What equipment must ski racers use?
Officials' detail · Penalties, equipment and officials · 1 of 1Every racer and forerunner must wear an approved crash helmet in training and racing, and skis must have ski brakes. Racers wear the official bib. At the Olympics, World Championships and World Cup, race suits in all events except slalom need a label showing they meet FIS rules. Racers must be at least in the under-18 age group.
How it works
- Helmet: a crash helmet meeting FIS specifications, for training and racing.
- Soft ear protection: allowed only on slalom helmets.
- Ski brakes: required; a racer without them may not start.
- Suits: must meet FIS specifications in all events except slalom.
- Suit labels: required at the top levels; no label means no start.
- Bibs: official start numbers, not altered.
- Age: at least the under-18 age group for international races; the FIS year runs from 1 July.
- Youth races: under-14 and under-16 events have their own rules.
The glossary has the crash helmet, the ski, the not permitted to start, the forerunner, the official training and the penalties (alpine).
Tricky cases
Can a slalom racer wear a soft helmet with ear flaps?
Soft ear protection is allowed only on slalom helmets; the helmet must still meet FIS specifications.
A suit is suspected of being modified. What happens?
It is marked and, after the race, sent to FIS for testing, unless an FIS equipment controller checks it on site.
How old must a racer be for international races?
At least in the under-18 age group, except for under-14 and under-16 events.
Do forerunners need helmets?
Yes, the same as racers.
Why the rule exists
Helmets and ski brakes protect racers at high speed. Rules on suits stop racers from gaining speed with fabrics that cut air resistance.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Top-level races | Labelled suits required | FIS 606.2.2 |
| Slalom | No suit rule; soft ear protection allowed | FIS 606.2, 807 |
| Youth races | Own age groups and quotas | FIS 608 |
From the rule book
FIS, ICR Book IV: Joint Regulations for Alpine Skiing (edition July 2026), articles 606 to 608, 627 and 707. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the FIS ICR, revised by the FIS Council each season.