This document provides an overview and updates on FIS rollerski competitions from summer 2015. It discusses competition formats that were adjusted, including minimum distances for different event types. It also covers the introduction of FIS points for rollerski, equipment guidelines, and topics like classical technique, timing systems, course design and safety. Key events for the 2015 Rollerski World Cup are listed, and statistics on the growth in participating nations are presented.

1. R llerski competitions overview
and FIS updates
Anna Rosa
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Note: to see videos click on
FIS TD Seminar cross-country Sljeme 2015
Summer 2015

2. Session agenda
• FIS competitions summer 2015
• National and promotional competitions
• Popular races and rollerski races
• Timing matters
• Classical technique issue
• Course design and safety
• Competition equipment
• Curiosities

3. Rollerski competitions pie
ICR&Co
National and
promotional
competitions
FIS
competitions

4. ICR and company
Rollerski belongs to cross-country skiing, therefore
cross-country skiing regulations apply to rollerski as well.
!
In addiction, the following documents apply:
• Chapter 396 of ICR Cross-Country
• FIS Rol World Cup and World Championships rules
• Guidelines for rollerski equipment specification
and control (introduced since summer 2015)
• FIS Rol World Cup Organizers Checklist
• Rules for FIS cross-country points

5. FIS updates since summer 2015: summary
Updates introduced before summer 2015 touched:
!
• Formats: competition formats have been adjusted
(ICR 396.3)
• FIS Points: FIS points have been introduced
(Rules for FIS cross-country points 2.1.6 and 5.3.2.3)
• Equipment: organizers have been given by the
opportunity to provide rollerskis themselves (396.2.9-10)

6. Competition formats (adjustment summer 2015)
• Interval start competition 2,5 km -> 50 km
• Mass start competition 5 km -> 50 km
• Popular competition no limitations
• Skiathlon 10 km -> 30 km
• Pursuit competition 5 km -> 15 km
• Relay competition 2,5 km -> 10 km
(3/4 also mixed)
• Individual sprint 0,2 km -> 1,8 km
• Team sprint 0,8 km -> 1,8 km x 2 x 3-6
±5%

7. FIS Points (since summer 2015)
In rollerski sprint, only competitions with length > 800 m
will be taken into consideration for the FIS points
calculation.
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Table of minimum Penalties
Ladies Men
FIS ROL WC/WSC 15 15
FIS ROL Juniors WC/WSC 35 35
FIS ROL competitions 50 50
FIS ROL Juniors competitions 60 60

8. FIS competitions summer 2015
Stockholm (27.6)
Oroslavje (10-12.7 )
Madona (24-26.7)
Idre (7-8.8 )
Trollhattan (21-22.8 )
Amphipolis (12-13.9)
Trento (19-20.9 )
Val di Fiemme (24-27.9 )
Sao Carlos (1-2.11)
Swedish cup
WSC
FIS competitions
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WC and WSC

9. 8. Individual start C
9. Sprint F
10. Team sprint
11. Mass start F
Rollerski World Cup summer 2015
1. Mass start F
2. Sprint F
3. Sprint F
4. Prologue C
5. Pursuit F
6. Sprint F
7. Individual start C
Sprint 180 m Sprint 200 m
Sprint 165 mSprint 200 m

10. World Cup overall nation standing
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4 nations more than in 2014 (MNG, LTU, ROU, KAZ)
Rank Nation Points
1 RUS 8442
2 ITA 7306
3 SWE 6357
4 NOR 2176
5 BLR 1410
6 LAT 1210
7 GER 1195
8 UKR 1162
9 ROU 1020
10 SVK 916
11 CRO 813
12 MGL 504
13 FRA 412
14 LTU 356
15 AUT 176
16 KAZ 111
17 DAN 104
18 GRE 68
19 SLO 22

11. Robim Norum and Linn Soemskar

12. FIS competitions statistics
0
125
250
375
500
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Men n. Ledies n. Total n.

13. National competitions
https://australianbiathlon.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/vic-rollerski-champs-10-km-race-
start-11-may-2014-img_2613-copy.jpg

14. Promotional competitions
https://scontent-mxp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/
t31.0-8/11260893_972579249430621_5530489281730510890_o.jpg

15. Summer cross-country skiing

16. Popular races and rollerski races
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02847/potd-ski_2847373k.jpg

17. Popular races and rollerski races
• Both good for cross-country skiing promotion, cross-
country skiing athletes, suppliers and sponsors’
promotion;
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• usually attended by both top athletes and amateurs;
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• courses often go from A to B points.

18. A popular rollerski race’s start
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RH8rTS1eio

19. Popular… but individual start
• Popular races can start from A point and go to B point:
!
Start (A point) Finish (B point)
Starting procedure: mass start
!
• Rollerski races can start from A, go to B and use the
individual start procedure.
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Any possible issues…?
Many km… Mountain…

20. At finish
Electronic timing technologies which can be used to
identify the official finish times:
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• Electronic timing system based on photo cells. The
measuring point of the light or photo barrier must be
at a height of 25 cm above the snow surface.
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• Photo finish system. The measuring point will be the
toe of the first boot meeting the finish line.
ICR 316.4.1

21. What about official starting times?
Gates? Photo cells?
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What if connection between start and finish fails…?
At start
http://tkss.jp/pjn/media/img_20070825T203308739.jpg
FINISH

22. Timing matters!
• For all competitions listed in the FIS Calendar,
electronic timekeeping must be used
• It will always be supplemented by hand-timing […]
• If the electronic timing fails frequently or completely
during the competition, the hand times will be used for
all the competitors
• When hand times are used to calculate results, the
actual start times must be used
Make sure to always have it!
ICR 316.1-2

23. Classical Technique issue
The issue of the moment does not spare
rollerski. I would analyze if from
2 points of view:
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first one is connected to the natural evolution of the
technique, due to the improvement and optimization
of the physical capabilities;
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the other one is related to particular situations,
which have been always been there.
1
2

24. Short analysis: stop phase
One of the differences between skating movements and
classical technique ones is that classical technique
movements (except one) have a “stop phase” which
obviously influences the speed. This is the moment when ski
wax works on the snow and ratchet device works on the
wheel.
!
The only classical movement which does not have any
“stop phase” is double-pole.
1

25. Short analysis: upper limbs and core
Indeed classical technique movements are so that
the faster we go -> the less we use lower limbs and
-> the more we use upper limbs and core:
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SPEED SPEED SPEED
Diagonal stride >> kick double-pole >> double pole
!
…still double-pole itself is not a problem, but it creates
problem when it leads to classical technical infractions…
1

26. Technical infraction…?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RH8rTS1eio
1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkecMrH7Vs8

27. Skiing outside the track…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RH8rTS1eio
1

28. Hard courses and tracks use
To face this issue cross-country skiing insiders are
working on 2 sides:
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1. courses, in order to make them “harder”;
2. tracks settings and tracks use regulation, in order
to make athletes use them more.
!
Rollerski insiders can obviously only work on the first side
cause we are always skiing outside the track…
1
prefer “hard” courses

29. What about using 3 wheels…?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RH8rTS1eio
1

30. Particular situations… Let’s turn
According to ICR 310.1.2.3, turning techniques comprise
steps and pushes in order to change directions. Where
there is a set track, turning techniques with pushing are not
allowed. This will also apply to competitors skiing outside of
the set track.
!
But, again, in rollerski there is no track, so we also have to
be even more able to evaluate technique and, in general,
pay even more attention!
2

31. Let’s turn… Case study 2

32. Case study… comparison 2

33. What about setting a neutral zone…? 2

34. Rollerski courses

35. Uphills…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl1JizWnvY4
http://noahhoffman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0617.jpg
https://cxcnewsfeed.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/938_569444839764927_1595988643_n.jpg

36. Downhills…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl1JizWnvY4http://i.ytimg.com/vi/N8sNLrZMu10/maxresdefault.jpg

37. Curves…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl1JizWnvY4http://i.ytimg.com/vi/N8sNLrZMu10/maxresdefault.jpghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ2Sr6IzFP0

38. …and downhill corners
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl1JizWnvY4http://i.ytimg.com/vi/N8sNLrZMu10/maxresdefault.jpg

39. No homologation: experience matters
Not only classical technique issues are connected to course
design, condition and preparation, but also safety ones:
• when we are using a rollerski course, someone has
design it for that. Still the question is: it has been
designed for “fast” wheels o “slow” ones…?
• When we are using roads, we are “designing” course
ourselves, choosing certain ones and preparing them.
ICR does not support us in this, experience matters and the
importance of TD inspection is key.
See also: rollerski course preparation (Rogla 2013)

40. Rollerski courses design and choice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl1JizWnvY4http://www.rulleskigp.no/assets/Uploads/WP-20150608-21-22-14-Pro.jpg

41. Andrey Arsenyev: interesting questions
There are two different downhills (A and B) with the
same HD, length and average gradient.
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Which athlete will reach bottom of slope (point D) earlier?
Whose speed in point D will be faster?

42. Andrey Arsenyev: answers and advices
Red athlete will arrive to D point earlier and there his
speed will be lower than the one of blue athlete.
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Red type of downhill is much preferable for rollerski:
the steep initial part makes athlete reach high speed
quickly, but on the second part athlete’s speed decrease
and even a safe turning becomes possible.

43. Rollerski course preparation on paper

44. Rollerski course preparation on site

45. Safety and competition equipment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl1JizWnvY4

46. Since summer 2015 organizers can decide to apply articles
ICR 396.2.3-4 or ICR 396.2.9-10 = let competitors use their
own rollerskis (which have to comply certain requirements)
or provide rollerskis themselves.
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Competition equipment: summary

47. Max diameter: 100 mm
Minimum distance between axles: 530 mm
Cc skiing bindings
Rollerskis according to ICR 396.2.3 and 396.2.4
Competition equipment

48. Equipment control (adjustment summer 2015)
ICR 396.2.2 The OC in cooperation with TD must carry
out equipment control before the start and after finish
of each competition. Rollerski wheel dimensions, wheel
material hardness and frame length must be controlled.

49. Competition equipment (since 2015 summer)
ICR 396.2.9 In order to provide safe and fair conditions
for athlete’s competition the organizer can limit technical
parameters for rollerski equipment by announcing it in
advance in the competition invitation.
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ICR 396.2.10 The competition organiser can provide
official rollerski equipment supplier for all athletes
entered in competition. This must be clearly announced in
the official invitation.

50. Competition equipment (summer 2016)
ICR 396.2.8 Competitors are permitted to change or
repair equipment during the competition but they must
do this without any outside assistance other than being
handed the replacement equipment or tools. Rollerski
change must be done according to article 343.12.2

51. Competition equipment (summer 2016)
ICR 396.2.11 If the Competition Organizer provides
official rollerski equipment, rollerski change during the
competition may be done only at an official service
point (boxes) according to articles 343.12.2- 343.12.3
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ICR 396.2.12 If the Competition Organizer provides
official rollerski equipment, rollerski repair during
official training or before competition may be done only
at an official service point provided by the organizer.

52. 2. Cross-country skiing poles
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3. Safety helmet
4. Eye protection
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Safety helmets (e.g. DIN EN 1078 or equivalent) and eye protection must
be worn during official training and competition
(adjustment summer 2015)
Safety devices
ICR 396.2
Competitions equipment

53. Case study: see any infraction?

54. Case study: point of view n. 1
ICR 396.2.6 says that eye protection must be worn during
competition, chapter is called "competition equipment”
and ICR 351 says that a competitor who violates the FIS
rules in regard to equipment is not permitted to start. He
started, although he shouldn’t have started, so should not
be ranked in result list, so let’s DSQ him (?)
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Comment: helmet and eye protection are meant to be
safety devices and safety is the most important thing!

55. Case study: point of view n. 2
ICR 351.2 refer to ICR 222 only (competition equipment cc)
even if it is normal that rules have to be adapted to rol
and that competition equipment definition have to be
extend also to helmet and eye protection, but ICR 352.2.1
says that disqualification should be used only for major
infractions and for infractions with a clear impact on the
final result of a competition, so let’s follow the chart (!)
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Comment: helmet and eye protection are meant to be
safety devices but this is an individual start on uphill!

56. Case study: written reprimand

57. End of the session
Rollerski future

58. Robin Bryntesson frog style?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl1JizWnvY4

59. Any question?
ROL

60. Thanks!