2024-2025 WIJARA RULES OF COMPETITION

The WIJARA board members have compiled a list of reminders for coaches and parents regarding race-day rules of operation. Please share the below with your coaching staff and parents to help avoid confusion come race day. If you have a concern or comment regarding these points, please let the WIJARA Board Members know via email at board@wijara.org. Thanks for your continued support of this league as a positive, youth-development program. We appreciate all of the volunteer hours it takes to make the league run!

A. WIJARA will primarily follow The Alpine Competition Regulations of the United States Ski & Snowboard Association (“USS&S”) with the modifications listed below.

1. All athletes and parents of athletes who participate WIJARA events agree to comply with the WIJARA code of conduct.

2. A competitor not ready to start when called by the starter, will be moved to the end of the class. If the racer missed the class, they will run at the end of the same gender. If they miss their gender, they will run at the end of the race order.

3. Helmets are required at all events. All helmets must be full race helmets, no soft sided helmets are allowed, and the helmet must completely cover the head and cover the ears with hard plastic. The only exception are Slalom specific, soft sided helmets with the proper jaw protection. Slalom specific helmets will not be allowed for Giant Slalom (GS) races. All Jaw Protectors must be removed for GS Races. Go Pro’s or any other hard mounts of any kind are not allowed on helmets. Jaw protectors, shin guards, pole guards or any other protective gear is not required to run Slalom.

4. Hiking is not allowed for GS. If an athlete misses a gate or otherwise loses momentum, it is not allowed to hike back up the hill to make the turn. Athletes who miss a gate in GS should ski off as soon as it is safe to do so. In a 2 run GS race, the racer will be allowed to take their 2nd run. Hiking is allowed in a SL race, but competitors should always be aware that another racer may be approaching. If a competitor leaves the race venue (for any discipline), the racer is disqualified and should not be allowed to complete the course for safety reasons.

5. Any competitor claiming course obstruction (e.g. someone in the course, gate missing, animal running across the course, hiking racer, etc.) should ski off course and contact the first gatekeeper they see and explain the obstruction. The competitor should immediately inform their coach of the situation, and the coach will contact an official (Chief of Race, TD or Referee) to obtain permission for a provisional re-run for the athlete.

6. A competitor shall be disqualified if he/she enters the course without his/her bib visibly displayed.

7. Gatekeepers should be reminded and encouraged to write as much detail on cards as possible. In addition, if possible, gate keepers should write up cards for infractions that occur outside of their monitoring zone. If the Referee receives multiple cards for the same racer, it clearly states that multiple
gatekeepers witnessed the infraction. Gatekeepers should sign the DQ cards and include the team name they are gate-keeping for and a cell phone number in case an official needs to ask a question.

8. One coach from each team is required to carry a WIJARA radio. Please select a coach to sign out a WIJARA radio before each race.

9. If a racer has a concern about a posted time, the racer must have a coach (not a parent) discuss the issue with a course official to determine the issue. All posted times are preliminary.

10. Protests shall be made no later than 15 minutes after the preliminary DQ’s are posted. All protests shall be made to a race official by a coach. DQ postings will be made by the referee during the race.

11. Hill host is responsible for setting up venue and safe environment for the event. The jury takes responsibility for the event once course inspection starts. Members of the jury have the right to remove individuals from the race venue if they present a risk to racers. The only individuals allowed on the race venue are competitors, coaches, gate keepers and course officials. Spectators and Photographers must remain outside the venues for safety reasons.

12. Course inspection shall be conducted by the competitors in the manner prescribed by the Chief of Race. Skiing a course prior to a start will result in a DQ for the racer.