2007 RULEBOOK OF IFWA FREERIDE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Introduction:
o Portugal April 14-15
o Spain April 21-22
o France April 28-29
o Brazil September 7-9
o United States October 19-21
Five events compose the 2007 IFWA Freeride World Championship (3rd
edition)
• Points from all five events count towards the World Championship
Title. In case of tie, best finishes in the overall events prevail
• Each event is organized by IFWA representatives; each organization
has autonomy to create partnerships with their respective federations
or associations, in order to promote and to accomplish the event in
the best way. IFWA representatives are present at each event to supervise
the rulebook applications, as well as to give support to the organizers.
IFWA also intends to make possible the presence of international media
to create an international impact and to get good coverage for the
sponsors.
Competition format and scoring system
• General information :
o 40 riders maximum
o 2 categories: Stand up and sit down
• Competition format :
Head to head format. It allows judges scores to reflect the changing
conditions and enhances the understanding for the public and media.
1) Bracket system developed for up to 20 riders; If more than 20
riders are registered, a pre-qualifying round will determine the riders
advancing to the brackets. Riders present with the top 8 IFWA points
do not need to compete in the pre-qualifying round and will automatically
advance to the brackets.
2) For the pre-qualifying round, riders compete in 6 minutes heats
(2 riders per heat); Top 10 scores overall along with 2 wildcards
(determined by IFWA jury) will advance to the brackets. As time allows,
those riders not advancing to the brackets will continue in a consolation
round.
Finally, as time allows, all riders get at least 2 heats
Judging System:
• Judging criteria is overall impression focused upon the top
4 manuevers in surf and the top 4 manuevers in tricks. A rider’s
entire run in considered in the overall impression. Final scores are
given based upon judges overall impression of both rider’s runs.
Judges are considering the best performance possible in the given
wave conditions.
• Criteria includes:
o Amplitude: Determined by the height, size or extension of the maneuver;
o Degree of difficulty: Determined by the complexity and extension
the maneuver;
o Overall impression: Determined by the general performance, diversity,
creative value of maneuver and continuity and fluidity of entire run.
o Others: Maneuvers must be performed in the critical point of the
waves with speed and strength; Riders must maintain physical contact
with the jet during completion of maneuver. If rider loses the jet,
the maneuver is not scored.
• Scoring System
• Pre Qualifying Scoring System - 5 judges scores with the high
and low score dropped; judges scores are 50% wave riding and 50% wave
tricks; Each judge gives a score from 1-10 points for surfing, and
a score 1-10 points for tricks. Surf and Trick scores are added for
each judges total score.. In the PreQualifying Round, riders with
the top scores advance to the head to head brackets. In case of tie,
judges count the entire 5 judge’s scores.
• Head to Head Scoring System . 5 judges evaluate riders performance.
Judges record the scores for each rider, 1-10 surfing, 1-10 tricks.
Scores for each rider are totaled, rider with the highest score receives
judges vote. Rider with the most number of votes ( 3 possibilities:
5 judges against 0; or 4 versus 1; or 3 versus 2) will advance to
the next round. Winners will be announced immediately after the riders
exit the water. The head judge will display the final results by showing
the winning riders lycra color.
• All rounds except Pre Qualifying Round are judged head to
head.
Event points given for final rankings :
For 20 riders who advance in the qualifying round :
( Remark : Riders not advancing to the next round
will tie at their last round )
Final
1st: 25 points
2nd: 20 pts
Consi final
3rd: 16 pts
4th: 13 pts
Losers of 1/4 finals (4 riders)
5th: 11 pts
Losers of 1/8 finals (8 riders)
9th: 7 pts
Losers of LCQ (4 riders)
17th: 1 pt
In case of Disqualification (DQ) or Did Not Start (DNS), the rider
will receive a lower placing than riders who completed the round.
Only the 20 riders advancing to the brackets receive IFWA points for
the event
Protests:
1) Any rider who wants to protest the results has 15 minutes after
display of the results by the head judge; He must write his protest
and give it to the race director accompanied with 100 Euro fee. No
official discussion of the claim will occur without these directives.
2) Claims will be discussed at the end of the appropriate round.
Riders will be given maximum 15 minutes to discuss claims.
Any rider with an aggressive behavior (physical or verbal) or any
rider who is not present on the podium of the award ceremony can be
sanctioned by the IFWA.
Other information
• Annual IFWA membership fee per rider of 50 US dollars (or
Euros); Must be paid to compete in a IFWA event; Must be paid before
the first event where the rider wants to compete. Attention: Membership
fee is not a license and not an insurance (remark especially for French
event).
• Jet considered Stand Up: Yamaha SuperJet/FX1, Kawasaki SX/SXI/SXR,
Polaris Octane, HydroJet and their similar ones. Other models included
in Sit down category (Sea Doo 3D, Kawasaki X2, Yamaha WaveRunner).
Modifications are allowed as long as safety is observed.
Equipment Rules
o Small rope is mandatory on the nose of each jet to facilitate rescue
operations. Each jet must have the appropriate flotation to assist
with water rescue operations. All free modifications allowed if security
is conserved. A technical control will be done by the IFWA representatives
during the first day of the registration. Jets can be excluded if
the previous conditions are not respected. Watersafety first priority
is the rider’s safety, the jet will be secured when posible
but not the ultimate responsibility of the organization.
• Riders must wear the official contest jacket, supplied by
the organization, during the heats and award ceremony. If not, riders
are stopped immediately and can be excluded from the event.
• During practice and competition, riders must use the following
equipment:
o Mandatory : Wetsuit, Life Vest, Dorsal protection, Helmet, Official
contest jacket;
o Optional : Gloves and boots.
• Before each heat, riders must have their jet ready in the
competition area on the beach. To go in the water, riders must await
the sign of the beach marshall; Heat beginning given by the sound
of the siren and the green flag, and heat finishing given by the sound
of the siren and the red flag. After that, riders must return immediately
to the beach; Yellow flag used to indicate the last 2 minutes of the
heat.
• Priority on the wave given to the rider who prepares his wave
riding or wave trick first and then at the most critical part of the
wave; if the other rider interferes, he may receive an interference
call or can be disqualified.
• Any rider who has a mechanical problem in the heat must cross
his arms toward the race director; If the race director recognizes
the problem, the heat doesn’t start and the rider has 3 minutes
to repair. In any case, the heat begins after these 3 minutes. In
a similar case, any rider who has a mechanical problem during the
1st minute of the heat must cross his arms in the water toward the
race director. If the race director recognizes the problem, the chronometer
is stopped and the rider needs to come back on the beach with his
jet. After that, the rider has 3 minutes to repair. In any case, the
heat continues after these 3 minutes, considering the time already
passed in the first part of the heat. A rider is allowed to change
his jet before or during a heat. If the rider wishes to change the
jet during the hear, he must come back on the beach with his jet.
If the rider leaves his broken jet in the water, the rider is disqualified.
• Some differences in the schedules may happen in the events.
For example, in case of bad weather conditions, each organization
can decide to modify the schedule and competition according the authority
of the IFWA representatives. In case of major force, organizers can
modify the event dates or cancel the event.
• Price money is established by each organization and previously
announced, as well as conditions of registrations including the help
offered to the riders.
