Can coaches help athletes during a ski mountaineering race?
A · Advanced · On the track · 2 of 4No outside help is allowed, except swapping a broken pole anywhere, a broken ski or binding at a technical point and food and drink in the refreshment area. Athletes must help anyone in distress, and keep the place they would have had. Dropping rubbish or kit on the track costs 3 minutes or 30 seconds.
How it works
- Broken pole: may be changed anywhere, with anyone.
- Broken ski or binding: only at a technical point.
- Food and drink: only in the refreshment area.
- Other help: 3 minutes or 30 seconds.
- Help in distress: compulsory; not helping costs 3 minutes or 30 seconds.
- Credit: the jury can use the athlete's earlier position.
- Rubbish: only in the refreshment area's bags.
- Earphones: banned in races; allowed in the warm-up.
The glossary has the outside assistance, the technical point, the refreshment area, the environmental rule, the did not start (ski mountaineering) and the penalty scales (ski mountaineering).
Tricky cases
An athlete stops to help an injured rival. Do they lose out?
No. The jury can rank them by an earlier checkpoint or split if that is better.
Can an athlete throw away a broken pole?
No. Leaving equipment on the track is not allowed.
An athlete gives up mid-race. What must they do?
Give up at a checkpoint and tell the Jury President at the finish.
Can coaches cheer from anywhere?
They must keep to the coaches' areas.
Why the rule exists
Banning help keeps the race a test of the athlete alone. Requiring aid to others in danger reflects the mountain code that safety comes first.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Individual and team races | Refreshment and technical points | 24.2.5 |
| Olympic sprint and mixed relay | Only broken poles swapped | 56.8 |
| Coaches | Breaches reported for discipline | 27.2 F |
From the rule book
ISMF, Rules & Guidelines, version 2026-2027, rules 24.2.5, 26.4.10, 26.4.13, 26.4.14, 56.8 and 27.2 C.17 to C.19 and F. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the ISMF Rules & Guidelines 2026-2027.