The FIS Rules of Conduct: 10 Rules That Prevent Most Collisions
Most collisions on a piste come from one rule not being known: the skier below has right of way. Here are all ten, explained.
A piste is not an unregulated space. The International Ski Federation publishes 10 rules of conduct which, in Alpine countries, are used as a legal reference — fault in a collision is assessed against them.
In Turkey these rules are less widely known, and most collisions come down to a single one: the skier below has priority.
This guide covers all ten and explains what each means in practice.
The ten rules
The table below summarises the FIS rules of conduct. Individual resorts may apply additional local rules.
| No | Rule | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Respect for others | Do not ski in a way that endangers anyone |
| 2 | Control of speed | Ski at a speed you can stop within your line of sight |
| 3 | Choice of route | The skier above must avoid the skier below |
| 4 | Overtaking | Leave enough space when passing |
| 5 | Entering a piste | Look uphill before entering or restarting |
| 6 | Stopping | Do not stop in narrows or below a blind rise |
| 7 | Climbing on foot | Use the edge of the piste |
| 8 | Signage | Obey warning signs and closed-piste markings |
| 9 | Assistance | Helping at an accident is obligatory |
| 10 | Identification | Give your details as a party or witness |
The critical one: priority to the skier below
Rule three is the foundation of piste safety: the skier coming from above must avoid the one below. The reason is simple — the person below cannot see behind them.
It works like the rule giving priority to the vehicle ahead in traffic. The skier below may turn suddenly, stop or fall, and anticipating that is the responsibility of the person above.
Most collisions in Turkey come from this rule not being understood. On a busy piste, assume the person behind you has not seen you, and make wide, predictable turns.
Where to stop and where not to
Rule six is the most frequently broken. Stopping in the middle of a piste, immediately below a blind rise or in a narrow section means people above see you only at the last moment.
Move to the edge, stop where you are visible from above, and choose a point where the slope is wide.
The same applies after a fall: get up and move to the side as quickly as you can. If you cannot get up, a companion should climb a few metres uphill and warn oncoming skiers.
- Never stop below a blind rise
- Never stop in a narrow section or where pistes merge
- Move to the edge and stay visible from above
- After a fall, get up and clear the line quickly
What to do at an accident
Rules nine and ten govern the aftermath, and they are legal obligations rather than courtesies.
If you come across an accident you must stop and help. The first step is to plant a pair of skis crossed in the snow above the scene to warn people coming down.
Then alert the piste patrol. At Turkish resorts the patrol numbers are posted at lift stations; saving that number to your phone at the start of the season is a good habit.
As a party or a witness you are required to give your details. Those details matter for insurance and any subsequent legal process.
Most common breaches in Turkey
First: excessive speed. Skiers who consider themselves experienced regularly travel far beyond their stopping distance on busy pistes.
Second: stopping mid-piste. Groups stopping for photographs in the middle of a run are a genuine hazard on crowded weekends.
Third: ignoring closed-piste markings. Pistes are closed for avalanche risk, insufficient snow or machinery on the slope — those decisions are not arbitrary.
What to do after a collision
When a collision happens on a piste, what you do in the first few minutes determines both the medical and the legal outcome.
Step one is safety: plant a pair of skis crossed in the snow a few metres above the scene. That is the internationally recognised warning sign and it prevents a second collision.
Step two is not moving the injured person. If there is any neck or back pain, do not move them at all — cover them to keep them warm and wait for the patrol.
Step three is information. Take the other party's name, phone number and, if possible, ID details, and note the contact details of any witness. The tenth FIS rule makes this obligatory.
Step four is documentation: photograph the scene, note the piste name and the time. Those details matter for the insurance process.
Bear in mind that skiing is excluded from most standard travel insurance; a policy without winter sports cover will not pay any of this.
Defensive skiing on a crowded piste
Weekend and holiday crowding at Turkish resorts calls for a different kind of attention than in the Alps: a significant share of the people around you may be beginners moving unpredictably.
The right response is defensive skiing. Rather than insisting on your right of way, assume the people around you will make mistakes and leave space — much like defensive driving.
Concretely: make wide, predictable turns, avoid sudden changes of line, and ski nearer the edge of the piste, leaving the middle band to faster skiers.
When overtaking, leave at least two metres and pass to the side rather than close behind. Passing close behind someone ends in a collision the moment they turn.
Slow down at blind rises. Someone may be stopped or fallen just beyond, and you cannot see them — which is exactly the situation the second FIS rule describes.
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KayakKiralama Editör Ekibi
Editorial team
Our editorial team of rental specialists and instructors works on the slopes all season and writes these guides from direct experience.
Renting and servicing equipment at Turkey's four major ski resorts since 2015.