Policy A09 - Trail Design

Purpose

To ensure that trails used during the SFL Event will be appropriate for the needs of both beginning and experienced skiers.

Policy

If space allows, SFL will designate a 10-kilometer trail, a 5- kilometer trail, and shorter practice loops of approximately 1- kilometer.

Practice loops should be flat and short. Gentle hills suitable for gliding should be nearby, along with another hill or two for practicing the herringbone and snowplow.

The 5-kilometer trail should adhere to basic standards for beginner skiers. In general, the trail should avoid steep hills (greater than a 10% grade). Any downhills (of lesser percent) should have straight descents and runouts that allow the skier to gradually slow down before making a turn. Uphill trails that require a typical beginner skier to herringbone should be no more than 15 yards long. It is acceptable to use a well-designed 2.5-kilometer loop over which the skiers would ski two laps.

The 10-kilometer trail should adhere to basic standards for a moderate skier. All downhills should have straight descents and runouts that allow a skier to slow down before making a turn. Uphills that require herringbone techniques should be no more than 25 yards long.

Note: 5 and 10k loops should be mostly separate.

On both the 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer trail there should be no high-speed hills with trees or drop-offs immediately adjacent.

Wherever possible, all high-speed downhill trails should have an option for using a full snowplow in addition to descending in groomed tracks.

More detail on planning for ski trails can be found in the planning manual at www.sfl.org/planman/pm30tr..html.

January 27, 2023