How FIS Starts Work

From the FIS Regulations:

Starting Order for the First Run 

The starting order of the competitors in all alpine competitions is determined by their FIS points (Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super-G and Super Combined). A first group of a maximum of the 15 best competitors present regardless of nationality will be drawn. The group may be increased if two or more competitors share the 15th rank. All remaining competitors start in order of their FIS points. All competitors without FIS points will be drawn in the last group. If in the first 15 competitors present, the points difference between one and the following competitor is too great; the Jury will decide the number of competitors in the first group. The rest will start in the order of their FIS points.

Starting Order for the 2nd Run

In competitions with two runs, the starting order for the second run is determined by the result list of the first run except for the first 30 places. 621.11.2 For the first 30 places the starting order is as follows: – the 30th in the result list starts 1st – the 29th in the result list starts 2nd – the 28th in the result list starts 3rd – the 27th in the result list starts 4th – the 1st in the result list starts 30th – from the 31st onward according to the result list of the first run. If more than one competitor is ranked 30th, the competitor with the lowest start number will start first.