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Terrain parks

Technical Report · April 2020

DOI: 10.13100/BFU.2.081.08.2019

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 Swiss Council for P.O. Box, 3001 Berne
Accident Prevention info@bfu.ch bfu.ch

Terrain parks
Benedikt Heer, Flavia Bürgi, Marc Weiler Technical Documentation
Berne, 2019 2.081

Terrain parks Introduction 1

Authors

Benedikt Heer
MSc in Sports Sciences with upper secondary
teaching certification (University of Berne), expert
for snowboarding at Youth + Sports (J+S). Consult-
ant in the BFU Sport and Active Recreation Depart-
ment since 2015. Special focus: situational pre-
vention in snow sports and accident prevention in
sports associations.

Flavia Bürgi
PhD in Sports Sciences (University of Basel), PE in-
structor and primary school teacher, expert for chil-
dren’s sports at Youth + Sports (J+S). Scientific re-
searcher in the BFU Home and Sport Research De-
partment since 2017. Special focus: accident pre-
vention in snow and mountaineering sports.

Marc Weiler
Certified PE and sports instructor, elite sports
trainer and coach, snow sports instructor/expert,
snowboarding pioneer and former World Cup half-
pipe rider. Freelance photographer and specialist
editor since 2006.

2 Introduction
Terrain parks
Safety aspects in planning, construction
and operation

Terrain parks Introduction 3

Contents

I. Introduction 5 VII. Operation 35

1. Terrain parks and their origins 5 1. Service and maintenance 35
2. Terrain parks and value creation 5 2. Equipment 36
3. Terminology 5 3. Supervision 36
4. Objectives of these guidelines 5 4. Documenting and analysing accidents 37

II. Accident prevention 6 VIII. Legal aspects 38

1. Accident occurrence in Swiss terrain parks 6 1. Responsibility of the terrain park operator 38
2. Situational prevention 7 2. Minimising liability risks 38
3. Behavioural prevention 7 3. Personal responsibility of the park users 39
4. Conclusion 8
IX. Appendix 41
III. Basics 10
1. SKUS Guidelines 41
1. Types of terrain park 10 2. Park Rules 42
2. Structure of a jump 12 3. Professional terrain park planners 43
3. Difficulty levels 14 4. Terrain park sample designs 43
4. Markings and park rules 18 5. Checklists 44
6. Glossary 46
IV. Planning 20
References 48
1. Target group 20
2. Type and features 22
Technical documentations 49
3. Location 22
4. Hazard areas 23
Publishing information 50
5. Rescue provision 23
6. Funding and schedule 23

V. Construction 24
1. Construction principles 24
2. Signage 25

VI. Terrain park features 26

1. Jumps 26
2. Jibs 28
3. Cross course 30
4. Half-pipe 32
5. Airbag 33

4 Introduction
I. Introduction
Terrain parks have become an integral part of many winter sports destina-
tions. These guidelines are aimed at operators of terrain parks and outline
the most important safety principles with regard to their planning, con-
struction and operation.

1. Terrain parks and their origins
The first terrain parks were built in the 1990s. The
winter resort of Vail (Colorado, USA) was one of the
pioneers, already operating a park-like snow sports
facility in 1990. The ‘Vail concept’ rapidly spread
throughout the world.
evolved into established sports through targeted re-
gional and national support measures such as squad
structuring, junior teams and sports schools. At the
same time, terrain parks have become indispensable
for the basic and advanced training of trainers,
coaches and snow sports instructors.

Today, freestyle snowboarding and freestyle skiing 3. Terminology

are established sports, a fact that is emphasised
both by their Olympic status as well as the regular
staging of sports-specific world championships. In
the course of these developments, excellent terrain
parks have evolved in Switzerland. Terrain park oper-
ators have increasingly recognised that safe parks
require a sound investment in expertise, planning,
construction, operation and maintenance.
2. Terrain parks and value creation
Nowadays, terrain parks are a part of a comprehen-
sive offer in a snow sports destination and generate
added value for these regions.
From a touristic perspective: Today’s guests de-
mand an increasingly diverse range of tourism oppor-
tunities. Younger snow sports enthusiasts in particu-
lar enjoy adventure and fun-oriented activities such
as terrain parks, which is why providing attractive ter-
rain parks has the potential to inspire a new genera-
tion to take up snow sports.
From an operational perspective: Terrain parks al-
low mountain cableway companies to expand their
offer and open up new experiences in the mountains
and nature. Attractive snow sports boost passenger
volume. In order to secure this trend in the long term,
terrain parks need to be well conceived and safe to
operate.
Freestyle sports often rely on expressions that may
be incomprehensible to a layperson. Indeed, frequent
use of terms in English reflect the North American or-
igins of these sports. The relevant terms will be ex-
plained in further detail in these guidelines (more
terms will follow in the Appendix, Section IX.6).
4. Objectives of these guidelines
These guidelines aim to show terrain park operators
the most important principles concerning the plan-
ning, construction and operation of such a facility,
with a focus on the safety of the park users. The ob-
jective is to prevent serious and fatal accidents as far
as possible. This is why terrain parks should be de-
signed to be self-explanatory and forgiving of user er-
rors without losing their appeal.
These guidelines pay particular attention to begin-
ners and children. Both user groups need terrain
parks which are adapted to their requirements. To
this end, the authors have explored at greater length
the important aspects to consider in these areas.

From a sports-related perspective: Slopestyle, big

air, half-pipe and ski and snowboard cross are pro-
fessional freestyle competition disciplines in their
own right on the international skiing and snowboard-
ing circuit. In recent years, these disciplines have

Terrain parks Introduction 5

II. Accident prevention
Jumping activities involve an increased risk of injury due to the fall heights
involved. Most casualties in terrain parks are very young and often suffer
head and back injuries. However, serious injuries can be reduced by tar-
geted measures.

1. Accident occurrence in Swiss terrain parks
Skiing and snowboarding are two of the most popular
sports in Switzerland. Every year, around 2.5 million
Swiss residents take to the slopes on skis and nearly
400,000 on a snowboard at least occasionally [1].
The accident rate is equally noticeable, given the
large number of people who pursue snow sports in
Switzerland, although the risk of injury is moderate
compared to many other sports [2]. On Swiss slopes
an annual average of around 76,000 snow sports
practitioners from Switzerland and abroad suffer in-
juries that are serious enough to require medical
treatment. [3]. Furthermore, an average of 16 people
suffer a fatal accident each year while skiing or snow-
boarding [4].
Almost all of the casualties in Swiss ski resorts who
are attended to by the local piste rescue service are
recorded (around 13,000 accidents per year) [5]. An
analysis of this data shows that almost 10 % of these
accidents happen in terrain parks (freestyle parks,
cross runs, half-pipes).
It is striking that accidents in terrain parks mainly af-
fect young people. Casualties in terrain parks are sig-
nificantly younger than those on the slopes: 80 % of
casualties are between 10 and 30 years old; on the
slopes only 43 % are in this age group (Figure 1).
In fact, more 7-year-olds have to be evacuated from
terrain parks by the piste rescue service than over
23-year-olds (per year of life). It follows that also
smaller children are often among the victims of acci-
dents in terrain parks.

200
Number of snow park accidents

150

100

50

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75

Age

Skiing Snowboarding

Figure 1
Number of casualties in terrain parks, by sport and age (2013/14 to 2017/18 seasons)

6 Accident prevention
Most accidents in terrain parks are single-person ac-
cidents; collisions with other people account for just
around 1 % of all accidents. Of single-person acci-
dents, almost 80 % occur after a jump and around
20 % without a preceding jump.
Based on our data, the severity of injuries sustained
in terrain parks appears to be higher than on the
slopes. Nearly one third of those injured in terrain
parks who are subsequently attended to by the piste
rescue service have to be transported by air ambu-
lance helicopter, while the corresponding figure on
the slopes is around one fifth. Head injuries (22 %)
and back injuries (18 %) are much more frequent in
terrain parks than in accidents on the slopes (18 %
and 4 % respectively [5]). Studies from abroad have
also shown that snow sports practitioners are likely to
suffer more serious injuries, mainly to the head and
back [6,7].
2. Situational prevention
Situational prevention measures pertain to the de-
sign of the environment or the infrastructure. This
means that terrain park features are designed or ar-
ranged in a manner which prevents serious injuries as
far as possible. Terrain parks naturally entail inherent
risks. The risk of a serious injury rises with increasing
fall height. Therefore, measures such as, for exam-
ple, limiting fall heights in terrain parks are technically
simple and highly effective ways of preventing serious
accidents.
Engineering expertise in the safe design of jumps in
terrain parks has evolved considerably in recent
years [8] and must always be taken into account
when planning and constructing terrain parks.
Terrain parks and their features should be catego-
rised according to their difficulty level (XS–XL) and
marked accordingly. This allows users to select the
features which correspond with their abilities. Park
features in the XL performance category should be
the preserve of competitive sports and do not belong
in terrain parks intended for recreational skiing or
Terrain parks
snowboarding. Details on difficulty levels can be
found in Section III.3.
Due to their stage of cognitive development, children
and adolescents are not yet capable of accurately
identifying and adequately assessing danger. Fur-
thermore, the musculoskeletal systems of growing
children should not be exposed to excessive force
peaks – e.g. during landings – in order to avoid per-
manent damage. Terrain parks must take this into ac-
count and be designed accordingly for this target
group. Therefore, situational prevention in terrain
parks is particularly important for children and ado-
lescents.
3. Behavioural prevention
Skiers and snowboarders in terrain parks are (con-
sciously or unconsciously) exposed to a higher risk of
injury [7,9]. Behavioural prevention measures aim to
control human behaviour through information, edu-
cation, practice and training in order to prevent acci-
dents. Although human behaviour can be constantly
optimised, ideal behaviour can rarely be assumed. In
children and adolescents in particular, dependable
safety behaviour cannot be expected, or it can be dis-
rupted by group-dynamic processes, high self-ex-
pectation or images of sport as projected by the me-
dia. For this reason, the supervisor in terrain parks
plays a key role in behavioural prevention.
Accident research shows that children who are more
closely supervised injure themselves less frequently
[10,11]. From a point of view of accident prevention,
it is recommended that children and adolescents un-
der the age of 13 only ride in terrain parks of category
M and above when under expert supervision. Children
should be instructed in the appropriate behaviour in
terrain parks, how to ride features correctly and how
to assess risk. This requires an induction by an expert,
regular tuition and training supervision by qualified in-
structors.
The BFU, Swiss Council for Accident Prevention, rec-
ommends that children should not ride in category S
Accident prevention 7
terrain parks until they are at least 6 years old.
Younger children are not yet able to withstand the
physiological burden of riding in terrain parks [12].
However, some resorts have so-called children’s
parks (category XS) which are specially adapted to
the needs of younger children.
In view of the increased risk of head and back injuries,
it is advisable to consistently insist on the wearing of
appropriate protective equipment in terrain parks, in
particular helmets.
8 Accident prevention
4. Conclusion
Playful and challenging movement-based activities
such as those found in terrain parks are popular
among children and adolescents, as they stimulate
motor development and are also a source of experi-
ences in assessing one’s abilities and one’s environ-
ment. This promotes risk competence. Nevertheless,
terrain parks pose a greater risk of injury, especially
due to the fall heights. Lowering this risk by taking sit-
uational and behavioural measures is crucial to pre-
venting accidents with serious consequences.
«The correct inrun speed is a crucial safety fac-
tor. Park builders can contribute significantly
to accident prevention, especially in regard to
entry-level features, by choosing the right lo-
cation and limiting the inrun.»
Isabel Jud, Coach at Swiss-Ski and Head of Coaching at Swiss Snowsports and Swiss-Ski

Figure 2
Skier on a rainbow box

Terrain parks Accident prevention 9

III. Basics
In order to allow for a common understanding, this section provides an
overview of the different types of terrain parks on the one hand, and the
structure of a jump and its associated physical properties on the other.
The definition of levels of difficulty is intended to serve park operators as
an orientation aid.
1. Types of terrain park
Terrain parks are purpose-built facilities and an um-
brella term for a variety of freestyle facilities with nat-
ural (built from snow) or artificial features [13]. A ter-
rain park is an enclosed section within a snow sports
area with a clearly recognisable entrance and exit. It
should not be possible to accidently transfer from the
slope to the terrain park and vice versa. No one
should be able to inadvertently enter a terrain park.
Table 1 shows the variety of terrain parks for skiers
and snowboarders, with no guarantee of complete-
ness.
Bumps/dips: Bumps and dips are built from snow and
can be standalone facilities (e.g. bump-and-dip run).
Such facilities are very popular with children and pro-
vide beginners with excellent opportunities to prac-
tise their skills. Bumps and dips can also be inte-
grated into children’s runs, fun lines or cross runs.
Children’s course: A children’s course is a pre-set run
that is designed for play and has a theme. The terrain
of a children’s run has a minimal incline and does not
enable high speeds. All features can be ridden at low
speeds, and the park may not contain any steps.
Mobile features: Snow sports schools need features
that are suitable for skiing and snowboarding tuition,
i.e. mobile, modular and safe. These include gates,
seesaws, sliding surfaces etc. The terrain on which
such features are installed must have a minimal in-
cline, be tapered and separate from other slope us-
ers. This allows snow sports schools to offer begin-
ners and children a safe environment in which they
can acquire their first taste of terrain park features.
10
Children’s park: A children’s park is a terrain park
which is specially adapted to the physical require-
ments of children and is based on the model of the
classic freestyle park. These facilities are play and
fun-oriented, giving children a safe environment in
which to try out their first tricks.
Fun line, Fun slope: As the name suggests, these fa-
cilities focus on a playful, fun-based experience. The
route is pre-set, similar to a cross run. A fun line is
equipped with features such as high-five hands, light
and audio effects, vaulted tunnels etc. and is suitable
for most winter sports guests. A fun line will in general
contain features rating a difficulty level of S (Section
III.3.).
Cross course: Compared to the fun line, a cross
course is more sports-oriented, consisting of a pre-
set run with banked turns, rollers and jumps. In recre-
ational sports, the features are smaller than on com-
petition courses and can therefore be negotiated at
lower speeds.
Airbag: A classic airbag comprises an inflated air
cushion and a take-off built from snow that allows the
rider to jump onto the air cushion. A certain experi-
ence in jumping is a prerequisite. This means that the
airbag is not suitable for beginners.
Half-pipe: A half-pipe is a sports facility built from
snow in the form of a cylinder that is bisected along
its longitudinal axis and open at the top. Half-pipes
are rarely combined as a line with other terrain park
features.
Basics
Table 1: Overview of different types of terrain park

*Competition facilities (FIS and Olympic Games)

Terrain parks Basics 11

Freestyle park: A freestyle park consists of a variety
of jumps and jibs (artificial features such as boxes,
tubes etc.) adapted to the respective target group.
Jumps are made of snow, jibs are made of steel,
plastic or wood. Jumps enable a flight phase in which
the rider can perform tricks such as grabs, spins or
flips. Jibs are ridden or slid over. Many of these fea-
tures resemble urban infrastructure such as tables,
benches or railings.
Sports facilities for athletes: This type of terrain park
is not suitable for recreational riders and reserved for
athletes. This term is used to describe XL freestyle
parks, media projects or competition and training fa-
cilities. Facilities for media projects are usually pur-
pose-built for a specific media production, with an
accordingly creative and exciting design. The differ-
ent competition and training facilities meet the needs
and levels of international contests in each discipline,
such as slopestyle, big air/aerials, half-pipe or ski and
snowboard cross. There are also so-called ‘landing
airbags’, which simulate the landing zone of a jump
and serve as training facilities for athletes.
2. Structure of a jump
The inrun should display as constant a gradient as
possible and lead straight onto the ramp. The start
area defines the starting point or the start zone of a
jump.
The ramp comprises the transition and the take-off.
The ramp must always be adapted to the landing
zone.
The transition should have the longest possible
length and be built with a long radius to ensure an
even progress from the inrun to the take-off. The
characteristic of a transition: When negotiating this
zone, the athlete is exposed to a compression effect
towards the surface. The radius of the transition gen-
erates an angular momentum when passing through
it, which will cause the athlete to rotate backwards if
it is not counterbalanced by weight shifting [14]. In
general, the longer the transition, the easier it is for
12
the athlete to counteract the angular momentum and
the safer is the jump.
The take-off determines the direction and flight path
and must be coordinated with the landing zone. The
take-off angle αTo affects the flight path. The steeper
the inclination of the landing zone (angle sweet spot
zone αSz), the steeper the take-off angle αTo
may be built. In public freestyle parks, the take-off an-
gle αTo is usually less than 35°. Level and slightly
curved ramps (αTo < 20° and large radius) are easier
to jump or ride over. Steeper and curvier ramps re-
quire experience and precision in both construction
and use. Depending on the difficulty of the jump, the
take-off may be built without a radius or with the same
radius as the transition. Abrupt radius changes
should be avoided, especially at the take-off. In addi-
tion, a well-prepared and clearly defined take-off
gives users a sense of security: Not only does it allow
athletes to better negotiate it, but the take-off can
also be ridden more consistently on repetitions.
The deck describes the length LD between the take-
off and the landing zone. It also refers to the transition
to the landing zone, also known as the knuckle. The
knuckle should be as rounded off as possible to ena-
ble a smooth transition from the deck to the landing
zone. The fall height is a decisive factor with regard to
injury severity. Therefore, the fall height should be as
low as possible at each point during the flight phase.
This is achieved by shaping the deck to mirror the
flight trajectory. The deck must also be designed in
such a way that it is not possible for slow park users
to meet the deck at right angles. For larger jumps the
deck should have at least the width of three snow
groomers. This will allow passing the ramp during the
preparation of the jump.
Basics
The landing zone is divided into two areas – the sweet The run-out is used to exit the jump or to approach
spot zone and the critical zone. The sweet spot zone the next jump (Figure 3).
describes the ideal landing zone, in which the forces
exerted on the rider are as minimal as possible. When
landing in the critical zone, the forces acting on the
body are greater, thus increasing the risk of injury. The
same applies to landing before the sweet spot zone
(e.g. on the knuckle). Ideally, the landing zone is twice
as long as the deck and should widen towards the
run-out. The ratio of the deck to the entire landing
zone (measured horizontally) should not be lower
than 1:1. The wider and longer the landing zone (and
thus also the sweet spot zone) is, the bigger a jump
can be built.

Figure 3
Structure of a jump (adapted according to [14])

Terrain parks Basics 13

3. Difficulty levels
Categorising terrain parks or lines (sequences of fea-
tures that are negotiated consecutively) according to
difficulty levels is based on the difficulty and size of
the features contained therein. The difficulty levels
described in this section refer to jumps and jibs and
are not applicable to half-pipes.
The following difficulty levels apply:
• «Extra Small» (XS)
• «Small» (S)
• «Medium» (M)
• «Large» (L)
• «Extra Large» (XL)
Features of larger size and width require a higher
take-off speed, which in turn increases the risk of se-
rious injuries.
The energy that an athlete must absorb during land-
ing depends on the equivalent fall height. The equiv-
alent fall height is determined by the angle between
the flight trajectory and the landing surface, the so-
called landing angle αL on the one hand, and by the
landing velocity 𝒗⃗ on the other. By means of the land-
ing angle the landing velocity can be dissected into
the parallel velocity component 𝑣 II to the landing sur-
face, and the vertical velocity component 𝑣 ⊥ (Figure
4).
The equivalent fall height derives directly from the
vertical velocity component 𝒗 ⃗ ⊥. A jump can therefore
result in different equivalent fall heights, depending
on the landing speed and the gradient of the landing
surface. Correspondingly, the force absorbed when
landing is reduced at a lower landing velocity 𝑣 or a
flatter landing angle αL.
14
An equivalent fall height of 0.5 m means that the
force absorbed during landing corresponds with the
force of a vertical fall/drop from a height of 0.5 m
onto a horizontal surface. From a perspective of ac-
cident prevention, the equivalent fall height of jumps
should be kept as low as possible, especially in the
sweet spot zone (which is the optimum landing area).
But even on the deck or in the critical landing zone,
the equivalent fall height thresholds displayed in Ta-
ble 2 should not be exceeded.
The parallel velocity component 𝒗 ⃗ II to the landing
area should also be kept low. If a jump is not landed
cleanly and this results in the skier or snowboarder
catching an edge, the high parallel velocity compo-
nent is the real threat. Slow landing speeds, both per-
pendicular and parallel to the landing surface, are
desirable. As a general rule, the lower the landing
point beneath the take-off point, the higher the land-
ing speed. Table-tops, rollers and step-ups are there-
fore safer jumps than step-downs and style drops.
Table 2 describes the thresholds for the size and
length of jumps and jibs in the respective difficulty lev-
els. The horizontal length of the sweet spot zone LSz
must be at least two thirds the length of the deck LD.
If one or more thresholds are exceeded, the feature,
line, or the terrain park must be placed in the next
higher difficulty category.
Basics
Figure 4
Jump with flight trajectory

Terrain parks Basics 15

Table 2: Difficulty levels of jumps and jibs in terrain parks

Classification

Very small and Very large and

Description Small and easy Medium Large and difficult
very easy very difficult

Park-specific Basic skills required Advanced skills Pro-level skills

None required None required
skills (assessing speed) required (athletes)

Terrain gradient Minimal < 15° < 22° Not defined Not defined

Pre-defined starting Pre-defined starting Pre-defined starting Pre-defined starting

Start area –
point point zone zone

Below 13 under Below 13 under

Use – From 6 years of age No public access
supervision supervision

Jumps

Maximum deck
2m 4.5 m 9m 13.5 m > 13.5 m
length LD

Minimum sweet spot

1.5 m 3m 6m 9m –
zone length LSz

Maximum equivalent
fall height through Minimal 0.5 m 1.5 m * *
the jump

Maximum equivalent
fall height in the Minimal Minimal 1m 1.5 m *
sweet spot zone LSz

Radius at take-off Less curvature than Maximum equal Maximum equal

No radius No radius
LTo transition curvature to transition curvature to transition

Mandatory, Mandatory,
Continuous ridability Not mandatory Not mandatory Not mandatory
no steps steps < 0.5 m

Jibs

Maximum height
Minimal 0.3 m 1m 1.5 m > 1.5 m
above ground

Take-off without gap

Mandatory Mandatory Not mandatory Not mandatory Not mandatory
or step (ride-on)

Jib gradient Flat Slight gradient (< 20°) Not defined Not defined Not defined

Very easy and straight Demanding or

Easy and straight Curved and kinked Very demanding
Type structures (easy disconnected
structures structures structures
rainbow possible) structures (jib to jib)

Wide Wide to narrow All slidable surfaces All slidable surfaces

Slidable surface Very wide
(short tubes possible) (rails possible) possible possible

* A low equivalent fall height is desirable. Further research is needed to determine the exact dimensions.

16 Basics
Figures 5 and 6
The XS and S signs indicate parks suitable for children and be-
ginners
XS and S are suitable for the majority of park users:
children, beginners and those with little terrain park
experience (Figures 5 and 6). In these terrain parks,
users can acquire new movement and jumping expe-
riences without having to take higher risks. Basic
skills on skis or a snowboard, such as gliding, stop-
ping and turning are a prerequisite for riding in terrain
parks.
All features in XS and S parks must be ridable without
any prior terrain park experience, which means that
all features must be traversable at very low speeds.
These terrain parks should be designed in a manner
that prevents excessive speeds. The maximum inrun
and the exact starting point are to be determined by
the park operator [13].
Since the physiology of children and adults is differ-
ent, it makes sense to offer specially adapted park in-
frastructure for children. If a facility is designed for un-
der 6-year-olds, it must be built in such a manner that
it is absolutely error-forgiving (XS). The BFU recom-
mends that children under the age of 6 should not
use category S snow parks.
Terrain parks
Figures 7 and 8
The M and L signs indicate parks for advanced and proficient
riders
A prerequisite for using M and L lines is sound move-
ment experience and basic terrain park experience.
(Figures 7 and 8). Users must be able to correctly as-
sess their own speed and react accordingly. A start-
ing zone helps riders self-organise in a starting order
and should be set up by the park operator as an inrun
orientation aid.
The BFU recommends that children and adolescents
under the age of 13 only use category M terrain parks
and higher accompanied by a competent person or
under supervision.
Figure 9
The XL sign indicates parks for athletes
XL features and lines should be reserved for compet-
itive and professional athletes. The BFU advises
against making such facilities freely accessible for
recreational riders (Figure 9).
Basics 17
4. Markings and park rules
The colour orange (RAL 2003) is used for the marking
and signage of terrain parks. The use of orange and
the categorisation in the difficulty levels XS–XL estab-
lishes a clear distinction to the ski slope categories
(blue – red – black) [13]. This prevents park users from
confusing the different facilities.

The most important rules [13,15] for park users have

been issued in consultation with the Swiss Commis-
sion for the Prevention of Accidents on Snow Sports
Runs SKUS:

• Look before you leap

• Make a plan
• Easy style it
• Respect gets respect

These park rules are communicated through the in-

stallation of the terrain park sign (Figures 10 and 11)
at the entrance to the terrain park. They are binding
[13]. Additionally, park users should always follow the
motto “Start small and work your way up”.

Besides communicating the park rules, the park op-

erator is responsible for ensuring that they are appro-
priately enforced. The park rules are described in de-
tail in the Appendix, Section IX.2.

«It makes sense to use the terms small, Figure 10

S-freestyle park with terrain park sign
medium and large Switzerland-wide to la-
bel the lines within a terrain park. This
standardisation ultimately helps visitors
find their way around the different terrain
parks faster and more easily.»
Gian Simmen, Head of terrain parks at Jungfrau
Railways and Half-Pipe Olympic Champion

18 Basics
Figure 11
Terrain park sign (No. 22 SKUS Rules of Conduct)

Terrain parks Basics 19

IV. Planning
Planning a terrain park is demanding. The operator should already address
basic questions regarding the target group, location and type of terrain
park at the planning stage. Several quality and safety criteria need to be
considered.

The BFU recommends consulting experts from the 1. Target group

outset when planning a terrain park. It is also advisa- Terrain park users are of different ages, have differ-
ble to carefully consider the following key points in ent levels of ability and different motives (training with
advance and set them out in a written project descrip- a group, riding with family or friends). For this reason,
tion: terrain park operators must consider right from the
1. Target group start which target group is to be addressed. All terrain
park operators must provide at least one beginner
2. Type and features line or beginner features (XS or S) [13].
3. Location
A terrain park may contain lines of various difficult
4. Hazard areas levels, each to be marked accordingly. Separate ter-
rain parks catering to different levels of ability and
5. Rescue provision
target groups increase the safety of their users. They
6. Funding and schedule are then designated, e.g. as children’s (XS), beginner
(S), advanced (M) and expert (L) parks. Table 3 shows
an overview of the target groups, their needs and mo-
tives.

20 Planning
Table 3: Target groups: needs and motives

Children Beginners Advanced Experts

Movement Experience movement in
experience a fun and playful environ-
ment
Learn movements in a
playful manner
Acquire coordination skills
Acquire movements Apply basic skills and Apply advanced skills
and basic skills acquire new ones
Practise and create move-
Improve movement confi- Practise and create move- ments in a varied manner
dence ments in a varied manner (e.g. combining movement
(e.g. combining tricks) sequences independently)
Expand trick repertoire Inventing new tricks

Fitness, Exercise the natural urge Be physically active Be physically active Self-fulfilment
health, to move
wellbeing Boost self-efficacy and Boost self-efficacy and Adapt and modify move-
self-confidence self-confidence ments to conditions as
appropriate
Adapt movements to con-
ditions as appropriate

Adventure, Explore limits Explore and test limits Test limits Push limits
risk,
thrill Try out new things Push perceived boundaries Assess own ability Realistic assessment of
and conquer challenges what is feasible, taking
Experience exhilaration conditions into account
Experience exhilaration and success
and success Experience exhilaration
and success

Expression, Find own style Develop own style

aesthetics,
design Hone skills in terms of
execution and distance

Community, Get to know peers Peer experience, sense of Peer experience, sense of
socialising belonging belonging
Experience respect and Experience respect and
recognition recognition
Emulate experts Share success
Emulate role models
Mutual coaching

Infrastructure Child-appropriate infra- Create easy learning Enable varied practice Enable creative practice
structure (minimal fall opportunities opportunities (jibs, jumps, opportunities
heights, generous run-out half-pipe, cross run)
areas) Error-forgiving features Adequate flight times
Dedicated terrain park lift
Flat, non-sloping terrain Features can be ridden (enabling multiple Challenging jibs
over and bypassed repetitions)
Easy-to-use features (no gaps) Dedicated terrain park lift
(enabling multiple
repetitions)

Terrain parks Planning 21

2. Type and features
Once the target group has been defined, the park
type (e.g. freestyle park, cross, half-pipe) and the in-
tegrated features need to be considered.
This raises the question of whether it is a simple
snow-based project which neither requires any spe-
cial permission nor involves excavation work and
earth moving. Earth moving usually requires planning
permission. However, it can also significantly reduce
the snow volume needed in winter.
3. Location
Choosing the right terrain is a crucial factor when
building a terrain park. The terrain with its natural fea-
tures such as culmination points, inclines etc. must
be surveyed and assessed for suitability (e.g. using
3D terrain models, speed calculations and snow pro-
duction plans). Aided by 360-degree animations of
Table 4: Impact of exposure
North exposure
Advantages
Durability and stability of the facility
Less grooming time needed due to harder snow condi-
tions
Even sun exposure
South exposure
Advantages
Softer landing areas, take-offs remain harder
Higher visitor volume due to longer sun exposure
Even sun exposure and clear light conditions
22
the planned terrain park, park operators can glean a
first impression of their future facility before it is built.
The following basic principles must be considered
when choosing the terrain:
• Terrain difficulty: blue slopes are usually best
suited for an S park. The guidelines for the plan-
ning, construction and maintenance of snow
sports runs state that any S features may only be
installed in terrain with a maximum longitudinal or
transverse gradient of 15° [13].
• Terrain exposure: terrain parks should have sun
exposure all day long and not be exposed to ex-
cessive wind. If the terrain is south facing, the
take-off points are in the shade and remain hard,
while the landing area surfaces are softened by
the sun. An overview of the impact of exposure
can be found in Table 4. Both west and east expo-
sures are unfavourable due to uneven sunlight.
Disadvantages
Shade and low temperatures are not attractive for park
users
Often harsh conditions in early winter, take-offs and
transitions soften quickly in late winter due to strong
sun exposure
Tendency to uneven light conditions
Disadvantages
Inrun distance varies with changing conditions, which
makes it harder to estimate the correct inrun speed
Accelerated melting requires larger snow volumes and
longer grooming times
Glare due to direct sun exposure
Planning
• Sufficient snow: An adequate supply of snow
should be guaranteed throughout the season, or it
should be possible to transport snow from other
locations or produce artificial snow.
• Long opening duration: Ideally, the park should re-
main open as long as possible (e.g. from Decem-
ber to April). Experience has shown that terrain
park visitors are among the first and last in the
season to use winter sports facilities.
• Good access: The park should have easy access
by ski lift. Ideally, the length of the park should be
about the same as the length of the lift, as park
users wish to undertake as many runs as possible
and avoid long access and exit times and dis-
tances. The park should also be accessible for
construction and maintenance vehicles.
• Catering/hospitality: Ideally, park users should
have easy and close access to refreshment op-
tions.
4. Hazard areas
The park operator is responsible for providing a tech-
nically faultless terrain park and ensuring the neces-
sary maintenance.
The terrain park operator is responsible for clearly
separating the terrain park from the other slopes with
rope pennants or nets and the appropriate signage.
Details on markings and signage can be found in
Section V.2. Inside the terrain park, attention must be
paid to preventing collisions as far as possible, for in-
stance through:
• Clearly separating the inrun
• No crossing of lines, clear distinction between the
lines
est possible safety standards in terms of quality. Ar-
tificial terrain park features in particular should be of
high quality and adhere to high safety standards. We
recommend only using approved and certified fea-
tures.
5. Rescue provision
The park operator should devise a rescue plan be-
forehand and has to discuss it with the local piste
rescue service of the cableway company:
• Access to the terrain park for the piste rescue ser-
vice
• Distance to the next SOS point
• Provisions to alert the piste rescue service (tele-
phone number on terrain park sign, on-site staff,
mobile phone reception).
6. Funding and schedule
Funding must be secured from the start in order to
secure the successful realisation of a terrain park.
Besides the initial investment (such as the overall
concept, procurement of features, production of arti-
ficial snow and terrain park construction), staff costs
and the cost of machines for daily maintenance must
also be taken into account. The follow-up costs for
preparation, grooming and maintenance for one sea-
son will usually exceed the initial investment.
Besides securing funding, it is advisable to draw up a
viable schedule for terrain park construction. It should
be ascertained whether it is necessary to obtain plan-
ning permission. Planning applications usually take
time and should be submitted to the appropriate au-
thorities well in advance.

• Run-off areas with unrestricted visibility and no

obstructions

It is in the interest and the responsibility of the park

operator to ensure that the features are of the high-

Terrain parks Planning 23

V. Construction
Paying consistent attention to the different principles of terrain park con-
struction is essential. This ensures that users receive an error-forgiving,
self-explaining and faultless facility. The facility must also be equipped
with the correct markings and signage.
1. Construction principles
The park operator is responsible for providing a facil-
ity constructed in accordance with state-of-the-art
knowledge and technology. However, experience
also shows that – despite a faultless facility – park us-
ers are not always capable of assessing their speed
correctly and often overestimate their own abilities.
This is why terrain parks should be built in an error-
forgiving manner. This means that a margin of error
must be built into every feature. In the event of a rider
error, the injury severity and the number of severely
injured casualties can thus be reduced.
Building a terrain park with its various features is a
complex undertaking that requires a high degree of
specific expertise. Therefore, this technical docu-
mentation cannot explore specific construction
methods. However, the following lists the most im-
portant principles for terrain park construction which
help design an error-forgiving facility:
Principle 1: The BFU recommends acquiring the
necessary expertise or consulting professionals
when planning and building a terrain park.
The choice of terrain (gradient, slope) and adapting
the arrangement of features to the terrain is para-
mount. Moreover, the different lines must be clearly
separated from one another.
Principle 2: Avoid combining different difficulty lev-
els in the same line.
When negotiating a line, the rider should never be
confronted by unexpectedly difficult features. Ideally,
a terrain park contains only features of the same dif-
ficulty level and complies with the corresponding dif-
ficulty thresholds.
24
Principle 3: The inrun must be limited in such a way
that the rider cannot significantly exceed the appro-
priate speed.
The start area for each line must be clearly distin-
guishable. On XS and S lines and features in particu-
lar, the starting point must be set up in a way that pre-
vents the rider from reaching excessive speeds.
Principle 4: Landing areas should be long, wide and
free of obstacles.
The landing zone should be designed as long and
wide as possible to ensure a safe landing in all possi-
ble flight phases. Crash space is to be calculated
generously and must be free of obstacles. No jibs
may be installed in landing zones of jumps. Further-
more, banks must be smooth (e.g. free of lumps),
since they may be reached by park users after a pos-
sible crash. Also, banks must be designed at a natu-
ral angle so that no unnecessary crash site is created.
Principle 5: Jumps with a low injury risk (e.g. table-
tops, rollers and step-ups) should be favoured over
other jumps.
Jumps with a high injury risk (e.g. gap jumps) do not
belong in terrain parks that are accessible to the gen-
eral public. The risk level of a jump is derived from a
mixture of factors: inrun (speed), ramp curvature
(transition radius), take-off angle and landing zone
(landing angle, landing forces, length of sweet spot
zone). The fall height is also a decisive factor in terms
of injury severity. An overview of the different types of
jump and their risk levels can be found in Section VI.1.
Construction
Principle 6: Provide bypassing options
It should be possible to bypass each feature on one
or both sides. This allows the park users to inspect the
features and better estimate the required speed be-
fore starting their run. Riders can also safely bypass
a feature that is too challenging, or abort their run if
they are unsure.
Principle 7: Appropriate distance between features
Terrain park features should not be built too close to-
gether, thus allowing riders to prepare themselves
both mentally and physically for the next feature after
landing the previous one. However, the distance be-
tween features should not be large enough to enable
riders to accelerate in an uncontrolled manner. Addi-
tionally, no objects or installations (i.e. trees, ski lifts)
should be located in the immediate vicinity of the fea-
tures. The objective here is not just to prevent colli-
sions, but also to keep distraction to a minimum.
«The landing zone of each feature should
be built first. The take-off is then built ac-
cording to the dimensions of the landing
zone. It is easier to adapt the placement
of a jib or the shape of a jump to the land-
ing zone than vice versa.»
Christian Egli, Park Builder
Terrain parks
2. Signage
The completed terrain park must be specifically
marked and clearly separated from the slopes and
ski runs in accordance with the SKUS guidelines [16]
and the legal duty to implement safety measures
[16]. Every terrain park must have an entrance
marked by barriers/cordons. At each access point,
visitors must be informed about the park rules and us-
age risks by the orange SKUS terrain park sign No. 22
(Figure 11). If the terrain park exit leads onto a ski
slope, this must be marked by the SKUS sign No. 7
(crossing).
The following points with regard to signage must also
be observed:
• Different difficulty levels must be clearly separated
and visibly marked [13].
• The park must be marked by pennants and nets in
such a manner that is clear whether it is open or
closed.
• Crossings within the park must be indicated by
cordons or markings.
• In general, information signs and brochures will in-
dicate whether the park is suitable for children,
beginners, advanced or expert riders, either by
showing the specific symbols for the difficulty lev-
els or clearly addressing the target group.
The terrain park sign also informs users of:
• The binding nature of the FIS rules [17] and the
SKUS guidelines [15]
• The park rules (Appendix, Section IX.2)
• The recommendations for wearing protective
equipment (helmet, protectors)
• The emergency number of the piste rescue service
• The personal responsibility of the park user
Construction 25
VI. Terrain park features
Terrain parks contain a wide range of features, which can be built either
from snow or from artificial materials (synthetic, wood or metal). Users can
jump or slide over most features. Other features are just briefly bonked or
tapped.

1. Jumps
Jumps are park features that are made from snow.
They allow riders to perform different tricks during a
flight phase.
The design of a jump has an impact on the injury risk
(Table 5). Table-tops and rollers are examples of
jumps with a lower injury risk. Such jumps are best
suited for recreational riders. In contrast, high-risk
jumps such as gap jumps should be avoided [13].
However, in the snow it is not only the type of jump
that is relevant for safety, but also the proper con-
struction and regular maintenance.
Jumps should be filled up or rounded off at the rear
end of the ramp. This allows users to leave the ramp
after a speed check in the direction of the run-out
(Figure 12.)
Jumps are often made from artificial snow. The tech-
nical snow should be produced in the coldest and dri-
est conditions possible or, if necessary, stored for a
sufficiently long time to avoid the formation of landing
zones that are too hard and icy. In publicly accessible
terrain parks, a combination of artificial snow for the
base structures and natural snow for the upper layers
is ideal [14].
«Rollers are the safest kickers at all levels.
Table-tops also work excellently up to and
including M level.»
Alex Hüsler, Head of Young Talent Freeski Ath-
letes at Swiss-Ski

Figure 12
Ramp with rear end filled up

26 Terrain park features

Table 5: Types of jump

Terrain parks Terrain park features 27

2. Jibs
Jibs are artificial features (i.e. not made from snow)
which have become an integral part of a modern free-
style park. There are a vast variety of jibs which can-
not be explored exhaustively in this technical docu-
mentation. The most common types of jib are de-
scribed below.

Box: A box is a feature with a wide contact surface for

sliding over lengthways or widthways and is as such
ideal for beginners. The wider the contact surface, the
easier it is to slide over. A very wide version of this jib
Figure 13
type is also referred to as a table. Besides straight, Straight box
stepped and kinked models, some have curved
shapes such as C- or S-curves and rainbows (Figures
13 and 18).

Rail: Rails are metal tubes with a curved or flat con-

tact surface for sliding over. Similar to boxes, there is
a wide range of different rail models. Due to their
small tube diameter, rails are among the most chal-
lenging jibs to ride in a terrain park (Figure 14).

Tubes/industrials: These are tubes with a larger di-

ameter, which makes them easier to ride than rails.
Tubes also come in all kinds of types and shapes (Fig-
ure 15).
Figure 14
Rail

Figure 15
Tubes/industrials

28 Terrain park features

Wall ride: A wall ride is an almost vertical wall that is
installed either diagonally or parallel to the direction
of travel. Its surface is usually made of synthetic ma-
terials (Figure 16).

Bonks/lollipops: Bonks and lollipops include gar-

bage cans, tree trunks, vertically placed cylinders and
similar. This allows riders to bonk or tap, i.e. touch or
nudge the feature briefly with their skis or snowboard
(Figure 17).

Important notes on the materials used for jibs:

Figure 16
• Jibs must be breakproof and resistant to weather Wall ride
and corrosion.

• Jibs must have laterally enclosed cladding. The

surface may show no part which the rider could
catch or get stuck in.

• Tube openings must be sealed, and any edges

rounded off. There may be no protruding or sharp
parts.

• The connections between the features must be

flush. The width of the joint must not exceed 5 mm.

Safety recommendations for the construction and

maintenance of jibs:
Figure 17
• The features must have a stable construction and
Lollipop
be firmly anchored to the ground.

• A mounted jib may not have a lateral slant.

• The take-off must be sufficiently wide.

• The landing zone may not be too close to the fea-

ture and must be sufficiently steep.

• Jibs must be checked regularly and repositioned if

necessary.

Figure 18
Rainbow box

Terrain parks Terrain park features 29

3. Cross course
A cross course is a purpose-built run with features
built from snow – in a style similar to a motocross
track. The objective is to complete the course as
quickly as possible. When it comes to fun lines and
fun slopes on the other hand, the emphasis – as the
name suggests – is purely on riding pleasure. Typical
features of both are undulating, wavy terrain (bumps
and rollers), banked turns and jumps (table-tops,
speed drops). Features of difficulty level S are suita-
ble for recreational sports. (Figure 19).
Figure 19
S-cross
30
Important tips for building a cross course
Routing: A cross course should be as flat as possible,
which makes the choice of terrain crucial. The
steeper the terrain, the more traverses will need to be
built. A cross course should be built in such a manner
that it can be ridden at a constant speed after the in-
itial acceleration phase without the need for any ma-
jor braking manoeuvres.
Terrain park features
Like freestyle parks, cross courses should also be
built in an error-forgiving manner. Every publicly ac-
cessible cross course must be negotiable at various
speeds without any of the individual features creating
hazardous situations. A cross course must be tested
by experienced skiers and snowboarders (e.g. snow
sports instructors) and adapted if necessary before it
is opened to the public.
Start: The start must be chosen (or equipped with a
chicane) in such a manner that it is not possible for
users to enter the cross course at excessive speeds.
Rollers: Rollers must be built in such a way that riders
cannot lose contact with the ground; as such, they
may be neither too steep nor too close together.
There is a high risk of injury if a rider takes off on a
roller and hits the opposite slope of the following
roller. Such risks must be avoided at all costs. The
distance from roller top to roller top should be at least
1.5 times the caterpillar track length of a snow
groomer. This distance also allows for proper course
maintenance by machine (Figure 20).
Figure 20
Different rollers
Terrain parks
Jumps: Flat table-top jumps and speed drops are
suitable for a cross course (Table 5, Section VI.1.).
Gaps and style drops with high steps should generally
be avoided to ensure that slow cross users can enjoy
a safe ride too.
Banked turns: Banked turns should not be built too
tight. Tight radii exert excessive compression forces
on the rider and can provoke a fall. A rider who falls in
a banked turn no longer has control and will slide
straight to the outer edge of the curve (or even be-
yond). In this case, falling riders will have to rely on
safety nets, or the turn must be constructed in such a
way that prevents them from reaching enough mo-
mentum to be catapulted off the bank. As a general
rule, it should be impossible to overjump/override a
banked turn. If this cannot be guaranteed, a flat turn
should be favoured here over a banked turn. It is also
important to note that tight banked turns are practi-
cally impossible to groom by machine. (Figure 21).
Figure 21
Banked turn
Terrain park features 31
4. Half-pipe
A half-pipe is a sports facility built from snow in the
form of a cylinder that is bisected along its longitudi-
nal axis and open at the top. Only artificial snow
should be used in half-pipe construction, as the qual-
ity of the walls deteriorates rapidly if they are not suf-
ficiently hard (Figure 22).
The target group must also be considered when con-
structing a half-pipe. Smaller half-pipes are more
suitable for recreational riders. So-called S-pipes
and M-pipes are not as high and are usually built on
flatter terrain (e.g. M-pipe in Laax 13–15°) [14].
Figure 22
Structure of a half-pipe
32
Half-pipes are divided into different height catego-
ries:
• S-pipes: up to 1.50 metres
• M-pipes: up to 4 metres
• L-pipes: up to 6.7 metres
• Superpipe: 6.7 metres and above
With S-pipes (< 1.5 m), it is very important to ensure
that the walls are not vertical and have a radius that
is large enough to keep the compression forces on
the rider to an absolute minimum. The length of a
half-pipe will vary depending on the budget of the
park operator on the one hand, and on the terrain
available on the other. Yet, the length does not have
any immediate influence on the difficulty level of the
half-pipe.
Terrain park features
5. Airbag
An airbag comprises an inflated air cushion and a
take-off ramp built from snow. Besides the size of the
airbag, the way in which it is manufactured is crucial.
For instance, the type of cushion rim can differ from
one manufacturer to another: a rim that prevents the
user from slipping off the air cushion in an uncon-
trolled manner is absolutely essential. It is important
to strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions (Fig-
ure 23).

The park operator is responsible for making sure that

the airbag cannot be overjumped. This is ensured by
the specified maximum inrun distance. Depending on
the prevailing conditions, the maximum inrun may
need to be modified during the course of the day. The
area surrounding the airbag should be cordoned off
with a rope or net to ensure that no one from outside
the enclosure can approach the jump.

Airbag facilities are not suitable for beginners and

should only be operated under supervision. Basic ter-
rain park skills are needed in order to land the jump
on the airbag in a controlled fashion.

Figure 23
Supervised airbag

Terrain parks Terrain park features 33

«Hazard areas must be reduced to a minimum.
The operator is responsible for ensuring that
the features are state-of-the-art in terms of
safety.»
Gian Simmen, Head of terrain parks at Jungfrau Railways and Half-Pipe Olympic Champion

Figure 24
Fun slope

34 Terrain park features

VII. Operation
Service and maintenance are of key importance when operating a terrain
park and serve the safety of the park users. Mountain transport companies
and park operators should define their responsibilities and scope of duties
and document them in writing.
1. Service and maintenance
The park must be inspected and maintained as re-
quired prior to opening [13]. Regular maintenance is
important to be able to respond to changes during
the course of the day. Worn-down take-offs or defec-
tive features must be repaired or closed immediately.
The higher the traffic volume in the facility, the higher
the maintenance costs. It is important to bear in mind
that some maintenance tasks can be carried out bet-
ter and faster by machine, thus making the work of the
shapers easier.
«The quality of a terrain park stands and
falls with continuous facility maintenance.
Mountain transport companies should
acknowledge that terrain parks have equal
status with ski slopes with regard to prepa-
ration. The facility should be shaped daily
just like the ski slopes are groomed daily.»
Roger Heid, Manager, Riders Hotel Laax
After the features have been installed or modified, a
test ride by an experienced park user is essential in
order to ensure that the features are in proper work-
ing order and the flight trajectories are correct.
In the interest of accident prevention, the BFU recom-
mends that only personnel with the proper expertise
(e.g. a shaping team) should be engaged for mainte-
nance and servicing tasks, as maintenance errors
can immediately have grave consequences. The
tasks to be performed should be set out in a specifi-
cation sheet.
Terrain parks
The following maintenance work and measures
should be performed daily and documented in writing
(for checklists see Appendix, Section IX.5):
• Ensure correct signage and fencing.
• Clear away fresh or drifted snow.
• Groom jumps and inruns.
• Groom landing zones: this must be done from both
sides (destruction of hard ice layers; holes and
bumps must be avoided at all costs).
• Mechanically and manually maintain the inrun,
take-off and landing zone (filling holes and worn-
down surfaces).
• Prepare the transition and take-off: the take-off
must be checked after each mechanical grooming
and corrected manually if necessary. Artificial fea-
tures are usually maintained by hand (Figure 25).
• Inspect jibs for a flush fit, firm anchorage and in-
cline. This will require more work when the snow
starts to melt towards the end of the season.
• Inspect jibs for damage as well as general wear
and tear.
• Close defective features.
• Rectify or repair defective features.
«Shape while the snow is fresh and soft.
This is usually easier in the evening than in
the morning.»
Christian Egli, Park Designer
Operation 35
Attention should also be paid to the following:
• Mark the features (take-offs, landing zones,
banked turns etc.) in poor visibility with paint, flags,
marker brushes, poles or pole netting.
• Close the facility in persistent poor weather, snow-
fall, fog, poor visibility, severe ice conditions or
strong winds as appropriate.
• Park users must have access to up-to-date infor-
mation on the status of the facility (open/closed).
«Important: the entire facility must be
closed while mechanical maintenance,
construction or modification work is being
carried out in the terrain park. When man-
ual work is being carried out, it is sufficient
to close individual features.»
Moritz Schwery, Expert for Slope Safety at Swiss
Cableways SBS/RMS
Figure 25
Jibs closed for maintenance
36
2. Equipment
Optimum maintenance standards require specialist
tools and machines. The park operator must there-
fore provide suitable equipment for maintenance
work. Nowadays there are specialist shaping tools
such as cutters and rakes which go beyond conven-
tional shovels and allow shapers to work efficiently
with both soft and hard snow (Figure 26).
Figure 26
Shaping tools
3. Supervision
Supervision in terrain parks increases the safety of
the users. Accident research has shown that children
in particular are less likely to injure themselves when
supervised [10,11]. The BFU therefore recommends
that all parks or features of difficulty level M and
above should be monitored by a park supervisor.
The role of a supervisor:
• Controlling access (e.g. M-level park: children and
adolescents under age 13 only when accompa-
nied by an experienced rider; XL-level park: com-
petitive athletes only).
• Making users aware of rule violations.
Operation
• Providing start clearance and inspection of high-
traffic features (e.g. airbag etc.).

• Making a point of contact available for inexperi-

enced park users (speed tips etc.).

• Recommending features which match the ability

of the park user.
• Advising park users to wear a helmet.
• Closing features if necessary.
• Offering immediate assistance to injured park us-
ers and alerting the rescue and emergency ser-
vices.

4. Documenting and analysing accidents

An accurate documentation and a precise localisa-
tion of accidents is vital to prevention efforts. Swiss
Cableways, the Sdwiss National Accident and Insur-
ance Fund (Suva) and the BFU provide a useful tool
for this purpose. Firstly, accident reports can be
stored in a database via an online data entry form,
and secondly, the recorded accidents can be dis-
played and analysed on a map using the SnowGIS
programme (Figure 27). Visual accident rendering
(Where did the accident happen?) and accident anal- Accidents in the terrain park
ysis (What happened? How did it happen?) can indi-
cate whether further evaluation is required, or addi- Accidents at crossings
tional safety measures need to be implemented in the Collisions
terrain park.
Single-person accidents
Serious injuries/fatalities

Figure 27
Excerpt from the SnowGIS programme

Terrain parks Operation 37

VIII. Legal aspects
The terrain park operator has an obligation to build and maintain the facil-
ity in such a manner that there are no defects and safety is guaranteed.
1. Responsibility of the terrain park operator
The responsible persons at the operating company
(hereafter referred to as the terrain park operator) are
– in the same manner as the operators of mountain
transport facilities and ski lifts – subject to the so-
called legal duty to maintain safety on the slopes.
This obligation is based on the general code of con-
duct to cause no harm or injury: anyone creating or
operating a potential hazard for others, e.g. by build-
ing or operating a terrain park, is obliged to take all
reasonable precautions to ensure that the hazard
does not arise and that no harm is caused to others
(so-called tort liability). This means that terrain parks
must be built and maintained in such a way that there
are no defects and safety is guaranteed at all times.
In accordance with the SKUS guidelines [13] for the
installation, operation and maintenance of snow
sports runs, terrain parks must be separated from
other snow sports runs and clearly marked. An acci-
dent in a terrain park may result in criminal and civil
law consequences for the operator. This is particu-
larly the case if the facility is in a culpably defective
state, e.g. due to inadequate inspection and mainte-
nance work.
38
2. Minimising liability risks
The liability risks associated with operating a terrain
park cannot be entirely ruled out. They can generally
be minimised by implementing the safety measures
described in this publication as fully as possible.
From a legal point of view, the following factors are –
amongst other– relevant:
• Consulting experts for the planning and construc-
tion (Sections IV and V).
• Building and maintaining the facility in accordance
with the safety-relevant principles (Sections V und
VII).
• Regular inspections and supervision – in particular
eliminating hazard areas or immediately securing
or closing them off (Section VII).
• Setting up rescue provisions (Section IV).
• Providing terrain park users with adequate infor-
mation on the health risks associated with the ac-
tivity.
• Communicating the park rules and the FIS Rules
of Conduct [17] to park users in an appropriate
manner.
Legal aspects
3. Personal responsibility of the park users
As a matter of principle, park users bear responsibility
for any risks and injuries. This applies in particular if
they endanger their own health and the accident is
caused by a typical risk in a terrain park [13].
In the case of accidents on ski slopes, the Swiss Fed-
eral Supreme Court has ruled that risks which are in-
herent to snow sports must be borne by the person
who decides to practise the activity (Swiss Federal
Supreme Court Ruling 4A_612/2010, E. 2.3.). A
sports-specific risk is, for instance, when a skier com-
mits an edge error. Even the misconduct of park users
who misjudge their own ability or ignore signs and
thus suffer from an accident can be attributed to per-
sonal responsibility.
Personal responsibility includes the obligation to
practise the activity according to one’s own ability, to
carry out the necessary preparations (comments on
the SKUS guidelines, Appendix, Section IX. 1) and to
be suitably equipped. Navigating artificially built
jumps and terrain park facilities involves – in particu-
lar during the flight and landing phase – a higher ac-
cident risk than traditional snow sports which are
practised on flat snow surfaces.
Terrain parks
In its guidelines for skiers and snowboarders [15] the
Swiss Commission for the Prevention of Accidents on
Snow Sports Runs SKUS sets out the following rules
of conduct for terrain park users: those entering a ter-
rain park must first familiarise themselves with its
characteristics (prior inspection) and in particular ob-
serve the present signalling and park rules. This in-
cludes correctly assessing and using the features
corresponding to their ability level as well as showing
consideration for other park users. The BFU also rec-
ommends that park users observe the FIS Rules of
Conduct [17]. They outline the customary diligence
when practising snow sports – non-compliance (e.g.
if someone is injured in a collision) may result in civil
and/or criminal consequences.
Limits to personal responsibility
The limits to personal responsibility arise where, e.g.
a person practising snow sports on a ski slope or in a
terrain park is unable to recognise a hazard in good
time or at all – despite behaving in a vigilant manner
– so that they must be protected from or at least
warned of the danger.
Following an accident, whether and who is ultimately
held liable under civil and/or criminal law depends on
the circumstances of the specific incident.
Legal aspects 39
«All maintenance work, the state of the park
and its features and any unusual occurrences
such as accidents, damages etc. should be
documented in a maintenance report.»
Moritz Schwery, Expert for Slope Safety at Swiss Cableways SBS/RMS

Figure 28
M-pipe and M-freestyle park

40 Legal aspects
IX. Appendix
1. SKUS Guidelines
The SKUS “Snow Sports Facilities: Guidelines for the
Installation, Operation and Maintenance of Snow
Sports Runs” state the following:
XV. Terrain parks
66. A terrain park covers the freestyle area in which
jumps, jibs, half-pipes and cross runs are pro-
vided for snow sports practitioners.
67. If a terrain park is provided, the area must also
contain an entry-level/beginner line or entry
level/beginner features.
68. Terrain parks must be inspected daily and
maintained where necessary.
69. Access to the terrain park must be marked with
the terrain park sign No. 22.
Terrain parks may be listed on information
boards and in brochures.
The colour orange shall be used for markings
and signage. The colours blue, red and black
are reserved for ski slopes and may not be
used in terrain parks.
70. The use of specialist facilities, as on all marked
slopes and downhill runs, is subject to the prin-
ciple of personal responsibility.
The 10 FIS rules also apply to terrain park us-
ers and, in addition, the SKUS rules for terrain
park users.
71. XS and S features must be clearly separated
from the other features and marked either indi-
vidually or as an entire children’s or beginner
line with the XS (extra small) or S (small) sign.
72. In XS and S parks, all features must be ridable
without any prior park experience. This means
that all features can be ridden at very low
speeds without a flight phase. Additionally,
each line has a pre-defined starting point. All
Terrain parks
XS and S features must be constructed in ter-
rain with a maximum longitudinal or transverse
gradient of 15 degrees.
XS jump features must be shaped without
steps. S jump features may not be built higher
than 0.5 metres.
XS jibs must be installed as close as possible
to the snow surface. S jibs may extend above
the snow surface by a maximum of 0.3 metres.
Jibs for children or beginners may not have any
gap or step between the inrun and the jib.
XL (extra-large) jump features (deck length
greater than 13.5 metres; equivalent fall height
in the sweet spot zone greater than 1.5 metres)
and XL jibs (slidable surface higher than
1.5 metres above the snow surface) are re-
served exclusively for competition sports (ac-
cording to FIS). Gap jumps may be built in XL
parks but under no circumstances in facilities
with public access.
73. Additionally, the corresponding rules and regu-
lations for ski slopes shall apply as appropri-
ate.
XVIII. Design of markings and signage
81. Terrain park markings
Sign No. 22 Terrain Park
XIX. Minimum dimensions for signage
Sign No. 22: Terrain Parks, 700 × 500 mm
Sign No. 23: XS, 24: S, 25: XL, 400 × 200 mm
XX. Colour according to RAL colour standard
Terrain Park: Orange RAL 2003
Appendix 41
2. Park Rules

Table 6: Code of conduct for skiers and snowboarders in terrain parks

Start small and work your way up.

Terrain park novices should start with small features.

They can be ridden slowly and have low fall heights.

1. Look before you leap

• Inspect all the features: assess height, length and difficulty
level

• Check the surface conditions of the take-offs and landing

zones

• Only jump if the feature has been well prepared

2. Make a plan
• Decide which features are to be used and how

• Concentrate – from the first to the last feature

• ein
Stellt Be aware
Gebietthat speed,
einen inrun zur
Snowpark andVerfügung,
take-off have an impact
so muss on eine Einsteigerlinie oder Einsteigerelemente anbieten.
es auch
jump height and jump distance as well as on body position
when landing

3. Easy style it
• Start with familiar features and tricks

• Ask for expert guidance

• Acquire the skills needed to step up to larger features: start

small and build up gradually

4. Respect gets respect

• Do not put anyone at risk

• Make sure that the landing zone is free and exit it quickly after
landing

• Support other park users and share experiences, e.g. at speed

checks

• Give a hand signal before starting your run

• Respect your health and wear protective gear

42 Appendix
3. Professional terrain park planners 4. Terrain park sample designs
Although Switzerland has several professionally run The following images serve to illustrate what a terrain
terrain parks, there are very few qualified consultan- park might look like. They are mainly S-category ter-
cies and planning firms for terrain park facilities in the rain parks (Figures 29–31).
country. At the time of compiling this documentation,
the only Swiss company we found was JWParks under
sole proprietorship. For this reason, reference is also
made here to companies in Europe and North Amer-
ica. This list is not complete:

• F-Tech (Italy)

• H05Parks (France)

• JWParks (Switzerland)

• QParks / Young Mountain

Marketing / Shape Academy (Austria)
Figure 29
• Schneestern (Germany) S-freestyle park Laax
• Snowpark Consulting AB (Sweden)

• STP Snowparktechnologies (USA)

• UniquePark (Austria)

• White Industries (Canada)

Figure 30
Plan of S-fun line

Figure 31
Plan of S-freestyle park

Terrain parks Appendix 43

 5. Checklists

Table 7: Daily terrain park inspection

Name of terrain park: ________________________________ yes no

The following items are to be inspected:

1 The SKUS terrain park sign is in place at the park entrance.
The levels of difficulty are determined correctly and signalled accordingly.
Safety nets are installed and adapted to the snow conditions.
Barriers/cordons are installed and adapted to the snow conditions.
XS and S: exact starting points are defined / M and L: start zones are specified.
Take-offs are marked in the event of poor visibility.
The previously described and further signage and markings are in place, visible and not covered with
snow or ice.
2 The construction principles have been complied with (BFU Technical Documentation on Terrain parks,
Section V.1).
The difficulty levels are structurally accurate.
3 Safety padding is installed and adapted to the snow conditions.
If not:

Why not?
4 The jumps have been correctly built with due care (take-off finished off manually / take-off angle
checked / landing zone prepared).
If not:

Which jump?
What is wrong?
What action is needed (reshaping by hand / reshaping by machine)?
Park / line / jump closed?
5 The jibs have no dangerous bumps, irregularities or damages and are installed correctly.
If any of the above present:

Which jib?
What is faulty or not in order?
What action is needed (realign / repair / replace)?
Park / line / jib closed?
6 What action has been taken in the park overall (reshape / reconstruction / new construction)?
Which jibs and which jumps?
Other modifications or adjustments?
7 Conditions:

Fresh snow: cm
Temperature: °C (average)
Weather: snowfall / sunshine / fog / rainfall
Wind: calm / light / medium / strong
Visibility: good / uneven / poor / fog
8 Injuries:
If yes:

Where in the park?

How?
When? Time:
Personal details: skis / snowboard / male / female / age

Accidents entered into the SBS/SCW database

9 Inspected and performed by:
1st Inspection: Time
2nd Inspection: Time
Date: Day / Month / Year
10 Park approved for use
Signature:

44 Appendix
Table 8: Planning, Execution and Maintenance

Planning
1 Concept Plan Status
WHERE: Choice of terrain
Exposition (south facing is ideal for smaller parks) 
Slope gradient and terrain-given contours 
Accessibility (transport/lift facilities, travel time) 
WHAT: Park size
Approx. number and difficulty level of features 
Additional catering/hospitality provision? 
WHO: Task allocation
Task allocation: mountain transport companies and outside experts (planning, marketing, construction and mainte- 
nance)
HOW: Funding
Costs mountain transport facilities, sponsorship funding 
2 Detailed Concept Status
Set up
Park plan/park layout sketch 
→ Target audience-oriented construction and placement of features (according to defined difficulty levels)
→ “Functional lines”: rhythm and safety
→ Adherence to construction principles
Resource planning (calculation of required snow quantity, number of snow cannons, hours of mechanical and manual 
labour).
Inventory, procurement of jibs (rails, boxes) and tools 
Schedule (revision and inspection, snowmaking, setting up, events) 
3 Pre-season preparation Status
Logistics
Storage space for unused jibs, tools and other park equipment and material 
Prepare work schedules for machine operators and shapers 
Define areas of responsibility (maintenance, daily park access approval) 
Draw up safety concept 
Signage (park sign, difficulty levels, cordons and other signage) 
Ensure access and exit for rescue services (possibly a helicopter landing site) 
Execution
4 Preparation of jibs Status
Modify/restore existing jibs 
Procurement and transport of new jibs 
5 Placement of snow cannon Status
Ensure sufficient snow production in the required areas 
Contingency plan where applicable (supplementing snow production might be difficult depending on the area/condi- 
tions)
6 Park construction Status
2–3 machines for preliminary construction, followed by 1 machine (depending on the facility size) 
Park designer/head shaper and 2–3 shapers (depending on the facility size) 
Preliminary construction work 
Mechanical snow clearance and pre-shaping for decks and jibs 
Check sufficient deck length, steepness and length of landing zones (applies to jibs too!) 
Set up ramps and jibs (transition, take-off, take-off angle adapted to difficulty level and landing zone) level 
Check that the structural execution matches the difficulty level 
Put finishing touches to ramps and jibs 
Groom take-offs manually 
Maintenance
7 Routine reshaping, maintenance Status
Mechanical tasks, daily: landing zone, inrun and, if required, ramp preparation; 
(if wide enough); in normal conditions in the evening, if fresh snow at night/in the morning
Manual tasks: fine-tune take-offs as required (check take-off angle) 
in normal conditions in the evening, if fresh snow in the morning
8 Park opening authorisation after daily inspection: in the morning by the shaper and/or the mountain transport com- Status
pany (by arrangement)
Signage, cordons, safety nets and padding are installed according to plan 
All terrain park features are intact and ridable without avoidable hazards 
(uneven terrain on inruns/ramps/landing zones, damage to jibs etc.)
9 Modifications and additions Status
Secure availability of machines and shapers (cf. Planning, Item 2) 
10 Dismantling and removal Status
Dismantle obstacles which are no longer ridable / flatten kickers 
Summer storageTerrain
forparks
jibs Appendix 45 
Timely removal (before the snowmelt) 
6. Glossary
Big Air
Very large jump; also the name of a contest in com-
petition snowboarding.
Box
Jib (artificial feature) with a wide contact surface for
sliding over length- or widthways.
Coping
The upper edge of a pipe where the deck and vertical
(vert) meet.
Cross course
Snowboard cross (also: Boardercross, SBX or Board-
erX) and ski cross are contests in which a group of at
least four riders compete against one another on a
downhill course. This discipline has been a part of the
Olympic curriculum for snowboarders since the 2006
Winter Olympics in Torino; for skiers since Vancouver
2010.
Deck
The section between the take-off and the landing
zone of a jump and the upper, broad edge of a half-
pipe. Also known as the platform.
Features
All obstacles (e.g. jumps and jibs) that are present
and built in terrain parks, regardless of materials, ge-
ometry, size and intended use.
Freestyle
Discipline in which athletes can express their creativ-
ity.
Half-pipe
Sports facility built from snow in the form of a cylinder
that is bisected along its longitudinal axis and open
at the top. Half-pipe riding has been an Olympic dis-
cipline since 1998.
46
Inrun
Approach to a jump.
Jibbing (also: shredding, sliding)
Sliding over jibs or features.
Jibs
Jib features (short: jibs) are artificial (i.e. not made of
snow) park features.
Jump
In this publication, the term jump is used for the infra-
structure consisting of the inrun, ramp, deck, landing
zone and run-out.
Knuckle
Transition from the deck to the landing zone.
Line
A line is a sequential run of terrain park features that
is defined by its difficulty level.
Overshoot/Undershoot
When a rider jumps too far (beyond the sweet spot
zone) or not far enough (failing to clear the deck).
Rail
Round or flat metal railing (tube) for sliding, usually
bent into various shapes.
Ramp
The ramp comprises the transition and the take-off.
Roller
In this publication, roller is the term used for a type of
jump (step over) where the landing zone is positioned
slightly below the take-off. It should be noted that the
term roller is also used to describe the undulating ter-
rain on a cross course (see Undulations).
Shaper
Also: park builder. The shaper is usually a member of
a shaping team that is responsible for the care,
grooming and maintenance of a terrain park.
Appendix
Shredding Wall
See Jibbing. The side wall of a half-pipe.

Ski cross
See Cross course.

Sliding
See Jibbing.

Slopestyle
A type of contest for skiers and snowboarders. A
course with different features is completed in at least
two heats and rated by a jury. An Olypmic discipline
since 2014.

Snowboard cross
See Cross course.

Sweet spot zone

Term referring to the ideal landing area within the
landing zone.

Table
See Deck

Terrain park
Terrain park is an umbrella term for all types of free-
style facilities.

Transition
The concave curved section of the ridable surface,
e.g. the curvature in a pipe or the inrun to a jump. A
defining aspect of the transition is an increased ac-
celeration vertical to the ridable surface which exerts
itself on the rider.

Undulations
Undulating sections (also: bumps and dips, waves)
are popular features on cross courses. Undulations
are also known as rollers, like the jump.

Vertical (Vert)
Almost vertical area of a wall in a half-pipe.

Terrain parks Appendix 47

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Betrieb und Unterhalt. Bern: SKUS; 2019.
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Zugriff am 04.02.2020.
References
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Publishing information

Publisher • Isabel Bühler, Assistant Sport & Active Recreation,

BFU, Swiss Council for Accident Prevention
P.O. Box, 3001 Berne
+41 31 390 22 22
info@bfu.ch
bfu.ch / bestellen.bfu.ch, No. 2.081
Authors
• Benedikt Heer, Consultant for Sport and Active
Recreation, BFU
• Flavia Bürgi, Scientific Researcher, BFU
• Marc Weiler, Certified PE & Sports Instructor,
Photographer
Editor
Regula Hartmann, Head of Home and Sport, Deputy
Managing Director, BFU
rd
Expert panel 3 edition
• Samuli Aegerter, Head of Snow Sports Cam-
paigns, Suva
• Daniel Friedli, Head of Education, Youth + Sports
(J+S) Snowsports, FOSPO
• Alex Hüsler, Head of Young Talent Freeski Ath-
letes at Swiss-Ski
• Romano Pajarola, Head of Advisory Body for
Slope Safety at Swiss Cableways SBS/RMS
• Dirk Scheumann, Park Planner & Builder,
Schneestern
• Sven Toller, Technical Manager, Shape Academy
• Fabian Wolfsperger, Sports Engineer, SLF
• Kobi Würsch, Park Builder, JWParks
Project team
• Othmar Brügger, Head of Home & Sport Re-
search, BFU
• Hansjürg Thüler, Head of Sport & Active Recrea-
tion, BFU
• Oliver Rosch, Scientific Researcher – Legal Affairs,
BFU
BFU
• Publications Dept. / Language Services, BFU
Accident prevention partner
Swiss Commission for the Prevention of Accidents
on Snow Sports Runs SKUS
Printed by / Print run
Druckerei Herzog AG, Langendorf / 3rd edition
2019, 200 copies, printed on FSC paper
© BFU 2019
All rights reserved. Use permitted with credit to
source (see suggested source citation). Commercial
use excluded.
Suggested source citation
Heer B, Bürgi F, Weiler M. Terrain parks: Safety As-
pects in Planning, Construction and Operation.
Berne: Swiss Council for Accident Prevention BFU;
2019. Technical Documentation 2.081
DOI: 10.13100/BFU.2.081.08.2019
Image references
• Title image, No. 2, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 23, 25,
28, 29: M. Weiler
• No. 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 22, 27: BFU
• No. 5, 6, 9, 11: SKUS
• No. 16: Young Mountain Marketing, M. Donadel
• No. 17: Young Mountain Marketing, M. Jörger
• No. 19, 20, 21, 30, 31: Schneestern
• No. 24: Young Mountain Marketing, D. Ausweger
• No. 26: Shapetool
Table references
• All: BFU
Translated from German

50 Publishing information
Terrain parks Publishing information 51
 The BFU is committed to keeping people safe.
As a competence centre, it conducts research
and provides advice to help reduce the number
of serious accidents in Switzerland – in road traf-
fic, in the home, during leisure time and while
doing sport. By public appointment since 1938.
2.081.08 – 12.2019; © BFU

Swiss Council for P.O. Box, 3001 Berne

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