How do riders qualify for a halfpipe final?
A · Advanced · Park and pipe · 1 of 2Riders are seeded into qualification heats by ranking, spread so the best are in different heats. The top finishers from each heat go to the final, or to a semifinal in bigger fields. A World Cup final usually has 10 to 12 men and 6 to 12 women. Tied riders share the place, and a tie at the cut sends both through.
How it works
- Heat size: 12 to 30 for halfpipe, slopestyle and big air.
- Seeding: two heats split 1, 4, 5, 8 and 2, 3, 6, 7.
- Semifinal: recommended with more than 24 to 30 riders.
- Final: 10 to 12 men and 6 to 12 women at World Cups.
- Ties: same rank; the higher bib listed first.
- Tie at the cut: all tied riders go through.
- Re-runs: a jury member may grant one if a rider is obstructed.
- Final ranking: finalists first, then semifinalists, then qualifiers.
The glossary has the qualifying heat, the run selection, the competition levels, the video review, the judges and the slopestyle.
Tricky cases
A rider is blocked by a fallen rider. What happens?
They may ask a jury member for a re-run; it stands even if it turns out worse.
Two riders tie for the last final place. Who goes?
Both; the final grows by one.
Must a rider leave the course after being obstructed?
Yes, at once, without riding further down the course.
Can a rider pick which run counts?
No. The format sets the counting runs; usually the best one counts.
Why the rule exists
Spreading top seeds across heats keeps heats even. Sending tied riders through avoids an arbitrary cut between equal runs.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Halfpipe | Heats of 12 to 30, ideal 25 | ICR 3501.1.1 |
| Street style | Heats of 10 to 25 | ICR 3501.1.1 |
| FIS level and below | Jam format possible | ICR 3504.3 |
From the rule book
FIS, ICR Book VI: Snowboard / Freestyle / Freeski / Ski Cross (edition June 2026), rules 3501, 3503, 3611.2 and 3702. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: the FIS ICR and the FIS judges' handbooks, updated each season.