FAQs

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Live Heats is the registration, results, ranking and seeding platform being used globally from Region 1 (Europe) to Region 2 (US, Canada, & Sudamerica). Region 2 moved from our old platform into LiveHeats as of the 2024 season.

During registration for any event, everyone will have 72 hours to register, and all athletes will be immediately put on the waitlist until registration closes and the RSD begins to fill the event.

U12 Events: U12 Athletes are unseeded and have access to open registration based on timestamp. U12 athletes making the transition to U15 categories will be given 10 seeding points, to validate their experience in IFSA competitions, and to increase their chances of registering for 2* events.

Junior 2* Events: Once the 72-hour registration window comes to a close, the top-seeded athletes will be moved off the waitlist and confirmed into 50% of the event starts. The remaining 50% of event starts will be awarded by registration timestamp.

Junior 3* Events: After the 72-hour registration window, top-seeded athletes are confirmed for 90% of the event starts. The remaining 10% are held until three weeks before the event to allow for dynamic seeding list changes during the season, as placements will shift as new finishes are accounted for. At the three-week mark, the top-seeded athletes on the waitlist at that time will be confirmed until the event is full. If you choose another event while on the waitlist, be sure to remove yourself to avoid nonrefundable fees after the three-week deadline.

No not all events are filled by the seeding list.

U12 Events: Open registration and events are filled by registration timestamp.

Junior 2* Events: 50% of starts are filled with the top-seeded athletes by the seeding list, and the remaining 50% are filled by registration timestamp.

Junior 3* Events: 90% of starts are filled with the top-seeded athletes on the registration waitlist by the seeding list standings as of the close of the initial registration period. The remaining 10% of starts held until three weeks prior and based by the order of the seeding list as of the close of the final registration period three weeks prior to the event.

Junior 4* Championship: U12 athletes have open registration and starts are awarded by registration timestamp; U15 and U19 divisions are invite-only.

Qualifier 1* Events: Open registration and events are filled by registration timestamp.

Qualifier 2* Events: 50% of starts are filled with the top-seeded athletes by the seeding list, and the remaining 50% are filled by registration timestamp.

Qualifier 3-4* Events: Filled by seeding list.

Qualifier Series Challenger Events: Invite-only.

Registration will open six weeks before the event for a 72-hour window, and athletes can register at any time during that period. If you’re not highly ranked, it’s best to register as soon as it opens to improve your chances of a timestamp-based entry. You’ll receive a confirmation email from Live Heats acknowledging your registration, but this does not guarantee a start.

During the 72-hour window, all athletes are placed on a waitlist. Afterward, 50% of starts go to top-seeded athletes, and the remaining 50% are awarded by registration timestamp. Once the selection process is complete, you’ll receive another email confirming if you’ve been awarded a start. You can check the waitlist and confirmation list at any time, but remember the seeding list is dynamic and updates as new results are added.

The transition to athlete seeding was designed to benefit both the athletes and the overall competition level. It allows for new performance outcomes to impact seeding list positions dynamically. The compromise of 6 weeks prior is striking a balance between providing opportunities for improved seeding and accommodating the travel planning needs of athletes and their families. It’s worth noting that RMFS has historically been the only region to open registration that early, as all other regions have always opened registration six weeks prior.

We created handy registration guides for each level of competition. These step by step instructions are linked on every event page. For any updates, be sure you are subscribed to our RMFS Newsletter and follow us on social media. 

That depends on what type of event you are registering for. Junior 3* event registration historically happens the first week of December, stayed tuned to the RMFS Airmail and IFSA Rope Drop newsletters for any season updates to this. U12 and Junior 2* event registration will open six weeks prior to the event in the Rockies Region. Each region is different, so if you are looking for out of region competitions, please be sure to visit the IFSA website. New season registration opening dates and times will be provided on every event page and in our RMFS Airmail newsletter and social media. 

It might be listed in your LiveHeats account but it is no longer needed for event registration now that it is being done through LiveHeats.

Junior Regional Track: You are allowed to register for up to three Junior U12/2* events in the Rockies region (RMFS). IFSA allows you to have up to four total events in one season, however you may have to travel out of region for that fourth event unless a RMFS Junior U12/2* event hasn’t reached capacity, then you are allowed to use that specific event as a fourth event.

Junior National Track: If you are seeded high enough to gain entry into Junior 3* events, you will be allowed to register for up to three Junior 3* events and you may compete in one Junior 2* event.

Qualifier Series Athletes: There is not a maximum number of events, you can compete in as many as you like.

Yes, they are updated instantly once an event’s scores have been published and verified.

IFSA allows an athlete to compete in up to four events however, in the Rockies region you are initially limited to registering for three events across all age divisions. If specific events do not reach full capacity, we will open registration to everyone, allowing you to participate in more than three events if desired. If an athlete participates in more than four events, these additional events classify them as “friendlies”. “Friendly” athletes can still achieve podium positions and receive prizes, but no points will be assigned, and these points will be transferred to the next athlete who has not yet completed their four events.

No. You may only be registered for the four allowed to you or we will be canceling registrations with no notice. This is to be fair to the other 1600 members in our region just trying to get a start.

Junior 2* events are open to all athletes in our region. If you feel you are ready to transition to Junior 3* level events, please conference with your Coach. With coach support and a high enough seeding list position, you may try to gain entry into Junior 3* events. 90% of Junior 3* starts are awarded based on seeding with IFSA/Region 2’s top athletes, then three weeks before the event the remaining 10% will be filled from the waitlist with the seed list standings as of that date. 50% of Junior 2* starts are awarded based on seeding, with the remaining 50% of starts available to open registration.

Yes! But note, most regions close U12/2* registrations to outside regions for the first 24-72 hours of registration and only open if spots are available. Please visit those other region’s websites to read their out-of-region policies.

Qualifier Series athletes are welcome and encouraged to register for events in any IFSA region. 

All junior athletes must have a coach present at all events. Consult with your coach for possibilities of obtaining alternative coaches to support the event.

The U12 Junior Freeride Championship has 100% open registration for any U12 athlete who wishes to register. In the past, 90 total athletes have been admitted from across all U12 divisions. Contact IFSA for this season’s numbers.

U12 athletes making the transition to U15 divisions will be given 10 seeding points, to validate their experience in IFSA competitions, and to increase their chances of registering for 2* events.

JFC invites will be based on the season ranking not the seeding list. Points earned at JFC’s are added to every JFC athlete’s seasonal ranking. Points earned at JFC’s are also considered when calculating an athlete’s position on the 52 week Seeding List. It is possible that an athlete who does poorly at JFC’s could have three higher results at other competitions, so it is not 100% a rule that JFC points will influence an athlete’s seed.

Over its nine year history, RMFS has been influenced by the insights and leadership of coaches, with pivotal decisions for the series usually decided through a committee where head coaches play a substantial role. If you encounter any concerns or questions regarding policies or procedures, we strongly encourage you to communicate these matters with your coaches, who serve as your representatives.

LiveHeats utilizes randomized start lists, which means that athletes are placed randomly in any position of any heat within the round. The start list algorithm does not consider club or team details, seeding, or ranking when creating the lineup.

To compete in IFSA-sanctioned events, athletes must adhere to specific equipment and safety requirements:

1. Helmets certified for snow sports are mandatory during inspections, competition runs, and riding within the venue.
2. Athletes must wear a dedicated back protector during competition runs, and it should be a standalone piece designed for impact protection. External items like backpacks or avalanche packs do not qualify as valid back protectors.
3. Athletes must provide proof of individual insurance at time of athlete check-in and keep it accessible throughout the competition.
4. The IFSA strongly recommends additional protective gear such as hip, knee, and elbow pads, as well as a mouth guard for freeride training and competition.
5. The Event Organizer may require additional protective or safety equipment like avalanche transceivers, probes, shovels, and avalanche avalungs or bags. Athletes who fail to meet these equipment requirements set by the Event Organizer will also receive a DNS score and won’t be permitted to start.

Athletes who do not meet equipment requirements set by both the IFSA and the Event Organizer will not be allowed to start and will receive a DNS (Did Not Start) score, with no refund for registration fees.

Refer to the IFSA Handbooks once they have been released for the new season.

Newcomer adults to Qualifier Series events must earn points to establish a seed on the Qualifier Series Global Seed List. Your seed is determined by your best three scores within a 365-day period. Starts in Qualifier Series events (2*, 3*, and 4*) depend on the seed list, with priority given to higher-seeded athletes. After seeded athletes respond, unseeded riders may be invited based on registration timestamp. Your best option for entering the circuit is to build your seed in Qualifier 1* events. All 1* level events will have an open registration and registration will be first come, first served. If you are coming from the Junior Series your points will carry over in to the Qualifier Series and you will have a seed already established.

For the 2025 Season you do NOT need to purchase an RMFS Regional Membership. For more information on rankings and registration, please see the IFSA Athlete Handbooks.

Please visit the IFSA Welcome to Freeride page for even more information.

If you’re a full-time college student on an IFSA Collegiate team, you can compete in CFS events. The CFS membership allows you to earn points for your ranking and seeding, qualify for the Freeride World Tour, and contribute to your school’s ranking. The college with the most points becomes the Collegiate Freeride Tour Champion cumulating with a CFS Championship event.

To join, find your Collegiate Freeride team. When you get your IFSA Adult Qualifier Membership, select “Collegiate Freeride Series” and pick your school from the list. For the 2025 Season you do not need to purchase an RMFS Regional Membership.

For more information on seeding and registration, please see the IFSA Athlete Handbooks