1. Age classes

1.1 Competitors are divided into classes according to their sex and age. Women may compete in men’s classes.

1.2 Competitors aged 20 or younger belong to each class up to the end of the calendar year in which they reach the given age. They are entitled to compete in older classes up to and including 21.

1.3 Competitors aged 21 or older belong to each class from the beginning of the calendar year in which they reach the given age. They are entitled to compete in younger classes down to and including 21.

1.4 The main competition classes are called W21 and M21, for women and men respectively.

1.5 For competitors younger than 21, the classes W20 and M20, W18 and M18 and so on with intervals of 2 years are used. For older competitors, the classes W35 and M35, W40 and M40 and so on with intervals of 5 years are used.

1.6 Each class may be divided into subclasses according to the difficulty and/or length of the courses. Subclasses according to difficulty and course lengths are named E (elite)—if applicable, A, B, C and N (novice). Subclasses according to course lengths only are named S (short) and L (long).

1.7 Elite (E) classes may only be provided for age classes 18, 20 and 21. They may be restricted to competitors classified as elite competitors by their Federation or who are selected for the class based on their position in a Federation’s ranking scheme.