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Snowboarding
Athlete Eligibility and Classification
Skiers who are deaf compete under CISS rules which
require a minimum hearing loss of 55 dB in the better ear. Classification
procedures and criteria are described on the CISS web site at
http://www.ciss.org. Click on "about,"
then "regulations," then scroll down to Article 1.3 on eligibility.
Events
There are two snowboard events at the Deaflympics,
namely the giant slalom and freestyle/halfpipe. A third event, the parallel
slalom, is held at some competitions for deaf athletes. Separate events are
contested for men and women.
 | Giant slalom. Athletes are timed as they
snowboard down a hill while negotiating a series of curves marked by
gates. |
| Freestyle/halfpipe. Athletes build speed
while sliding down into the halfpipe. Their momentum vaults them
into the air over the rim of the upward slope of the halfpipe, where they
perform acrobatic tricks before descending for another pass. |
| Parallel slalom. Two snowboarders compete
head-to-head on tandem giant slalom courses. |
Playing Area
The giant slalom course in snowboarding is similar to the
giant slalom course in downhill skiing. The vertical drop is approximately
180m, the course is at least 20m wide, and the number of turns equals
10%-13% of the vertical drop. The turns are defined by triangular gates.
The halfpipe is a trough-like course carved out of the
snow. Typical dimensions are 120m long and 15m wide, with 4m vertical walls.
Rules
Snowboard competition at the Deaflympics is conducted
under Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) rules. These rules can be
accessed from the FIS web site at
http://www.fis-ski.com.
| Giant slalom. Athletes are timed as they
race down a slalom course defined by a series of triangular gates. Rules
permit athletes to touch a gate as long as the snowboard clears the gate,
and also to go back to complete a gate that was missed. Snowboarders are
not disqualified for falling. Athletes complete two runs on different
courses, with aggregate time determining finish in the event. |
| Freestyle/halfpipe. The halfpipe event
starts when the athlete enters the course and ends when the athlete: (a)
removes both feet from the board; (b) exits the competition area; (c)
stops for more than 30 seconds; or (d) completes the run. During the run,
the snowboarded performs numerous acrobatic tricks such as helicopters,
flips, and 360o turns. Performances are judged on the basis of
trick difficulty and execution, take-offs and landings, amplitude, and
overall impression. Athletes complete two runs with the total points from
both runs added to determine a final point score. |
Equipment
| Snowboard. Giant slalom boards are stiff,
narrow, and long compared to freestyle/halfpipe snowboards. The slalom
boards are designed for high speeds and fast turns, while the freestyle/halfpipe
boards are designed for balance and tricks. |
| Bindings. Plate bindings are used to
attach boots to alpine boards. Straps or cleats are used to attach boots
to halfpipe boards. |
| Boots. Boots for alpine/slalom events have
a hard plastic exterior with extensive foot and ankle support. Boots for
freestyle/halfpipe events have a soft exterior with foot and ankle
support and lace-up inner boots. |
| Helmet. Hard shell helmets are required in
snowboard competitions. |
| Goggles. Special skiing goggles must be
worn. |
| Clothing. Athletes wear lightweight,
form-fitting clothing designed for both warmth and reduction of wind
resistance. |
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