Gate Passage Right & Wrong 

A review of the rules governing definition of the gates, correct passage, and gate judge activity in alpine ski racing today. The fundamental feature of alpine ski racing is the control gate. The control gate was developed early in the twentieth century in a collaboration between an English travel agent, seeking to promote recreation on the European continent, and an Austrian ski instructor in the legendary Arlberg region of the alps. Sir Arnold Lunn, working with the Austrian ski instructor Hannes Schneider, developed the control gate. It is still in use today and is one of the distinguishing features of alpine ski racing. Two poles are set into the snow, to de-mark the beginning and end of the "gate line", which each racer must cross. The "gate line" is an imaginary line that runs across the surface of the snow between the two poles. All of the various "disciplines" of alpine ski racing employ the concept of a control gate and the "gate line". Sir Arnold also founded the first ski club that promoted organized racing, The Kandahar Ski Club, and developed the first codified (regulated by specific rules) race discipline, the "Special" Slalom. Therefore, the rules for gate passage are based upon the fundamental concepts laid down by Sir Arnold Lunn and the legendary Austrian, Hannes Schneider.

Gate Passage in the Slalom page 2

Gate Passage in a single pole Slalom correct gate passage is different with a single pole.   A single pole slalom course will have double pole gates at the start, finish and on delays .    Both ski tips and boots have to cross the “gate line”   .   1.    Double pole gate line is the line from the turning gate to the outside gate  2.    Single pole gate line is the line from the turning gate to the pervious turning gate.  Therefore the racer will have to hike higher on the hill if they miss the gate.  

Gate Passage in the DH, GS, and SG page 3

Examples of Correct Gate Passage page 4

Hooking, Acrobatic but Legal page 5

Examples of Incorrect Gate Passage page 6

2. SINGLE GATE GIANT SLALOM has been approved for USSA competitions. 

904.2 A Single Gate Giant Slalom has no outside gate, except for the first and the last gate and delayed gates.

904.3 Where there is no outside gate, both feet and ski tips must have passed the turning pole of the turning gate on

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