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Rules

NOTE: This judging system is an evolution of the same “Subjective” system used at last year’s West Coast Wakesurf Open.

Age Definition

Age as of January 1 of the current year will be used to determine age bracket for Juniors and Masters divisions. The athlete must ride in their age division. The only time an athlete can ride in another division is when their division is not offered and the local event coordinator approves the move to another division.

If a class does not have 5 or more entries, the local event coordinator will review the rider ability and place the rider in an appropriate class to compete.

Gender Clarification

The only time another sex can compete with the opposite sex is when their division or event is not offered and the Director of Registration approves the move.

Multiple Division Clarification

The tour is only available for one class of competition. Entering multiple divisions at individual stops is subject to the event coordinator but will not qualify. Athletes can register to multiple divisions, however if you register for any pro-level division you must register pro in all divisions in which you compete.

Interpretations

Questions of interpretations, intent, errors, conflicts, or amendments to these EWT rules are the final responsibility of the EWT Rules Committee. Individual event rules are final responsibility of the event coordinator.

Safety Equipment

All contestants must wear a U.S. Coast Guard Approved life vest or a vest that will absolutely float a contestant who is unconscious. A “wet suit” vest must have a locking device in addition to the zipper closure. A “pull over” or “side entry” vest must have a locking device, zipper, or a drawstring.

Disqualified for Safety

Any athlete not wearing an approved life vest during their run will be disqualified. The athlete will not receive any scores for the run they disqualified in.

Competition Rules and Specifications

Course length will be approximately 1500 feet.

Riders will get a pass in each direction.

Riders will get two falls in each direction.

Riders are not allowed to leave extra board on course.

Touching any part of the boat during the run will result in disqualification. Deck starts and stops are not allowed.

Swimming or paddling as an effort to gain extra riding after a fall is not allowed.

Judging starts when the rope is dropped and the rider has entered the course.

Speed and TAPS2 adjustments are allowed at riders request.

Driver will start every rider at the same speed and TAPS2 settings unless instructed by the rider.

Judging

All divisions and categories will be judged using a fully subjective scoring system. Judges will be using an Overall Impression System to evaluate/analyze the rider’s runs. Judges will be looking for the most versatile rider by breaking each run down into these categories: Difficulty, Intensity, Variety and Execution.

Scoring

The judges will assign a value up to 10 points for each category: Difficulty, Intensity, Variety, and Execution, allowing for a total of 40 points per judge. There will be three judges. The three judges scores will be totaled together to come up with an overall score out of 120. There will be no predetermined values for placing. Each judge will analyze the rider’s runs based off of the following criteria and score them appropriately. Judges will be able to reward as well as penalize riders according to the performance of their runs.

D ifficulty
I ntensity
V ariety
E xecution

Difficulty: 1–10 (Scoring can be in increments of .10)

This is simply defined as how difficult each trick is based on any number of variables. Spins, stalls, embellishments, and the way a rider lands all subjectively define how difficult certain tricks are in comparison to others. Variables reflecting degree of difficulty include, but are not limited to: – Number of rotations – Combos (linking/combining tricks) – The direction a rider and/or board spins – Frontside or backside approach and/or finish – Stance (switch vs. regular) – Grabbed, boned, stalled, or any other embellishments

Intensity: 1–10 (Scoring can be in increments of .10)

Judges should look for how aggressive and powerful a rider is performing their tricks. This is typically noted on the judges sheet by a plus sign, “+”. If the trick was incredibly powerful, the judge may place 2 plus signs next to a trick notation on the Judge’s sheet, “++”. Conversely, tricks done marginally may have a notation with the minus “-“ sign.

Variety: 1–10 (Scoring can be in increments of .10)

A variety of tricks performed in a competitive wake surfing pass are a determining factor in the subjective scoring of competitive wake surfing. Wake surfing has categories of tricks such as: straight airs, surface spins, ollies, air rotational, combinations, etc. The volume of variety among the category of tricks performed relative to the other riders should be reflected in this subjective scoring category. Items to consider when evaluating variety include, but are not limited to: – Were the tricks all based on the same trick? (Surface frontside 360, 540, & 720 are all similarly based.) – Were the grabs significantly different? – Did the rider and/or board spin both directions?

Although not an absolute determining factor in scoring any subjective category, the total number of tricks performed will be given appropriate consideration.

Execution: 1–10 (Scoring can be in increments of .10)

This subjective category is essentially how well the tricks were performed and the level of control maintained by the rider throughout the completion of the tricks.
Perfection- Judges are looking for how “clean” or how well executed EACH trick was in the run.
Appropriate considerations for Execution include, but are not limited to:

  • Approach
  • Body Position
  • Degree of rotation
  • The axis of the body and/or board
  • Degree of solid grabs
  • Degree of boned leg
  • Length and control of stalls
  • Flow and Composition of the overall run