Gate Judge

 

Overview: 6-8 people spread throughout the course who ensure racers properly go through the course. Each person is responsible for watching 6 or 7 gates. The Chief Gatekeeper assigns gates to each individual and makes sure each gate judge knows the proper path through those gates. The gate judge notes each racer and whether or not they properly go through the gates. When a racer misses a gate, the gate judge notes the miss and diagrams the miss on the back of the gate card.

 

This is an excellent duty for skiers and for people with little or no experience in ski racing. Non-skiers can also volunteer for this duty and will be assigned gates at the bottom of the course. 

 

Race Day Schedule:

  • Arrive at the Race Building at 8:00 am
  • Coordinate with the Race Director and Chief Gatekeeper
  • Arrive at the top of the race course at 9:00 am (or the time they tell you to meet!)
  • Chief Gatekeeper will assign gates for Run 1.
  • Remain at your gates on the course through the end of Run 1.
  • Turn gate card in to Chief Gatekeeper.
  • After Run 1, there is usually 30-45 min to go to the lodge for lunch.
  • Arrive back at the top of the race course 30 minutes before the start of run 2. This time varies based on the size of the race.
  • Chief Gatekeeper will assign gates for Run 2.
  • Remain at your gates on the course through the end of Run 2
  • Turn gate card in to Chief Gatekeeper.
  • After the race, check in with the Race Director and Chief Gatekeeper.
  • This duty ends around 2:00.

 

Additional details:

  • If a racer does not pass a gate correctly the gate judge must immediately mark the following on the gate 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.

 

During the race:

  • Watch to see that each racers correctly passes through your assigned gates.
  • 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 lowest 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 finish area. In this case the time is taken when any part of the competitor's body or equipment stops the time keepers system.

 

 

USSA Gate Judge Video

 

 

To volunteer for Gate Judge, click here.