Industry News
The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (‘FIS’) mandates that for the 23/24 season all Freeski competitors have to use ski poles. The new regulation was stated in the 23/24 FIS Snowboard & Freeski Park & Pipe Judges Handbook, which was released in October 2023.
The Judges Handbook states that ski poles are mandated for all level 1 competitions. Level 1 competitions are events in the Olympics, Youth Olympics, World Cup, World Championships and Junior World Championships.
“It is commonly agreed that using poles drastically increases the complexity and difficulty in competitive Freeskiing. Over past seasons, the Freeskiing community came to an agreement the using poles should be mandatory in all Level 1 competitions (OWG, WC, WSC, WJC and YOG). An athlete who chooses to compete without poles will be scored accordingly and will receive a score in the crash range.”
— Snowboard & Freeski Park & Pipe Judges Handbook
A score in the crash range would equate to a score between 1-20 points, essentially instantly eliminating a competitor.
The decision by FIS to enforce the use of poles in Level 1 competitions is not surprising. Everyone in the industry agrees that jumps without poles, especially grabs, are significantly easier to execute. This ruling creates a level playing field. During the 2023 FIS Freestyle World Championships in Georgia last year ski poles were temporarily made compulsory for the Freeski competitions.
