Cross-country skiing / Topic 07

Relay

FIS · 2026 / 2027
Last checked: 21 October 2026
Source: FIS Cross-Country ICR June 2026 + Nordic Competition Equipment 2026/27 (cross-country sections) · Source pages: ICR: 76–78, 82
In short

Team structure · The exchange

On this pageTeam structureThe exchange

Team structure

A relay has 3 or 4 athletes according to the invitation, each skiing one leg. Major FIS championships and World Cup use 4; technique requirements depend on the programme.

The exchange

The arriving skier taps any part of the next skier’s body with a hand while both are inside the exchange zone. Pushing the next skier is prohibited.

Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. References: ICR = sporting competition rules; Equipment = technical equipment specifications. Numbers refer to PDF viewer pages. Topic numbers are editorial. This guide combines the supplied FIS cross-country competition rules with the cross-country equipment specifications. It covers snow racing, not ski jumping, Nordic combined or roller skiing.
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