How much does a fall cost in snowboarding?
I · Intermediate · Park and pipe · 2 of 6In snowboard, judges first score the run as if landed cleanly, then deduct for mistakes on the snow. In halfpipe, a small slip costs 1 to 10 points per judge and a heavy fall 21 to 25. In big air the scale reaches 30. A rider who stops for more than 10 seconds is scored up to that point.
How it works
- Snowboard deductions: taken from the score a clean landing would earn.
- Halfpipe: 1 to 10 small, 11 to 20 medium, 21 to 25 major.
- Big air: 1 to 9 small, 10 to 19 medium, 20 to 29 major, 30 huge.
- Slopestyle: 1 to 5 minor, 6 to 15 medium, 16 to 20 major.
- Freeski: falls sit inside score ranges; a full crash is 1 to 30.
- Stop over 10 seconds: the run ends and is scored to that point.
- Equipment off: removing the board or both skis ends the run.
- Walking up: allowed if all equipment is worn.
The glossary has the fall deductions, the instabilities, the crash range, the bail, the stomp and the Head Judge.
Tricky cases
A rider touches a hand on a halfpipe landing. How much is that?
A light hand touch is a small mistake, 1 to 10 points per judge.
A freeskier loses one ski. Is the run over?
No. The run ends if the rider takes off or loses both skis; walking up is allowed with all equipment on.
Who decides if a rider stopped?
The head judge.
Are deductions the same for skiers and snowboarders?
No. The deduction scale is for snowboard; freeski places falls in score ranges.
Why the rule exists
Fixed deduction bands make judges treat the same mistake the same way. Scoring a stopped run to that point stops riders resetting mid-run.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Snowboard halfpipe | Up to 25 per judge | SFJH 11.1 |
| Snowboard big air | Up to 30 per judge | SFJH 11.2 |
| Freeski | Crash range of 1 to 30 points | SFJH 10.1 |
From the rule book
FIS, ICR Book VI: Snowboard / Freestyle / Freeski / Ski Cross (edition June 2026), rule 3612, with FIS, Snowboard & Freeski Park & Pipe Judges Handbook (September 2024), sections 10 and 11. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: the FIS ICR and the FIS judges' handbooks, updated each season.