We made this webpage to help educate you about high school ski racing and to help teach you how to be an effective gatekeeper. For most of you, you probably have a skiing background, but probably don't know a whole lot about the rules of high school ski racing. We created a few videos to teach you the basics and to help answer your questions about your role as a gatekeeper. In our sport, it may take as many as 30 parents/volunteers to put on a high school ski race. Most parents end up with gatekeeper duty once or twice per season.

The videos are broken into segments and posted on youtube. Some of the video segments are GS (Giant Slalom) specific and others are Slalom specific. And some of the video segments apply to both events. We suggest you watch them in the order we have laid out for you. Just to state the obvious, if you are scheduled to be a gatekeeper for a GIANT SLALOM event, you would just watch those 4 videos. And if you are scheduled to be a gatekeeper for a SLALOM event, you would just watch those 4 videos. *Video parts 2 & 4 apply to both GS and Slalom.

Giant Slalom Slalom
Gatekeeper Training for GS, PART 1
running time: 9:37 minutes
  1. Introduction
  2. 2. GS Course Description
  3. 3. GS Gate Passage
 Gatekeeper Training for SLALOM, PART 1
running time: 12:45 minutes
  1. Introduction
  2. Slalom Course Description
  3. Slalom Gate Passage

GS & SLALOM
Gatekeeper Training for GS & SLALOM, PART 2
running time: 14:54 minutes
  1. gatekeeper role when a ski racer misses a gate
  2. The "overtake" rule
  3. Interference Rule
  4. Safety

Giant Slalom Slalom
Gatekeeper Training for GS, PART 3
running time: 10:36 minutes
  1. Gatekeeper cards explained for GS
 Gatekeeper Training for SLALOM, PART 3
running time: 13:52 minutes
  1. Gatekeeper cards explained for Slalom

GS & SLALOM
Gatekeeper Training for GS & SLALOM, PART 4
running time: 13:28 minutes
  1. What to do with your gatekeeper cards at the end of each run
  2. Course Maintenance
  3. Conclusion/Wrap Up

For more information about metro ski league gatekeeping, click here.


*** Gatekeeper Cheat Sheet *** Revised 12/11/2011

  1. Fill out a gate card for each run…
    1. Your name, date & race information.
    2. Your gate numbers (assigned by chief gatekeeper).
    3. Circle number of the run in progress (1 or 2).
  2. Record any observed DQs or related events on the chart, with BIB#, using the code types listed on gate card.
  3. Make a diagram for any gate-fault DQs (see examples on back of clipboard).
  4. Call out "COURSE!"….
    1. To alert a racer about being overtaken.
    2. To warn course workers or spectators of an approaching racer (very important if you are in a blind spot).
  5. If a racer misses a gate: ***There is a new rule change for the Metro League 2012 race season. Gatekeepers are NOT to proactively call out a fault to a racer, rather they are to REMAIN QUIET unless asked by the racer if there was a fault, at which time the gatekeeper should either respond with "BACK!", plus color of the first missed gate (do not say GO BACK). Call out "GO" if the gate is recovered. Gatekeepers are still responsible for recording faults accurately in their gate card.
  6. If a racer falls at your gates:
    1. Be ready with "GO" or "BACK" instructions, but see rule #5 on when you give these verbal instructions.
    2. Be alert for the next racer coming down course.
    3. Do not touch fallen racer or equipment, if racer is attempting to continue.
    4. Do not move an injured racer. Send for help.
  7. Course maintenance:
    1. Replace dislodged poles & panels quickly.
    2. Always look uphill when you enter the course!
    3. Send for help if course repair is needed.
  8. After the run / after the race…
    1. Mark `yes` or `no` for "Any Disqualifications?"
    2. Have your card ready, "Metro League" side face-up.
    3. Please hold your position until gate card is picked up!
    4. Return bucket, clipboard, vest, any wedges back to check-in area after the last run.

Gate Passage

  1. Racer must cross the line between the inner and outer gate poles with both feet and both ski tips. Any gate order, any direction is OK.
  2. Racer may ski the last two gates on one ski…
    1. A Varsity racer is allowed one loss of ski(s) prior to the last two gates.
    2. A V2+ racer is allowed two losses of ski(s) prior to the last two gates.
    3. Loss of one ski is OK if not caused by a gate fault & if remaining ski tip and both feet cross the gate line.
  3. Following are sample gate diagrams for a hypothetical set of blue-red-blue gates, numbered 5 thru 8:
    1. You should draw a reference diagram of your gates & indicate a normal passage (example shown at left).
    2. Diagram at right illustrates a DQ example. Racers 7, 59 & 72 missed gate #8 in a like fashion, with their path shown by the arrow.

In the upper left corner of the backside of your gatekeeper card, make a reference drawing of your gates & show normal passage by drawing an arrow. In the other 3 templates, draw out the same course, but leave out the arrow. When a racer misses a gate, make a drawing of the infraction with the path of the racer shown by the arrow, and list the racer(s) bib number(s) who made the infraction. Do this in one of your 3 templates that you already had drawn.
normal passage normal passage normal passage

**** THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING! ****


normal passage normal passage normal passage