Freestyle Rules

We are about to start working on a complete set of Ameture Freestyle rules and points specifics for competition. Feel free to post suggestions if you have them. Watch for more info here soon.

Here's the general idea. We already have Ameture and Pro Freestyle, but it's hard to tell when it's time to go pro. Pretty much once you start turning your boat upside down in the air, you are doing pro level tricks and should move out of ameture. Ameture should consist of under water and hood tricks to make it possible for anyone to win if they just practice enough.

The next thing we want to do is introduce Stock, Limited, and Open classes to the already stated Pro/Am setup. This will allow for true athletes to accell reguardless of the amount of $/tech thrown at a boat.

We are going to try and make a complete list of all known tricks, give them all pro/Am ranks, then give them all points. We're going to try and set them to video to go along with the points sheets we make so there is no confusion. There will be 3 judges all using the same score system and these judges should be @ every event for the entire season to make things consistant.

The idea behind all of this is to help promote new people to come freestyle while at the same time promoting those who already accell in our sport.

Any comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Here's what I found in the IJSBA Rule Book...

14.1 GENERAL REGULATIONS
14.1.1 The rider will be judged by three to seven persons scoring on a scale of “1 to
10,” with “10” being best. There is a two-minute time limit. Other times may be
used, but must be approved by the IJSBA and will be announced to competitors
during the riders meeting.
14.1.2 Maneuvers, tricks or stunts that may create a hazard to the rider, spectators,
pit crew or officials must be approved in advance by the Race Director.
14.1.3 Only one person per watercraft during competition. Only one homologated
watercraft may be used during competition. Freestyle competitors may compete
on Stock, Limited, Superstock or Modified watercraft.
14.1.4 Riders competing in freestyle should draw for their starting order prior to the event.
14.1.5 Each freestyle rider must signify the start of his or her routine with a wave of
the hand over his/her head.
14.1.6 A freestyle routine of greater difficulty with minimal mistakes will be scored
higher than a routine of lesser difficulty with fewer or no mistakes.
14.1.7 Each freestyle rider should finish as close to the time limit as possible.
14.1.8 No score or points will be awarded to freestyle routines that are less than one
minute in length.
14.1.9 The judges will award a score of at least “6” if the full two-minute freestyle routine
has been completed.
14.1.10 In the case of a tie for first place, each competitor in the tie will perform a oneminute
routine. Ties for all other positions will be broken by re-adding the high
and low scores that may have been thrown out to calculate their original total
score. If no high and low scores were thrown out to calculate the original total
score, the highest single score will be used to break the tie. If still tied, the next
highest individual score will be used and so on. If still tied, the riders will then
perform a one-minute routine.
Freestyle Events
FREESTYLE EVENTS

There needs to be some point system for creativity and showmanship...

If an arial barrel roll, for example, holds the highest points... Then all the guys would have to do is roll it 10-15 times and get a massive amount of points. Nice manuver, but pretty boring on the spectator side.

If there are 3 judges, they should play it off like a standard competition.
One Judge for points accumulated for tricks
One Judge for showmanship and overall performance
One judge for technical points... (Yhea, they pulled off the backflip, but how well did they land it, tricks done in sucession etc.)

We feel if you get your boat out of the water and upside down, you should be in pro. Comments?

I would like to start with a little background... Currently jetski freestyle is basically the biggest trick wins. This does not help bring new people into the sport as they pretty much never have the chance of winning. We would like to bring competitivness back to freestyle by giving the sport structure and consistancy. The biggest change will be the seperation of ameture and pro. Right now there is no destinction between the two besides the card you hold/events you enter. The idea is simple, if the boat comes out of the water and goes upside down, the freestyler should move on to pro. Judging should be consistant and professional.

FREESTYLE Rules

Fresh Water Discipline Scoring Definitions

1. Showmanship: This score is based on how well the rider and audience/or camera interact with one another. Good eye contact, hand/head gestures, facial expressions, audience reaction and response, along with watercraft & rider appearance (condition / quality / cleanliness of watercraft and wetsuit, rider & gear), all figure into showmanship

2. Aerials: The rider must perform a minimum of two aerials per 150 second routine. Examples of aerials: Invert, Barrel Roll, Suicide Sub, Rickter Invert,
Aerial bulldog. A Superman must be finished with two feet or knees in the tray at impact. One handed and no handed versions of any trick are considered separate moves.
A Kickout must be finished with one or two feet or knees in the tray on impact.
A Marriot is considered an aerial.

3. Power Move: Power moves require more than normal amounts of strength and or “aggressive” riding technique to muscle through particular scoring moves. The move relies more on strength than balance or boat capability. Examples: Bulldog, Sitting Bulldog, Australian Barefoot, Standing 360, Aerial Bulldog, Woody, & Backward Standing Turn Sub, & Marriot.


4. Cutting Edge. Must include as mandatory move two of the following or similar moves: Labotomy, Monkey Jump, No Hands Rodeo, Marriot, Suicide Sub., Rickter Invert, Monkey Flip, Backward Standing Turn Sub, Forward Suicide flip, Superman, and no- handed barrelroll.

5. Continuity: Based on down time between moves, leads to transitional moves, or lack of. Is the rider circling instead of executing moves? Is the 150 second run complete or ended early? If the Rider ends the routine before the 20 second warning, there will be an automatic .3 point deduction from each judge. If a rider begins a move before the timer signals the time limit elapsed. The trick or move will count, and the rider will be allowed to finish that maneuver, even if it eclipses the time clock 150 second time limit rule.

6. Transition: Based on how a rider flows between sets of tricks or move to move. Transitional moves necessary to set up different maneuvers and tricks will not be deemed repetitive and not penalized. Example:
Tail stand to monkey jump, Tail stand to Woody, Tail stand to Cosmic spin or Tail spin. Distinctions will be made between Bulldogs, Bulldog subs, Groin Reaper, Sitting bulldogs, etc. The rider should not be climbing back on the craft from the sides, instead they should be in front of or behind the vehicle when they continue their run.

7. Pump wash: If a rider slips, falls, tumbles, wipes out (without letting go of the boat), losses their grip, balance or momentum inadvertently will be ruled a pump wash move. The same will hold true for the momentum and balance of the watercraft. Sloppy landings, running aground, entangling on water buoys, etc. all fall into this category. Water conditions will not be held accountable for Pump wash occurring. Pump wash penalties cannot exceed -.1 per incident, with a maximum total assessed of -1.0.

7a. Lost Boat: A boat will be deemed lost if the rider is farther than one arm length from the watercraft they are using. If a rider uses two swimming strokes to retrieve or mount a boat it will be penalized as a lost boat. Exceptions occur only if the rider is dismounting and FINISHING(last scored move) their 150 second run with a flip, dive or boat release.

7b. Boat Release: If the rider intentionally releases the watercraft and lands to the left or right side of the boat, it will be considered a Pumpwash move and a .1 penalty will be assed per judge. If the rider lands in front of or behind the boat, no penalty will be assessed. The watercraft must be no more than the length of that riders arm from the rider after dismount has occurred.

7c. Dead Boat Rule. If a rider loses the normal expected running performance of the boat they are riding with 20 seconds or more on the clock, it will be ruled a dead boat if performance is not restored. Mandatory moves not completed and all categories affected will be subject to penalty deductions. A one point overall penalty will be assed as well and in addition to. Rider will score points for tour and event overall standing as long as the ski started and was running while the rider was on the 150 second clock. Total judged score subject to penalties and completed tricks.

8. Submersion Moves: There is a mandatory minimum of two submersion moves per 150 second run. The rider must be completely under the water with the boat they are riding, and under control when they surface. Examples: Invert into nose stab sub, Forward Suicide Sub, Forward jump Sub, Turn / Fakey Sub, bulldog sub, or reverse standing turn sub all qualify.

9. Balance Moves: Balance moves require less motor power and/or strength to perform. Mandatory two balance moves per 150 second run.
Examples: Tail Stand, Groin Reaper, Monkey Jump, Hand Stand, Head Stand, No Handed Rodeo, Log Roll, 360 helicopter (also known as a Cobra spin), forward summersault over the hood, Reverse Gunnel Riding, backsliding the watercraft (rider cannot be in a sitting or in kneeling position), bronco, 360 boat spin standing on the hood or in 360 pivot in the tray all qualify as Balance Moves.

10. Execution: How crisp and confident is the rider technique? Is the rider wobbly or strong and smooth. Are they struggling with water conditions? Judges look for tricks that backfire, missed wakes or waves, rough landings, or sloppy turns. Judges also look for tricks gone awry that are saved smoothly into another move.



PENALTIES & TIEBREAKERS
A lost boat will result in a one point penalty per judge.
Pump Wash is deducted in that category only, with a maximum of one point possible.
Repetition penalty will result in a .3 deduction from each judge.
Dead Boat penalty of one point per judge is the maximum allowed.
Maximum score in a mandatory move category is .6 of a point if one of the two moves in that category is not executed. Mandatory penalties overlooked by judges and verified by Tour director will be enforced.
Runs ended before the twenty second warning will result in a .3 deduction across the board.
Failure to perform minimum requirements in any category will result in a .3 penalty per category. Example: Only one or none aerial performed: two minimum= -.03 penalty.
Tie Breakers: The first tie breaker will be the low score tossed out.
The second tie breaker will be a two minute run-off.
After this, pistol duel at dawn.



DISQUALIFICATIONS.
The following listed violations are cause for disqualification. The Tour Director has the discretion to disqualify a rider from an event, or the rest of the tour for repeat or multiple rule violations.

Riders must have an International Racing Association Pro card to enter any event.
There must be an APBA sticker displayed on all participating watercraft.
Numbers not won in APBA sanctioned competitions cannot be displayed during APBA sanctioned events. Numbers from other sanctioning bodies must be removed or covered. No exceptions. Standardized sized stickers and logos from other sanctioning bodies are exempt from this rule.
Entry fees must be paid in advance, or paid with a late fee of 25 dollars at competition site in cash.
Rider watercraft must be submitted to a basic tech inspection before competition begins.
Riders must sign waiver form before entering the water, at each event.
Riders must sign video/picture release form. No exceptions.
All riders must exhibit a professional and courteous attitude to each other, fans, staff, sponsors and event organizers.
Riders are subject to losing prizes, money, awards and entrance fee if disqualified. Tow money is exempt from loss due to disqualification.




Freestyle DOUBLES disqualification applies if one of the members of a teams’ ski fails to operate in a normal manner whereas to impede mandatory individual tricks before riders board one ski to finish the 3 minute time limit.

PROTESTS.
All protests must be handed in, in writing only. There will be no verbal protests, arguments, screaming, physical contact, or any form of intimidation by anybody towards everybody else at any and all times.
All protests will be settled by the Tour Event Director. His ruling is final per
Event.
All rules and guidelines will be posted, or easily made available to all riders before, during and after all events.
No rules will be changed, altered or modified during an event unless riders, spectator, or staff safety are in reasonable doubt.


DRESS CODE.
Riders while in the water must have, in good condition on their person the following.
A wet or dry suit covering legs from ankle to torso, arms are optional for 2 piece suits or short sleeve suits. Deck shorts are not allowed.
Rider must wear foot protection. Shoes or boots, no sandals or open toed footwear are allowed. No loose, untied or potentially dangerous dangling laces, bindings or straps and fittings.
Gloves are optional. Helmets for Fresh Water events are optional till 2003, then mandatory in 2004. All riders wearing helmets before 2003 will receive a $10.00 rebate in their entry fee. For Surf and Freestyle STREET events helmets are mandatory.
Face guards on helmets are optional.
Riders will wear at all times in the water a Coast Guard Approved P.F.D.

Riders must be in appropriate attire at designated award ceremonies.
T-shirts, open toed shoes, old, wrinkled, soiled or otherwise worn clothing is not acceptable, and the rider will not be allowed onstage to accept their award if these minimum requirements are not met. Photo ops will likewise be curtailed. Professionals need to look the part at these events.


AWARDS, TOW MONEY AND MONETARY COMPENSATION:

Tow money promised will be paid if possible in cash. It will be paid after competition is complete at awards presentation.
Awards will be presented collectively at the event ‘s conclusion.
Checks will be cut to all riders who have placed in positions that earn checks.
Prizes and company certificates will likewise be presented at awards ceremony at each event. If for any reason a rider has won an award, and it is not on hand at the time of presentations, then it will be shipped to the address of the riders choosing a.s.a.p.


RIDER STARTING POSITION And MEETINGS

Rider line up order will determined by a blind draw at the riders meeting before the competition begins.
Riders are only excused before the meeting by the event director. Attendance is MANDATORY. If a rider fails to show up for the meeting without provable due cause they will be fined fifty dollars. The rider must pay this fine before they can enter into any further event.
Also, that rider not present will have their position drawn by another official, or it will be the last ball left not picked and the missing rider will settle for that position.
The rider meeting is extremely important in protecting the riders, fans and staff from unnecessary injury. The day’s itinerary will also be reviewed. Each event will differ from another. This is the nature of the events FREESTYLE associates itself with.
If an event is more than one day, a meeting will take place each day, being kept short and to the point each day. Generally speaking expect riders meetings to take place between 9am and 10am. The Chicago Air and Water Show is an exception with a general starting time around 7am. If any rider has any questions or concerns, this is the best time to follow up on them. Tour staff will make itself as accessible as possible to all concerned during an event.

For every five judges there will be a minimum of two tour officials. All other judges will be tutored on rules, and will judge one or more practice exhibition
runs before actual competition begins. If three judges are used, at least one will be an APBA official. Five judge panels will count 3 median scores. Any judge that is felt to not be able to grasp the scoring system, show signs of favoritism, or lack of concern for the effect they will have on the competition will be replaced at the Tour Directors discretion before the event begins. Any judge perceived as being prejudiced or compromised on their objectivity for any viable reason will be barred from further judging in one, more than one, or all future freestyle competitions. Judges will turn in score sheet of each rider at the end of that riders run. Sheets will be collected by the official scorer, and tallied by the official scorer. They will be double checked after final run.
Depending on course layout one judge will be in the water positioned behind the skier facing the shoreline. This is to give a more accurate, fairer score to all riders, and to spot penalties obscured from the shore. This judge will be an APBA experienced judge. This rule will apply only to Fresh Water Discipline and Surf Discipline if there are piers close enough to be of value to judging the event.
Scores will be posted on scoreboard after each run.


EVENT AND TOUR AWARDS:
Riders voting on awards cannot vote for themselves in any category.
Official scorer will count rider and judge votes for event and tour awards.
All riders will trophy for their final position at the event they are entered in.
Exhibition riders are eligible for Best Wipeout, Coolest Move, and Encore award for Showmanship. They are also eligible for tour awards Most Improved, Sweetest Ski, and Sportsman of the Year. These are the only awards exhibition riders can be eligible for.

RIDER STARTING ORDER:
Riders will draw blind in a random order from a pail of numbered balls.
With mutual consent, two riders may exchange one another their drawn positions before competition begins. One member of a Freestyle DOUBLES team may draw for that team.

Tour Awards and Money leaders

1st Place
Best Wipeout
Coolest Move
Showmanship Award
Cash Leader

FREESTYLE

TOUR POINT STANDINGS SCORING PER ROUND

25 POINTS FIRST PLACE
23 POINTS SECOND PLACE
21 POINTS THIRD PLACE
19 POINTS FOURTH PLACE
17 POINTS FIFTH PLACE
16 POINTS SIXTH PLACE
14 POINTS SEVENTH PLACE
13 POINTS EIGTH PLACE
11 POINTS NINTH PLACE
10 POINTS TENTH PLACE
9 POINTS ELEVENTH PLACE
7 POINTS TWELTH PLACE
6 POINTS THIRTEENTH PLACE
5 POINTS FOURTEENTH PLACE
4 POINTS FIFTEENTH PLACE
3 POINTS 16TH THRU 19TH PLACE
2 POINTS 20TH AND DOWN

Fresh Water Scoring Rules continued.


Riders will be on a 150 second time clock per run. Warning for end of each run comes at 20 seconds left.
Tie - breaker run-offs are 120 seconds. Warning still comes at 20 seconds to go.

Tie Breaker.
Highest tossed score is first tie - breaker. Run off follows if this first tie -breaker fails. Pistol duel if all else fails. Tie - breaker for final standing in an event is the highest tossed run score

Exhibition Run.
One rider’s name will be pulled from the entered names, or several exhibition riders will perform judges practice scoring. That rider(s) will perform a full 150 second run, judged and scored. The score will not count in the standings. This run is to stabilize scoring from the judges before the scores actually count. Exhibition rider(s) may then choose (if competing) any position in the rider order when scores count. After he chooses, the rest of the riders will pull for their position. This procedure will repeat itself with each run at an event unless both runs are on the same day. No rider can do more than one exhibition per event.




FREESTYLE
Definition: FREESTYLE. Is the physical sport of acrobatic personal watercraft riding. It is defined by time limits, judged and mandatory scoring, penalties, and overall ranking for tour
position and championship.


STREET Freestyle

Definition: Is the discipline (competition) in Freestyle that incorporates the use of modified floating ramps and various customized obstacles to create a three dimensional race course . This class is the most extreme of the three disciplines in Freestyle. Riders for this discipline will be entered thru ranking and skill level only.

FreeRide SURF
Definition: Is the class that competes only at ocean events. With the focus on big air and arial maneuvers, Freestyle Surf brings LXF to new highs.

Freestyle
Definition: LXF’s first class, Fresh X is the class that competes at all freshwater venues. These venues will consist of mostly flat water areas, but may get waves or chop from time to time. In this class, riders showcase their best balance, power, and arial moves.

Freestyle DOUBLES

Definition: The event where two APBA registered members compete in tandem for 150 seconds. This class is open to stand-up riders only at specified Fresh X events.

FREESTYLE
General Rules

-Riders are not permitted in water for any reason until wavers
and photo releases are signed and completed.

-Failure to comply with signing the waivers may result in rider
disqualification of event.

-Rider must be present at least 60 minutes prior to event
starting.

-All watercraft must meet APBA standards.

-All riders must remain with their watercraft on shore until it
is their turn to compete. One the rider is done competed they
must return their watercraft to shore.

-All riders must have a wetsuit (john’s, full leg), shoes or boots,
& life jacket.

-Rider may only splash or spray crowd in designated soak
zones. Zones will be specified at event.

-Use of any props must be pre-approved by any APBA official, no
later than 60 minutes before an APBA scheduled event,

-Judges cannot be related, or a significant other of any rider.




Freestyle STREET RULES


-90 second run in which the competitor must use each floating
obstacle at least once in each run.

-The course will be 300ft. by 75ft.

-Watercraft may not have a protruding scoop grate. All scoop grates must be flush with the bottom of the watercraft’s hull.

-Riders are not allowed to ride outside the perimeter of their run.

-Ramps must be approached from the front side only.

-Any rider that jumps the back side or width of the ramp will be
disqualified for the entire event, and zero points will be earned.

-Floating dock slides may be jumped from any direction, riders are
not permitted to bob under floating dock slides.

-Buoy’s inflatable sausage buoys and barrel linkages may be
jumped and/or subbed under.

-Any rider that jumps the back side, or width of the ramp will be
disqualified for the entire event, and zero points will be earned,

-Floating dock slides may be jumped from any direction. Riders are
not permitted to bob under floating dock slides.

-The following protective gear must be worn:
-Helmet
-Shoes/Boots
-Lifejacket
-Leg coverings (Full legged john’s must be worn.)







Freestyle STREET SCORING
10 CATEGORIES

1. Execution
2. Mandatory Ramping (All ramps at least once)
3. Ridin’ it out (landing)
4. Sky time (flying High)
5. Reachin’ Long (distance)
6. Transition riding
7.
8.
9.
10. Pump wash Moves. (eatin’ it)




RULES


-A minimum of one minute must be spent with both riders on one
craft.

-A minimum of one minute must be spent using choreographed
maneuvers.




Freestyle DOUBLES SCORING
10 Categories

1.
2.
3. Transition (between boats)
4. Balance maneuvers (minimum of 2)
5. Power maneuvers (minimum of 2)
6. Aerial maneuvers (minimum of 2)
7. Two on one.
8.
9.
10. Pump wash moves.











JUDGES SCORING SHEET FRESH WATER DISCIPLINE


*SUBMERSION_____.10__.20__.30__.40__.50__.60__.70_ _.80__.90__1.0_____

*AERIALS__________.10__.20__.30__.40__.50__.60__.7 0__.80__.90__1.0_____

*POWER MOVES___.10__.20__.30__.40__.50__.60__.70__.80__.9 0__1.0_____

*CUTTING EDGE___.10__.20__.30__.40__.50__.60__.70__.80__.90 __1.0_____

CONTINUITY_______.10__.20__.30__.40__.50__.60__.70 __.80__.90__1.0_____

TRANSITION_______.10__.20__.30__.40__.50__.60__.70 __.80__.90__1.0_____

PUMP WASH______.10__.20__.30__.40__.50__.60__.70__.80__ .90__1.0______

SHOWMANSHIP_____.10__.20__.30__.40__.50__.60__.70_ _.80__.90__1.0____

BALANCE___________.10__.20__.30__.40__.50__.60__.7 0__.80__.90__1.0____

EXECUTION_________.10__.20__.30__.40__.50__.60__.7 0__.80__.90__1.0___


PENALTIES:

LOST BOAT_______________1.0

REPEATED MOVE_________.30_x___1___2__3__4__

DEAD_BOAT______________1.0

TIME CLOCK_PENALTY___.30







PROTEST FORM

Name________________________________________Date__ _________________

Competition_Location______________________________ ___Round__________

“Run” Number______________Freestyle Doubles_________________________

Check appropriate_category:

Other Rider:__Not penalyzed_____Watercraft not legal_____Other_________

Rule(s)_not_enforced_______Judge(?)___________DQ_n ot_enforced_________

Name of Rider in Question__________________________________

Reason For Protest. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________

Contact # _______________________________Date_______________ _________

Signature of protesting rider__________________________________________
Signature of Senior Official__________________________________________ _

Final Ruling____________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________

Tour Official Signature_________________________________________ ______




CREDITS:
Gary Burtka, Mike Niksic, Greg Brock and Liquid X Freestyle. Thanks By the way, the International Racing Association implimented these rules at LXF events beginning in 2000
Then edited by
Christopher Riley 2006

This still is incomplete, but it's getting there!!! Does anyone out there have an existing tricks writeup that contains all known tricks?

Looks sweet. I have am OEm Hull and a carbon Fiber Hull. Both very different allows me to do 2 different routines and many different tricks. can t wait to see the new system in place.

O,, time to start working on this again...

I have seen a few events where a boat/boats are used for a final trick. Are you going to incorporate that with the Northwest events?

where are the events going to be held and when? Also Where Can I find A list of all the tricks and what they are exactly?

We are working on a master trick list, and will post it here soon. Captain Fantasy (Nate) has kinda pick this task up. FIrst event for us is this upcomming weekend at Moses Lake.

What about these.. http://www.skisurfing.com/tricks.php

That's gotta be 3 years old now, I havn't updated it in at least that long. A new list is in order...

I know it was kinda funny reading those and watching you preform them! Plus knowing that I can pull those off with a broken arm and an eye patch... lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhJTwTMbG7Q
Street Style!