Can I Hike Back to a Missed Gate?
Can I Hike Back to a Missed Gate?
It depends on the discipline—and whether the next racer is on your heels.
We've all been there. You're in the middle of a run, you miss a gate, and in that split second you have to decide: do I hike back, or is my run over? The answer depends on what event you're racing.
Important: Hiking back to a missed gate in slalom is a U.S. Ski & Snowboard rule only. Under FIS (international) rules, hiking is not permitted in any event.
Slalom: Yes, You Can Hike Back
Slalom is the only discipline where you're allowed to hike back to a missed gate. If you realize you haven't correctly passed a turning pole, you can climb back up and pass around it correctly before continuing your run.
There are two important conditions:
You must not interfere with the next competitor. If hiking back up the course would put you in the path of the racer behind you, you cannot do it. You must stop, move away from the course, and accept a DNF.
The next competitor must not have already passed you. If the racer behind you has already gone by, your run is over. Move safely off the course.
If neither of those situations applies and you can get back up to the missed gate without causing a problem, go ahead and hike. Pass around the turning pole correctly, and continue your run. Yes, your time will reflect the delay—but a slow finish beats a DNF if you're chasing points or simply want to complete the course.
What "Correctly Passing" Means
When you hike back, you need to make sure you actually clear the gate properly. Both your feet and your ski tips must pass the turning pole on the same side by hiking up and around the gate that was missed. A half-hearted pass won't cut it—get all the way around.
GS, Super G, and Downhill: No Hiking Allowed
In Giant Slalom, Super G, and Downhill, if you miss a gate, your run is over. You must not continue through any further gates, and you'll be designated DNF. There's no option to hike back. These are fixed-interval start events, and the rules are clear: a missed gate ends your run.
The same applies if you come to a complete stop in any of these disciplines. Once your skis stop moving, you cannot continue through any previous or future gates. Your run is done.
The Stopping Rule in Slalom Is Different, Too
In slalom, coming to a complete stop doesn't automatically end your run the way it does in GS, Super G, or Downhill. You can stop and then continue—again, as long as you don't interfere with the next competitor and haven't been passed by them. This is what makes hiking back to a missed gate possible in slalom: the rules allow for stopping and resuming.
If you slow down significantly but never come to a complete stop, you may continue in any discipline. Just don't interfere with the next racer or let them pass you.
What If You Lose a Ski?
In slalom, GS, and Super G, if you lose a ski more than two gates before the finish, you are disqualified and may not continue your run. However, if you lose a ski within the last two gates, you can finish on one ski. And if you fall between the last gate and the finish line, you can cross the finish without any skis at all (ACR U629.4, 615.3).
The Bottom Line
If you miss a gate in slalom, look uphill, assess the situation, and if the coast is clear, hike back and make it right. In every other discipline, accept the miss and ski safely off the course.
Knowing these rules before you're in the start gate means you won't waste precious seconds trying to figure out what to do. And in slalom, that knowledge might just save your run.
Rules referenced are from the U.S. Ski & Snowboard 2025-2026 season updates (ACR U804.3, 904.3, 614.2.2, 614.2.3, UACR 661.4.1, ACR U629.4, 615.3).