FIS Piste Rules

Safe skiing in the alps

Tips for responsible skiing and powdering in Saalbach: The 10 FIS piste rules at a glance.

For me personally, skiing is a real pleasure. I love being one of the first to march through the turnstile early in the morning, full of anticipation, and stand on the still empty pistes. Fantastic sunrises and perfectly groomed, clear slopes are the reward for getting up early.

TIP: In the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, the EARLY START from mid-January with selected lifts allows you to enjoy skiing fun from as early as 08:00.

After the first turns - and a short coffee break at one of the region's more than 60 huts - the pistes slowly but surely fill up with many other motivated winter sports enthusiasts. Where large crowds used to wait to get on, modern lift facilities now ensure that it takes an amazingly short time to get to the top in a comfortable lift. The latest Saalbach Story is all about the fine interaction on and off the slopes - and the applicable FIS rules that ensure safe skiing fun.

The FIS piste rules at a glance

The ‘Fédération Internationale de Ski’, or ‘International Ski Federation’ for short, has drawn up rules that apply to all winter sports enthusiasts on the piste and which can result in civil or criminal prosecution if violated. It's about safety for everyone - and that's why there are only advantages to abiding by them.

1. consideration
As a winter sports enthusiast on the piste, you must not endanger or harm others.

2. control your speed and skiing style
As a piste user, you must adapt your own speed and skiing style to your ability, the terrain and the weather conditions.

3. choosing the right lane
Winter sports enthusiasts coming from behind must choose their lane in such a way that they do not endanger the skier in front of them.

4. overtaking
Overtaking is only permitted at a distance that allows the skier or snowboarder being overtaken room to manoeuvre.

5. entering, starting and travelling uphill
Before entering, starting and travelling uphill, the skier must ensure that this is possible without danger.

6. lingering on the downhill run
It must be avoided to linger in narrow or unclear places without need. In the event of a fall, the place must be left as quickly as possible.

7. ascent and descent
Ascents and descents are only permitted at the edge of the piste.

8. observing the signs
All skiers and snowboarders must observe the signs and information boards on the slopes.

9. Behaviour in the event of an accident
In the event of an accident, every winter sports enthusiast is obliged to provide assistance.

10. identification obligation
In the event of an accident, everyone involved and witnesses must be able to identify themselves and give their personal details.

Other regulations

Helmets are compulsory: Wearing a helmet is strongly recommended, but compulsory for children and young people up to the age of 15.
Based on Rule 9, you can find a list of emergency numbers in the ski area and instructions on what to do in an emergency here. You can also read more valuable information from experienced piste rescuers in the Saalbach story ‘24 hours on the mountain - day shift’.

Better safe than sorry - even off the slopes

Especially since the merger with Fieberbrunn, Saalbach has become a true freeride Eldorado. Short powder runs away from the marked pistes or casual routes through untouched steep slopes, following in the footsteps of the pros who come to the Skicircus every year as part of the Freeride World Tour. The countless off-piste options ensure spectacular deep snow experiences. But here too, safety comes first. For yourself, but also for other winter sports enthusiasts and the emergency services, who put their lives on the line in an emergency.

Whether you want to get to grips with freeriding without any prior knowledge or have already gained experience in the alpine area, away from the piste - there's plenty to learn about the topic in Saalbach!