REGULAMENTO DO IFWA – CAMPEONATO MUNDIAL
DE FREERIDE Jet Ski 2008
Introduction
1) Four events compose the 2008 IFWA Freeride World Championship
(4th edition):
• France April 19-20
• Spain April 26-27
• Brazil September 5-6-7
• United States October 19-20
2) Points from all events count towards the World Championship Title.
In case of tie, best finishes in the overall events prevail
3) Organization of each event is made by IFWA representatives. Two
members of the IFWA steering committee must be present to validate
the event. 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
1) 40 riders maximum, 2 categories: stand up and
sit down
2) Head to head format. It allows judges scores to
reflect the changing conditions and enhances the understanding for
the public and media.
3) 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.
4) 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
1) Judging criteria is overall impression focused
upon the top 4 maneuvers in surf and the top 4 maneuvers 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.
2) Criteria includes:
• Amplitude: Determined by the height, size or extension of
the maneuver;
• Degree of difficulty: Determined by the complexity and extension
the 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
• 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 pre-qualifying 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 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 (black or white).
• All rounds except pre-qualifying round are judged head to
head.
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 to the race director accompanied with 100 Euro fee. 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
• Annual IFWA membership per rider: 50 Euro fee; 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: 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 possible 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: Mandatory = Wetsuit, Life Vest, Dorsal protection, Helmet,
Official contest jacket; 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.
