ART. 1 - The 4th Alta Valtellina Ski Race is a ski mountaineering competition (classical technique) – Team Event, valid as Team World Cup Final and “Overall” Final – Senior and Espoir category (Male and Female) and Individual Event (classical technique) valid as Youth European Cup Final for Junior and Cadet categories, organized by the Sci Club Alta Valtellina, the Cai Valfurva, the Consorzio Turistico Tourisport with the co-operation of the Commune of Valfurva, the Comunità Montana Alta Valtellina, the Province of Sondrio, the Lombardy Region - Assessorato allo Sport e al Turismo, the Mountain Rescue Service of Bormio and Valfurva, the Unione Sportiva Bormiese.

ART. 2 – The event is OPEN to everyone having the following requirements: competitors must hold a current and valid FISI Membership Card or be registered by the National Federation representing ski mountaineering in his/her country and must have a current medical certificate stating his/her psychophysical fitness for ski mountaineering. Such certificate is to be issued by a sport medicine centre and be valid at the date of each single competition.

Le categorie sono le seguenti:

World Cup – ISMC Cardholders

Senior (born in 1982 and before)

Espoir (born in 1983-84-85)

European Cup – ISMC Cardholders

Junior (born in 1986- 87)

*Cadet (born in 1988–89–90)

OPEN Competition – FISI Cardholders or members of equivalent National Federations of other countries

Senior (born in 1982 and before)

Junior (born in 1986- 87)

Cadet (born in 1988–89–90)

Cadets under 18 years of age must have a letter of parental consent to participate.

ART. 3 - The Ski Mountaineering Race takes place over one day. The start is a mass start with final timing (non-stop). The itinerary is marked using flags (green for ascent, red for descent) and gates indicating direction and danger, check points, skin putting and taking-off points, provisioning points along the course.

ART. 4 – A technical briefing will be held at 18.30 the day before the race, on Friday 21st April 2006, at the Polifunzionale of Santa Caterina Valfura. Racers will receive following information: meeting point, procedures to follow, route description, race start, start time and maximum competition time. The Race Director, after conferring with the Jury, reserves the right to modify the maximum competition time, the race course as well as suspend the competition owing to particular weather conditions or exceptional circumstances occurred before or during the race. The competition will then be considered finished and the ranking will be determined on the basis of time and points obtained at last control.

For any other matter which is not included in the aforementioned rules the International Regulation I.S.M.C. (it can be downloaded from internet) should be referred to

www.uiaa.ch

ART. 5 - The competitor’s numbers (one on the backpack and the other on the right thigh) must be worn throughout the race from start to finish line.

ART. 6 - An anti-doping test may be taken at any point.

ART. 7 - For any dispute, decisions taken by the Race Direction are final.

ART. 8 - All claims must be submitted in writing to the Jury within 15 minutes after the publication of race results. All claims must be accompanied by a sum of 30.00€, which is non-refundable in the event of an unfavourable outcome.

ART. 9 - The mandatory individual equipment required for the race is as follows:

-- Touring skis equipped with metallic edges on their entire length, and with a width of at least 60 mm beneath the foot. The skis must be at least 160 cm long for men and 150 cm long for women.

- The bindings must allow heel movement when ascending and may be blockable when descending and may or may not be equipped with security straps, at the competitor’s own risk. Front and rear binding devices must have quick lateral and frontal release safety systems in the event of accident. Cross-Country ski bindings and boots or their derivatives are strictly forbidden.

- Boots must be high enough to cover the ankles and with notched soles of type Vibram or similar (soles must cover at least 80% of the surface of the foot and minimum depth of notches is 4 mm). Boots must be adaptable to metal crampons.

- A pair of alpine or cross-country ski poles with a maximum diameter of 25 mm, and with non-metallic baskets.

- Three pairs of skins. The use of devices as scotch or similar in order to enhance the gliding are strictly forbidden (environmental reasons).

- Lower body clothing, with long pants fitting the size of the competitor. There must be at least two layers (both with long pants): one must be a breathable water proof - wind stopper and the other must be a ski pant or a ski suit.

- - An avalanche transceiver, device used to search for avalanche victims (transmitter / receiver) which conforms to standard (frequency 457 kHz). Each competitor must wear this device against his body in transmitting mode for the full duration of the race. It must be worn under the clothing, in direct contact with the body.

- Helmets are compulsory. It's compulsory to wear them properly in all the descents and also in all the parts indicated by the Race Director in the briefing (couloirs, ridges...). The helmets must be in compliance to EN12492 (UIAA106).

- An EU or UIAA-certified harness which must not have been modified once manufactured. Makeshift harnesses are strictly forbidden.

- Two slings which conform to UIAA rules (length: one meter, Ø6 mm, minimum resistance of 22 KN UIAA).

- Two karabiners (minimum resistance of 22 KN UIAA).

- A resistant snow shovel (0.2 m x 0.2 m minimum). It must not have been modified once manufactured. The denomination “snow shovel” is defined by the manufacturer. He assumes responsibility for its definition.

- A ski cap or bandage.

- A 1.80 square meters minimum survival blanket.

- Gloves

- Filtering sunglasses

- A rucksack of 20 litres minimal, with appropriate attachments to carry skis.

- A pair of metal crampons with straps. Crampons must have at least 10 spikes, two of which must be in front, adjusted to the competitor’s EU or UIAA-certified foot size. If the crampons are not worn on the boots, they must be carried in the backpack, spikes against spikes. They must not have been modified once manufactured.

All material must be considered appropriate for the ski mountaineering and apply with UIAA or EC Regulations. The material and equipment will be checked just before the start and after the finish line. The Race Direction reserves the right to reject any equipment deemed to be defective or inadequate and may require to exclude part of the aforementioned material for security reasons and announced it in their brochures.

ART. 10 - During the race competitors may not be assisted in any way by other persons. No external material assistance is permitted. Participants who wish to withdraw during the race must report to the nearest control point. Abandoning or being taken out of the race should take place at a checkpoint except in extreme circumstances. Material may only be replaced during the race if broken equipment is confirmed and replaced by a checkpoint control official. All racers are obligated to come to the aid of a person in danger. The Jury will take into account the time spent providing assistance. An awareness and respect of the natural environment is expected, so no equipment or rubbish should be abandoned on the mountain. All participants must pass the finish line within 4hours and 15minutes, those who fail to do so will be classified as non-finishers.

ART. 11 - Disqualification and Penalties

The following rules apply:
- Missing skis, boots and avalanche transceiver = disqualification;

- Broken skis = no penalty;

- Any object required by the organization and missing at the checkpoint or at the finish line = 3 minutes to disqualification (exception: broken ski pole left to a controller = no penalty);

- To change a ski pole: No penalty. To change the two ski poles: 5 minutes of penalty;

- Receiving external assistance: material, manoeuvres, food and /or drink outside of established areas or other forms of assistance observed by Jury = 5 minutes to disqualification;

- Missing or modified skis and boots = disqualification;

- Leaving material or garbage = 5 minutes to disqualification;

- Non respect of the land marking = 5 minutes to disqualification;

- If a competitor does not pass by a checkpoint = disqualification;

- Poor sportsmanship = 3 minutes to disqualification;

- Serious damage to the environment = disqualification;

- Any action deemed dangerous or threatening the safety or proper running of the race = disqualification.