1. FORMAT

The competition will consist of Freeride format only.

All contestants must wear a lifevest that will absolutely float a contestant who is unconscious, ideally Coast Guard/CE approved. A first aid team must be on site for all federation sanctioned competitions. Rescue craft must be positioned in suitable positions to assist injured or stricken riders.

3. TOW LINES

Contestants shall provide their own ropes and handles. All tow ropes used in competition must have the approval of both the safety officer and Chief Judge.

4. RE-RIDE

Re-rides may be allowed at the discretion of judges for variance of boat speed, unsafe conditions, breaking of rope or other extraneous circumstances. Re-rides will not be granted if contestants personal equipment fails.

See item 4 under Competition Rules regarding equipment failure.

Speed is at the discretion of the rider.

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6. CATEGORIES

There will be a minimum of 6 riders required to open a category. We will inform you as soon as feasibly possible if there are insufficient riders within a category.

A rider will only be allowed to enter one category. This rider will be allowed to choose between Open category and his/her category.

The World Wakeboard Council will ensure that all riders passports are checked for verification of age.

Age as of January 1 of the current year will be used to determine age bracket.

10 to 14 years old. If a rider was born in the following years, then they qualify for this category:

1990 - 1989 - 1988 - 1987 - 1986

10 to 14 years old. If a rider was born in the following years, then they qualify for this category:

1990 - 1989 - 1988 - 1987 - 1986

15 to 18 years old. If a rider was born in the following years, then they qualify for this category:

1985 - 1984 - 1983 - 1982

15 to 18 years old. If a rider was born in the following years, then they qualify for this category:

1985 - 1984 - 1983 - 1982

No age restriction.

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No age restriction.

30 years old and over. If a rider was born in 1970 and under.

30 years old and over. If a rider was born in 1970 and under.

7. THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF ENTERING THE WORLDS

1. TEAM

2. INDIVIDUAL

8. TEAM SCORING

A team will comprise of a maximum of 8 riders, with a maximum of 2 riders in the same category. Although it is encouraged to have a mixed participation with men and women riders within a team, it is not compulsory.

Team Captains must nominate their team riders before the end of July.

The best 6 scores will be taken for country classification.

In the event of an injured rider, the Team Captain can replace a rider but only within the same category.

 

9. INDIVIDUALS ENTERING

Individuals will be allowed to enter and are not part of a team, however they must have entered their own Federation’s National event prior to entering the Worlds. There will be no restriction to the number of riders who enter the Worlds on an individual basis (this is due to the fact that there is no World ranking list currently available), but a rider must obtain the agreement of their own Federation to enter. Individuals will only be allowed to enter one division only.

Any disagreements – majority rules. Protests must be submitted to the Chief Judge in writing within 30 minutes of the occurrence. No verbal protests will be accepted. A correction of an error in the computation of scoring shall not be considered a protest and the correction shall be made on the approval of the Chief Judge and the Calculator within 30 minutes after the results are announced and the judges scoring sheets have been made available for inspection.

A video camera is available in the boat for any such protests but it will strictly be for the use of the judges only. Spectator video footage cannot be used for protests.

The cost for registering a complaint is 50 Euros and, if justifiable, then the levy will be refunded.

11. SANCTIONS

All competitors must be members of their respective Federation. Proof of membership will be required at each event.

12. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

Any athlete or official whose conduct is deemed unsportsmanlike, may be fined or disqualifed. Unsportsmanlike conduct includes, but is not limited to: use of vulgar language in public, public tantrums, not riding to fullest potential, failure to attend designated functions or events, consuming alcoholic beverages during competition, competing under false pretenses, concealing significant injuries or health problems.

In the event that the disruptions are caused by non-competing persons, the competition co-ordinator has the right to ban these persons from the site. All disqualification must be handled through the competition co-ordinator and officials of the event.

Any and all infractions can be punishable by disqualification of the whole team. It is therefore the responsibility of each Team Captain to ensure that competitors behaviour is monitored. Prior to competing, a competitor must sign a participation contract and understand the nature of the sport and its special risks, particularly in the format. It is the responsibility of the competitor to register with the designated registration person and show proof of Federation membership before riding.

Competitors must disclose to the event organiser any special medical conditions, including but not limited to, injuries in the past or present or other pre-existing medical conditions.

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1. Each contestant shall be judged on one individual routine. The rider will be allowed to continue after one fall. The judging of this routine begins when the rider enters the course and ends when the rider completes his double-up manoeuvre OR falls for the second time. In the first round of competition, the routine ends when the rider exits the course after the second pass. This format is a freeriding style of competition. This means each contestant is free to perform whichever manoeuvres in whatever order he/she desires. Riders are encouraged to perform at least four big moves per pass. There is no maximum or minimum number of tricks required, however riders should concentrate on quality – not quantity. For example, it is better to perform 10 big moves than 14 smaller moves. Contestants are encouraged to demonstrate the range and limits of their abilities. These abilities should include, but are not limited to, performing a variety of moves, taking each move to its limit, hitting a double-up, using the terrain in the course (if applicable) and showing creativity and fluidity in the route. Every move the rider performs will be evaluated in the scoring of the routine. Each contestant will be judged on the three subjective style categories ONLY (Execution, Intensity, Composition) to arrive at a single combined score from 0-100..

2. The course shall be between 1200 to 1500 feet (366 to 458 metres) long. It will be marked at either end of the lake by beginning and ending buoys. Contestants will be notified at each event where these buoys will be located. The rider will leave the starting dock and head towards one end of the lake. The boat will turnaround, and enter the course. At the end of the first pass, the boat will again turnaround and re-enter the course. The judging will stop after the double-up.

3. It is the sole responsibility of the rider to communicate to the driver before leaving the dock which direction to turn for the double-up, where to proceed through the course, and to verify the proper speed of the boat. There will be NO re-rides due to miscommunication. Communication is the key to having a good session.

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4. A rider may have one out-of-course fall only before the start of his/her first pass.

5. Each rider may also have one handle throw before the start of his/her first pass. This will count as one out-of-course fall.

6. In the event of a double-up given in the wrong direction, the rider must wave off the double-up and not attempt any manoeuvres. If any manoeuvre is attempted off a wrong double-up, the rider has accepted that as his/her double up. If a rider waves off the double-up and doesn’t attempt anything off the double-up, the boat will travel back down the course, turn around, and go back to complete the correct double-up. There will be no re-ride for turbulent water created by this action.

7. A rider can have a maximum of two falls during a routine. Should a fall occur, the driver will be directed to pick up the rider as quickly as possible. The rider will not be picked up after a second fall, or after a fall that occurs beyond the ¾ buouy. The point after which a rider will not be picked up will be clearly marked with a buoy. Upon a second fall, the routine is over, and the boat will return to the dock.

8. Riders are encouraged to perform at least FIVE tricks per pass, and should try for five moves if possible. Riders should not repeat manoeuvres. The goal is to perform as wide a variety of moves as possible, to perform each move as cleanly as possible, and to take each move to its limit whilst making the entire routine flow.

9. Riders may perform new manoeuvres at any time during the routine. This format is an opportunity to introduce and perform in competition new moves as soon as you can land them. Take advantage of this opportunity.

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1. Boat Speed/Rider Preparedness – Riders must inform the driver of the speed he/she desires. It is the rider’s responsibility to make this clear. The same applies when referred to what length the rope should be attached, when applicable. Any rider who fails to be on immediate hand and in condition to ride when it is his/her turn in the running order and the boat is ready for the rider will be disqualified. However, the dock official may grant up to one additional minute of time for emergencies developing or discovered just prior to the contestant’s turn to rider (example: ripped binding, etc). A rope with knots also falls into this category. It is the rider’s responsibility to have a rope without knots.

2. The weight in the boat will be decided at the beginning of each event and will be at the discretion of the Chief Judge and a rider representative. If a rider representative is not present, then it will be at the sole discretion of the Chief Judge.

3. Communication to the Boat – The rider shall use the standardized Tour signals and not cause the boat to stop, if possible. Deliberate use of delaying tactics will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and will subject the rider to fines or disqualification. The following signals apply to addition to well-known riding signals. Use in combination as applicable.

1. Thumb(s) up means go faster
2. Thumb(s) down means go slower
3. Pointing at an item of equipment means a problem with it
4. Pointing back toward object means debris in water
5. Raising hand overhead means request for re-ride
6. Fallen rider must signal to tow boat and safety boat that he/she is OK and/or injured

4. Equipment Failure – For any equipment failure, the rider has three minutes to repair the equipment. The Chief Judge will have the final say as to whether the equipment has failed. Equipment can either be repaired on the boat or at the dock if needed. Time starts either when the rider gets on the back of the boat for an on-boat repair or when rider stops on the dock for a dock repair. The rider must be in his/her bindings on the boat before the time elapses or his/her ride is over. A rider can wave off his run if he throws the handle before he enters the course before the first pass only if there is a problem, such as the rope being on the wrong ring, with no penalty.

5. Wakeboard Course – The course shall be between approximately 1200 and

1500 feet (366 and 458 metres) long (similar to 24 mph for 28-30 seconds from end gate to end gate). It will be marked at either end of the lake by beginning and ending buoys. There will also be a buoy marking ¾ of the course for the second pass, where the rider will no longer get picked up to continue his or her run.

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6. Identical Riding Conditions – Since wakeboarding is an outdoor sport and, since the Tour is designed to appeal to an audience as well as provide a competition, time consuming measures to assure identical and/or ideal riding conditions will be at the sole discretion of the Chief Judge and/or tour management. Protests or re-ride requests will not be allowed if they are based on variations in weather/water conditions.

7. Severe Weather/Rough Water Conditions – In the case of less than desirable water or weather conditions where the contest must continue, a "Severe Weather/Rough Water" provision may be applied to that round of that event. Decisions regarding "Severe Weather" shall be the responsibility of a committee composed of the Chief Judge, event organisers and only the affected competitors. However, the event organisers reserves the right to make the final decision. The "Severe Weather" provision applies not only to rough water, but to any weather and water conditions that make riding significantly more difficulty or may seriously affect performances. The "Severe Weather" committee shall determine any modification to the riding specifications that may be needed in the interest of safety and providing a fair and attractive event. Such modifications may include but are not limited to changes in boat speed, boat pattern, course length, and format. Once a round of an event has been so designated and riding has started, the "Severe Weather" designation shall apply to all competitors in that round, even though conditions may improve.

8. Running Order – Wakeboarding uses the heat formats. As there is no World ranking list for the year 2000, the running order for the first heat will be randomly determined by computer.

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9. Heat System – The running order will be randomly selected by computer in

order to compete in individual heats (the number of riders in each heat is dependent on the total number of riders entered). A percentage of the riders from each heat will then go through to the, semi-finals and finals.

The Last Chance Qualification round may or may not be used within the competition, dependent on numbers.

For example:

A simplified version follows:

10. The Points System

 

Please note that points are not awarded after each qualification round. Each rider will be awarded the following points dependant on his/her result in the overall competition.

1^st place 100 points

2^nd place 80 points

3^rd place 65 points

4^th place 55 points

5^th place 45 points

6^th place 35 points

7^th place 30 points

8^th place 25 points

9^th place 20 points

10^th place 17 points

11^th place 14 points

12^th place 11 points

13^th place 8 points

14^th place 6 points

15^th place 5 points

16^th place 4 points

17^th place 3 points

18^th place 2 points

19^th place 1 point

20^th place and all subsequent riders receive 1 point each

With the use of the heat system, there will be instances where riders have finished in a joint position with a rider in a different heat. The relevant placing points will therefore be given to each individual, for example:

 

 

 

SUBJECTIVE JUDGING CRITERIA FOR FREERIDE

A maximum of 100 style points can be earned for the routine. Style points will be awarded at EACH judge’s discretion based on their impressions of the entire routine. Everything you do on the water counts. The judges will score the contestants in each of the following three categories:

 

33.3 Points – EXECUTION

This reflects the level of technical difficulty and perfection of each manoeuvre performed, as well as the successful completion of the entire run with a minimum of falls.

33.4 Points – INTENSITY

This reflects the degree of performance to which each manoeuvre was performed in terms of how big the moves were, as well as the overall performance of the run.

33.3 Points - COMPOSITION

This reflects the overall composition of the run in terms of rider’s ability to perform a variety of manoeuvres in a flowing, creative sequence.

 

Scoring Formula

The Average method of calculating will be used. All three judges scores in all categories are averaged to tabulate the results.

 

 

 

HOMOLOGATION

There will be 3 qualified judges present in the boat, all must be recognised by the IWSF World Wakeboard Council.

 

 

 

 

 

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