2009 IFWA RULEBOOK
Introduction
1) The 2009 IFWA World Championship (5th
edition) is restricted to stand-up class. Points from all events count
towards the World Title. In case of tie, best finishes in the overall
events prevail. Nevertheless, each organization can run a sit-down
competition as a 2009 IFWA International Event.
2) Two members of the IFWA steering committee
must be present to validate the event. Each event has autonomy to
create partnerships with their respective federations or associations.
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
1) Head to head format.
It allows judges scores to reflect the changing conditions and enhances
the understanding for the public and media.
2) 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.
3) 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 and scoring system
1) Judging criteria
is overall impression focused upon top 4 maneuvers in surf and top
4 maneuvers in tricks. A rider’s entire run in considered in
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.
2) Criteria includes:
• Amplitude: Determined by the height, size
or extension of maneuver;
• Degree of difficulty: Determined by complexity
and extension of maneuver;
• Overall impression: Determined by the general
performance, diversity, creative value of maneuver and fluidity of
entire run;
• 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.
3) Scoring System:
• All rounds except pre-qualifying round are judged
head to head.
• Pre-qualifying scoring system: Judges scores
with the high and low scores are 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 from 1-10 points for tricks. Surf and trick
scores are added for each judge total score. In the pre-qualifying
round, riders with the top scores advance to the head to head brackets.
In case of tie, jury count the entire judge’s scores.
• Head to head scoring system: 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 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.
4) Event points
given for final rankings:
• Only the 20 riders advancing to the brackets
receive IFWA points for the event;
• Riders not advancing to the next round will
tie at their last round:
- Final: 1st: 23 points; 2nd: 20 pts
- Consi final: 3rd: 17 pts; 4th: 15 pts
- Losers of 1/4 finals (4 riders): 5th: 12
pts
- Losers of 1/8 finals (8 riders): 9th: 9
pts
- Losers of LCQ (4 riders): 17th: 5 pt
• In case of Disqualification (DQ) or Did Not Start
(DNS), the rider will receive a lower placing than riders
who completed the round.
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 with a fee àf 100 euros
to the race director. No official discussion of the claim will occur
without these directives. Claims will be discussed at the end of the
appropriate round. Riders will be given maximum 15 minutes to discuss
claims.
2) Any rider with an aggressive behaviour
(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
1) Annual IFWA membership per rider is
50 euros; It must be paid to compete in an IFWA event before the first
event where the rider wants to compete. Attention: Membership fee
is not a license and not an insurance (remark for events in France).
2) Jets as stand-up: SuperJet/FX1, SX/SXI/SXR,
Polaris Octane, HydroJet and their similar ones. All others are considered
as sit-down. Modifications are allowed as long as safety is observed.
3) Equipment rules: 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 IFWA 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 possible but not the ultimate responsibility of the
organization.
4) 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.
5) During practice and competition, riders
must use the following equipment: Mandatory = Wetsuit, Life Vest,
Dorsal protection, Helmet, Official contest lycra.
6) 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 sound of the siren and the green flag, and heat finishing
given by 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.
7) 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.
8) 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 heat, he must come back on the beach
with his jet. If the rider leaves his broken jet in the water, the
rider is disqualified.
9) 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 to the IFWA validation. In case of major force, organizers
can modify the event dates or cancel the event.
10) Price money is established by each
organization and previously announced, as well as conditions of registrations
including the help offered to the riders.
