Masters ski racing is the premier adult ski racing series in the country.
Masters racing is governed by U.S. Ski & Snowboard,
the sanctioning body for all organized ski racing in the US from local junior races
all the way up to international and Olympic competition.
The Far West Masters organize a yearly schedule of competitions
consisting of Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super Giant Slalom, and Downhill races.
Masters competitions in the Far West are governed by the official
US Masters Alpine Competition rules, which provide the basis for high-quality age group competition
governed by standard rules, along with a few adjustments unique to our division.
The principle modifications adopted by the Far West masters are
the scoring of a special Open class for race results and season standings.
A brief summary of the basic competition rules follows.
For complete details, refer to the 
US Alpine Masters Competition Guide,
published annually by U.S. Ski & Snowboard and available online on the
Masters Rules page
of the usskiandsnowboard.org web site
.
Eligibility and Race Registration
- About the race entry process
(detailed description of race entry process)
- Competitors must have a U.S. Ski & Snowboard alpine master membership. Alternatively, you may obtain
a short-term alpine master membership for each race day; short-term membership fees will be credited towards the
season masters membership.
- Entries should be submitted online through masters.AdminSkiRacing.com - see the Season Schedule page
for information and specific deadlines for each event.
Online registration: masters.AdminSkiRacing.com/farwest
- Entries should be submitted so that they are received at least 5 days prior to the event to allow organizers to properly plan and staff the event.
Entries received after the published early registration deadline (usually Sunday evening prior to the start of the event)
will be subject to a $5/race late fee.
Registration closes at the published entry deadline for the event; entries received after the
entry deadline are considered late entries and will only be accepted at the discretion of the race organizer.
Day-of-race signups will generally NOT be accepted; you must be on the start list prepared
the day prior to the race to be able to compete.
- Cancellation: (torn check policy) You may cancel a race entry without penalty up until the published
entry deadline for the event (listed on the Season Schedule page as well as on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com
for all race events). The entry deadline is usually set to allow at least a 1-2 day setback before the start of the event so the race organizer
can prepare for the event (e.g. typically you must cancel by close on online registration on Thursday evening for a weekend race starting on Saturday) .
At the organizer's discretion, an earlier entry deadline may be set.
It is the competitor's responsibility to contact the race organizer if they wish to withdraw
from the competition after the entry deadline; entry fees will be charged for all entries
received as of the entry deadline unless the organizer grants a refund (e.g. for injury or illness).
No entry fees are charged if the competition is cancelled (e.g., due to adverse weather conditions).
The cancellation policy applies equally to both online and mailed race entries.>
Classes and Start Order
- Age classes span
5-year ranges according to the US Alpine Masters Competition Guide (with class 1 covering the extended age range of 18-29).
Class start order is generally oldest to youngest, women before men, with all 70+ classes starting before all others.
- Your age class for the duration of a competition season (Nov-Jun) is determined by your age on Dec. 31 of the competition season
- First run start order is by random draw within age class
- Second run start order is by reverse first-run-finish time, i.e., slowest to fastest within class. First run DNF/DSQ's may run at the end of their age class, subject to the race jury assessment that course conditions will not be adversely affected for qualified competitors.
- Competitors may elect to be scored in the overall Open class for the season or by event; Open class
competitors race within their age group in the start order but are scored for race awards
based on the overall ranking of Open class participants
-
2025 Season Scoring and Open Class
*** you must declare for Open class BEFORE race day!! ***
Race Rules
- Course setting follows the standard US Alpine masters rules for each discipline.
The general guideline is that courses should be set for the typical, good, 45 year-old racer, and be such that a 70+ year-old racer can negotiate it safely.
- Helmets certified for ski racing are required for all disciplines.
Helmets must provide full coverage of the head; soft ear covers are allowed only for SL-specific helmets.
No attachments or edges that stick out are permitted (e.g. no helmet cams), with the exception of protective
features integral to the discipline (e.g. a SL chin guard may used in SL). This is a safety and liability concern;
please consult the official US Alpine Competition Rules for details.
-
US Alpine Masters helmet rules
*** FIS cert REQUIRED for GS/SG/DH ***
- With the exception of forearm protection as well as shin protection used in SL, body protection must be worn under the suit.
Knee and leg braces must be worn under one's speed suit/ski pants or be otherwise covered.
- If you lose a ski, you may not continue. If you miss a gate, you are disqualified and may not continue to ski the course.
You may NOT hike if you have come to a complete stop in DH, SG, or GS event; hiking back to a missed gate is only permitted in SL.
- If you miss a gate and hike back (SL only), you must give way if in so doing you will interfere with the next racer.
Be fair to your fellow competitors!
If you are overtaken you are disqualified and may not continue.
- Disqualifications are posted electronically or on the finish board at the completion of each run. Although our masters competitors serving as race officials will attempt to notify you to ensure you know that have been disqualified, it is
your responsibility to check the DQ list!
You have a 15 minute period following the posting of the DQ list if you wish to file a protest.
- In general, course inspection should be from outside the course. At the discretion of the race jury, course inspection may be permitted by slow side slipping beside the course.
- Shadowing or high speed inspection through the course is not allowed and cause for disqualification, for reasons of both fairness and safety.
- Free skiing on the race hill is not allowed and should be discouraged by the organizers, the officials, and the members. Find an adjacent slope for your warmups and save the race hill for our course!
Awards
- Race awards are given to the top 3 competitors in each age class and Open class
- Season awards are given to the top 3 competitors in each age class and Open class in the overall season scoring
- You must have a current season membership in Far West Masters
and meet the minimum starts criteria to be eligible for season awards
- 2025 Season Scoring and Open Class
