Alpine Ski Racing

Alpine ski racing is one of the most popular competitive snow sports in NZ and we have had a rich history in the sport since the first ski races were held here in the 1920s.

New Zealand has a rich history of ski racing. New Zealand athletes have competed at most Winter Olympics since 1952. In 1992 Annelise Coberger became the first person from the Southern Hemisphere to win a medal at the Winter Olympics when she won silver in the slalom at Albertville in France. Her achievement continues to provide inspiration to New Zealand’s alpine ski racers to this day.

Snow Sports NZ works with skiers in all alpine disciplines, we take a whole-of-sport approach, encouraging participation at the recreational level right through to supporting athletes aspiring to compete in elite international competitions.

Snow Sports NZ's mission for Alpine is to support athlete development along the competitive pathway by the provision of appropriate, safe and enjoyable opportunities to compete and excel.

Our vision for Alpine is to support and inspire New Zealanders through leadership, success and the development of a culture of excellence in Alpine ski racing.

Rules / Criteria / Resources

Alpine Points

How Seeding Works

Results from all 'approved' calendar races (U14 age group and upwards) are collated and processed at intervals during the season to produce the Seed Lists, which are then published here. Although often used to measure individual performance, Seed Lists are officially used to check eligibility against race entry criteria, and to determine race start order.

A guide to understanding ski racing points outlines the basic theory behind ski race scoring and seeding.

Further details and explanations on the calculations are available in section 5 of the New Zealand Competition Rules.

If you find any issues with seed lists please contact jono@snowsports.co.nz straight away.

NZ Penalty Calculation Values

Category	Race Level	Minimum Penalty
National Youth Champs	1	50
National Points	2	50

Men / Women

Disc.	F Value	Max Points
SL	730	215
GS	1010	270
SG	1190	320

Publication Schedule & Cut-Off Dates

The intended publication dates and cut-off dates for submission of official results for NZ National Points lists are shown below. Lists will be published at roughly fortnightly intervals during the season, positioned so that the number of competitions that need to switch lists within the competition are minimised. FIS lists are published bi-weekly on a Tuesday.

Publication deadlines for 2026 TBC.

Previous National Points Lists

Development Pathways

There are many opportunities to have a go at alpine ski racing. Below you'll find information for first time competitors through to high performances athletes.

How do I get started in ski racing?

The first step is to find your local ski racing club who can help you get that first race under your belt. Lessons and ski programmes are a great way to develop your race skills. In a group environment you can compete against your mates and begin to train towards regional events like the Interfield series, perfect for first-time youth racers.

The Interfield events are open to all first-time ski racers from under 8s to under 16s and you can compete in the North Island, Canterbury or Southern Lakes regions throughout the season.

You are never too old to ski race and NZ has a solid senior alpine ski racing fraternity competing as Ski Masters. Masters ski racing is open to skiers aged 21 and older, it is both competitive and social. Races are run at NZ resorts through the winter and competitors have a lot of fun battling it out for National Championship titles each year.

How can I develop my skills?

Talent development begins within regional programmes run at your local resort. Coached programmes provide the perfect preparation for competing at events like National Points races. These programmes deliver structured training on and off snow, development of your technical skills, race strategy and a competitive race environment. The programmes cater to all levels and have world-class coaches from all over the world.

Snow Sports NZ work with the training providers, event organisers, coaches and development programmes throughout New Zealand to develop talent. We strengthen the steps along the competitive pathway for alpine ski racing by training volunteers, up-skilling race organising committees, providing insurance, timing equipment and technical delegates for events.

Top performing alpine ski racers can be selected to attend Snow Sports NZ development camps. These camps are intensive training blocks designed to boost skills. The talent development camps provide solid training ground for significant improvement.

What happens at High Performance level?

The New Zealand Alpine Ski Team is the pinnacle of New Zealand's alpine ski racing talent pathway. The team regularly competes at the highest level of international competition, against the best skiers in the world. This includes FIS World Cups and World Championships. Athletes are selected to this team based on their world ranking and performances in key events throughout the year.

Snow Sports NZ support our highest performing alpine ski race athletes through competition logistics, event registration, team selection, pathway development and liaising with the New Zealand Olympic Committee. We assist with media, communications and reporting on FIS World Cups, World Championships and pinnacle events.

Community

Officals & Volunteers

Snow Sports NZ's community of dedicated officials, many of whom are volunteers, are our greatest asset. As an official helping to organize and run events, you play a critical role in supporting young athletes to achieve their goals and dreams. Volunteers staff the race office, help in the start and finish areas, work as gate keepers and assist with timing, slipping and course setup. They are responsible for the safe conduct of the event and the accurate timing, judging and scoring. They also play a key role in ensuring that the spirit of the sport and competition is maintained. In the end, officials are responsible for providing the best possible experience for our athletes.

Snow Sports NZ sanctions over 100 competitions annually and provides education programmes and mentoring to ensure that competitions are run efficiently and fairly by the rules.

Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the country. Please contact your local club if you would like to help with a Snow Sports NZ race or competition.

Coaches

See the NZ Coaching Pathway here, a Snow Sports NZ - NZSIA Collaboration.

Masters Ski Racing

Click here to visit the official site for New Zealand Masters Alpine Ski Racing.

Alpine Documents

Rules

International Competiton Rules (FIS)

Selection Policies & Criteria

ROC Forms and Guidelines

On Hill Forms

Timing & Calculations

Technical Delegates

TD Report

Overseas Event Entry

Learn More >

High Performance Pathway

Sport Integrity
Commission

Snow Sports NZ is committed to clean, fair sport. We believe in protecting the health of our athletes, the integrity of our sport and the spirit of clean competition in which the best succeed. We work in collaboration with the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui (the Commission – formerly Drug Free Sport New Zealand)

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