Gate Judge

Per USSA Alpine Competition Regulations Handbook 2000 2.7

Every gate judge receives a check card with the following information:

• Name of the gate judge
• Number of the gate(s)
• Designation of the run (1st or 2nd)

If a racer does not pass a gate correctly the gate judge must immediately mark the following on the check card in the columns provided: bib number, gate number where the fault was made, the letter F (fault), a drawing of the fault committed

The gate judge must also watch that the competitor accepts no outside help (e.g. in the case of a fall). A fault of this nature must likewise be entered on the check card.

NOTE: Continued information from USSA Alpine Handbook to follow the "After the race" section.

Five days before the race:

• Contact the chief gatekeeper to recommit to the race. Obtain the location and time of sign in the morning of the race and where and when the gatekeepers will meet.
• Review at this time what is expected to occur during race day, i.e. approximate times of each run, necessary equipment, whether you'll be on skis or hiking.
• Discuss warm clothing and footwear needed, including ski poles even if hiking
• Confirm if you have a "Talk About" radio and if so, confirm that gatekeepers will be on channel 5-30.

Morning of race:

• Checks weather conditions and dresses appropriately, i.e. boot warmers, neck warmers, goggles, ski poles even if hiking, pad to stand on if possible
• Approximately 90 minutes prior to the start of the first race, signs in at the registration table and receives bib, clipboard, control cards, etc. from Chief Gatekeeper. We suggest that you personally bring extra pencils and a zip lock bag for control cards in case of inclement weather.
• Meets Chief Gatekeeper at the designated time and place for gate assignments.
• When gates are assigned, gatekeeper should draw out several diagrams on the control cards in advance of the race to simplify the drawing in the event of an actual fault during the event

 

During the race:

• Performs role as noted below following the "After the race" section in the USSA description
• If a ski comes off more than 2 gates above the finish line in Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G or more than one gate above the finish in Downhill, the competitor may not continue on the course and you should markdown their bib number with "DQ."
• Only faults need to be documented
• If a competitor falls and they've gone through a lower gate but missed one above, they need not repeat the one that they went through
• A competitor must ask if they missed a gate. If so, you say, "Back"
• Once they have correctly passed through the gate you may call out "Go!"
• If they ask which gate? Tell them by calling out "Back" and pointing.
• Note bad language or unsportsmanlike behavior as a fault and specifically document the situation
• If a competitor is about to overtake another competitor due to a fall or a slower competitor, the person that is overtaking the slower competitor, must yield and must not finish in order to get a rerun. The competitor requesting a rerun must report the incident to the finish referee. The competitor who is overtaking a slower skier may, however, elect to simply ski on and finish.
• If you have the loswest section of the course: The finish line must be crossed on both skis or on one ski or with both feet in case of a fall in the immediate finsih area. In this case the time is taken when any part of the competitor's body or equipment stops the time keepers system.

• Waits until Chief Gatekeeper skis down to collect your control cards
• Remains available after the race for consultation with the jury if faults have occurred at your gates and determines what time the next run will be and what time and where to meet for the next run.

The following passages are continued from the USSA Alpine Competition Handbook 2000 2.7

Correct Passage

• A gate has been passed correctly when both the competitors' ski-tips and both feet have passed across the gate line. If a competitor loses a ski, without committing a fault, e.g. not by straddling a slalom pole, then the tip of the remaining ski and both feet must have passed the gate line. This rule is also valid when a competitor has to climb back up to a gate.
• The gateline in Downhill, Giant Slalom and Super G , where a gate consists of two pairs of poles holding banners between them, is the imaginary shortest line between the two inner poles at snow level
• The gate line in Slalom is the imaginary shortest line between the turning pole and the outside pole
• In the event that a competitor removes a pole from it's vertical position before both the competitor's ski tips and both feet have passed the gate line, the ski tips and feet must still pass the original gate line (marking in the snow)
• In case of doubt, the gate judge should hold to the principle, "it is better that a fault goes unpunished than unfairly punished'.
• "If the gate judge is in doubt whether a fault has occurred, he must make the most careful investigation. He can consult the adjacent gate judge in order to confirm his notes. He can even demand via any member of the Jury that the race be briefly interrupted, so that he may check the tracks on the course.
• The opinions of the public cannot be allowed to influence his judgment.

Giving Information to a Competitor

• On the one hand a competitor himself, in the case of an error or a fall, can turn to the gate judge and question him. On the other hand, the gate judge, where possible, must inform a competitor if he has committed a fault that would lead to disqualification.
• "In either case with a clear, decisive voice, the gate judge answer the competitor's question or informs him with one of the following words:
• "Go!" if the competitor should expect no disqualification, since the gate judge has ruled the gate passage as correct
• "Back!" if the competitor may expect disqualification"
• Each gate judge who has recorded a disqualifying fault or who has been witness to an incident leading to a re-run must be available to the Jury until after the settlement of any protests.

Supplemental Duties of the Gate Judge

• After the necessary entries have been made in his check card, the gate judge must shift immediately to his other duties.
• Replace gate poles vertically (a leaning pole can aid or hinder a competitor)
• Replace knocked out poles in their exact positions: the position may be marked by color substance in the snow
• Replace, if possible, torn or missing banners
• Replace broken gate poles according to color
• Maintain and repair his section of the course.
• Keep the course clear
• Remove any markings made on the course by competitor or third parties

*The above description contains 90% of the information provided in the USSA Alpine Competition Regulations 2000. Please refer to the guide for the complete description.

Although we are not in a position to change the USSA Handbook description, the club urges volunteers to make suggestions on how to enhance each race worker assignment outlined in this document. Please mail suggestions to Val Gilman, 75 Revere Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 or email the suggestions to her at pgilman@tgic.net

  With thanks to Valerie Gilman, VP-AAEF -- ©2000 V. Gilman, All rights reserved.