MUST READ: Inspection + Terrain Enhancement Rules
It is imperative that athletes and coaches understand the new rules and guidelines surrounding venue inspection and terrain enhancement protocol.
We wanted to provide a few important reminders about the rules around venue inspection and terrain enhancement protocol before dropping in to the competitive season. An alarming number of venue inspection infractions were observed back in the 2018-2019 season. As a result, the IFSA Board of Directors adjusted the language in the IFSA Region 2 handbooks and will be STRICTLY enforcing athlete disqualification and coach suspensions for infractions of the venue inspection or terrain enhancement rules and protocol.
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It must be emphasized that athletes enhancing or manipulating the terrain during inspection or on the day of the event will be disqualified.
It must be emphasized that coaches enhancing or manipulating the terrain during inspection or on the day of the event will be stripped of their coaching credentials and their IFSA Coach Membership shall be suspended until a satisfactory response to the IFSA Board of Directors is submitted.
DON'T BE DISQUALIFIED!
Judges will not hesitate to DQ offenders
IFSA VENUE INSPECTION PROTOCOL
- Venue inspection is MANDATORY for all athletes.
- Any manner of terrain enhancement or alteration is not permitted unless clearly stated otherwise by event officials. See section 2.5 below. Terrain enhancement by either coaches or athletes is strictly prohibited. This behavior will result in immediate disqualification of the athlete or suspension of the coach by the head judge or TD.
- During inspection, athletes must be aware of everyone else around them.
- On the day of competition, athletes must have an opportunity to have access to the competition venue to inspect the terrain and features within the venue. If the venue must be changed or altered significantly, after the initial venue inspection, athletes must have an opportunity for another inspection.
- Slow riding/skiing is MANDATORY during venue inspection.
- The technical director and/or head judge will disqualify a competitor from the competition for riding fast or recklessly during inspection.
- Athletes may not practice, session, or rehearse a line during inspection or jump/drop any features within the venue boundary. This behavior will result in immediate disqualification.
- In blind areas, athletes shall verbally announce themselves to make others aware of their presence and intended next move/position.
- Athletes are to be respectful of fellow athletes, coaches, and officials during inspection.
- Athletes and coaches must respect the snow coverage while inspecting. Consider the rest of the competitors before you slide repeatedly in an area or access snow in a takeoff or landing zone. Never set a traverse across a landing zone as riders following your line will create a rut in the snow that will become a safety hazard. Whenever possible, use a side step motion instead of sliding or skidding to a stop. Riders may ski through a zone to check snow but traversing shall be avoided.
- Note that an inspection closure is defined as an area that cannot be accessed during inspection. These are areas that may not withstand inspection pressure. To conduct the competition safely, inspection closures must be limited to inspection and reevaluated as potential venue options before the competition by the head judge and TD.
- Reckless behavior or infractions of inspection rules will result in immediate disqualification from the event at the discretion of the TD and head judge.
IFSA TERRAIN ENHANCEMENT PROTOCOL
- Terrain enhancement or alteration by athletes is not permitted unless clearly stated otherwise by the technical director. See below for specifications. Terrain enhancement or alteration by either coaches or athletes is strictly prohibited. This behavior will result in immediate disqualification of the athlete or suspension of the coach by the head judge or technical director.
Under special circumstances an event organizer and technical director may need to employ terrain manipulation to enhance the venue. If this is the case, it must be completed and clearly communicated prior to the beginning of venue inspection.
- If a venue has limited features and/or the conditions dictate, the TD/event organizer may enhance the venue to create a more challenging and safe venue. Safety must be the first concern when altering venues. No athlete participation in shovel or tool manipulated terrain is permitted.
- Any level of enhancement will be clearly posted and/or communicated to all athletes and coaches by the event organizer or TD. The enhancement must be completed prior to the first inspection run of the competition day and communicated and announced to athletes and coaches. This is just one reason why athlete meeting attendance is MANDATORY.
- Due to snow conditions or safety concerns, an event organizer and TD may allow for terrain enhancement by coaches, athletes, event staff or volunteers in specific scenarios. However, this is restricted to situations where snow compaction is needed in the case of breakable crust, icy conditions, etc.
It must be emphasized that athletes enhancing or manipulating the terrain during inspection or on the day of the event will be disqualified. - It must be emphasized that coaches enhancing or manipulating the terrain during inspection or on the day of the event will be stripped of their coaching credentials and their IFSA Coach Membership shall be suspended until a satisfactory response to the IFSA Board of Directors is submitted.
BE AWARE
The technical director and/or head judge will disqualify a competitor for riding fast or recklessly during inspection.
The technical director and/or head judge will disqualify any competitor or suspend any coach who alters, manipulates, or changes the snow or features within the venue.
Ski and shred smart and make good decisions,
- IFSA Board of Directors
January 5, 2020
