the terrain, snow and weather conditions, and the traffic density.

Collisions are often the result of excessive speed, uncontrolled skiing/riding, or insufficient observation. Skiers and snowboarders must be able to stop or swerve within their range of vision. In unclear or heavily trafficked areas, one must ski/ride slowly, especially at edges, at the end of pistes, and in the vicinity of lifts and cable cars.

Both the imperative to ski/ride within sight and the imperative of controlled skiing/riding represent fundamental principles of all sports involving movement. When choosing speed, factors such as skill level, terrain, piste conditions, and piste frequency must primarily be considered. A skier must in any case ski/ride in a controlled manner and observe the terrain so precisely that, in the event of an impending collision, they can either swerve in time or stop before the obstacle.

FIS Rule No. 3: Choice of Line

The skier and snowboarder coming from behind must choose their line in such a way that they do not endanger skiers and snowboarders ahead of them.

Skiing and snowboarding are sports of free movement, where everyone can ski/ride as they please, as long as they observe the rules, respect the space of others, and consider their own ability and the respective situation. The skier or snowboarder ahead has priority. Anyone skiing/riding behind another must maintain sufficient distance to allow the person ahead enough room for all their movements.

Fundamentally, the leading skier moving in the general direction of travel has priority over the following skier. The leading skier is generally not required to orient themselves backwards/upwards, even if they are skiing in wide turns and could potentially cross the line of a faster following skier.

FIS Rule No. 4: Overtaking

Overtaking is permitted from above or below, from the right or from the left, but always only with a distance that allows the overtaken skier or snowboarder sufficient room for all their movements.

The obligation of the overtaking skier or snowboarder remains throughout the entire overtaking process, so that the overtaken skier or snowboarder does not get into difficulties. This also applies to passing a stationary skier or snowboarder.

Both when overtaking and when passing or skiing/riding alongside, a sufficient safety distance to the other skier must be maintained. The specific extent of the required safety distance depends on the piste conditions, visibility, piste frequency, as well as the skill level and speed of the involved skiers. Generally, a distance of 2 to 3 meters is sufficient.

FIS Rule No. 5: Entering, Starting, and Uphill Skiing/Riding

Every skier and snowboarder who wishes to enter a descent, restart after a stop, or traverse or ski/ride uphill must ensure, looking both up and down, that they can do so without danger to themselves and others.

Experience shows that entering a piste and restarting after a stop occasionally lead to accidents. It is therefore absolutely essential that a skier or snowboarder who is starting integrates smoothly and without danger to themselves and others into the general flow of traffic on the descent. Once they are moving – even if slowly – they regain priority over faster skiers and snowboarders coming from behind or above, according to Rule 3.

The development of carving skis and snowboards allows their users to execute their turns and curves even uphill. They thus move against the generally downhill flowing traffic and are accordingly obliged to ensure, in good time and looking upwards, that they can do so without danger to themselves and others.

Skiers entering a piste or starting from a standstill have secondary priority compared to skiers already in motion. They are obliged to check for danger from above.

After a period of approximately 4 seconds following entry or start, the priority rule according to FIS Rule 3 applies again.

It should be noted that a skier who enters a piste intersection or piste junction not from open terrain but from another piste does not fall within the scope of FIS Rule 5 and therefore generally does not have secondary priority.

FIS Rule No. 6: Stopping

Every skier and snowboarder must avoid stopping unnecessarily in narrow or unclear sections of a descent. A fallen skier or snowboarder must clear such a spot as quickly as possible.

Except on wide pistes, skiers and snowboarders should only stop and remain at the edge of the piste. Narrow passages and unclear sections must be kept completely clear.

FIS Rule No. 7: Ascent and Descent

A skier or snowboarder who is ascending or descending on foot must use the edge of the descent.

Movements against the general flow of traffic represent unexpected obstacles for skiers and snowboarders. Footprints damage the piste and can thereby endanger skiers and snowboarders.

For ski tourers, the ascent rule applies only to a limited extent.

FIS Rule No. 8: Observing Signs

Every skier and snowboarder must observe the markings and signage.

Pistes are marked black, red, blue, or green according to their difficulty level. Skiers and snowboarders are free to choose pistes corresponding to their preferences. Pistes are marked with information, danger, and closure signs. If a piste is designated as closed or restricted, this must be observed just as strictly as warnings about dangers. Skiers and snowboarders should be aware that these precautions are taken in their interest.

FIS Rule No. 9: Assistance

In the event of accidents, every skier and snowboarder is obliged to provide assistance.

Providing assistance, regardless of a legal obligation, is a dictate of sporting fairness. This means first aid, alerting emergency services, and securing the accident site. The FIS expects that hit-and-run incidents will be punished just as in road traffic, even in countries where such conduct is not already subject to criminal prosecution.

FIS Rule No. 10: Obligation to Identify

Every skier and snowboarder, whether witness or participant, whether responsible or not, must provide their personal details in the event of an accident.

Witness testimony is of great importance for the civil and criminal assessment of an accident. Every responsible skier and snowboarder must therefore fulfill their civic and moral duty to make themselves available as a witness. Reports from emergency services and the police, as well as photographs, also serve to assess questions of responsibility.

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