PKRA 2011 Freestyle Rules

I. REGISTRATION.

1.    Registration. Riders planning to participate on a PKRA World Cup event should pre-register for the event online at the PKRA website at least one week prior to the start of the event. Final registration and fees due will always be done the day before competition starts. Every rider needs to complete registration in person before the official registration period ends. All official registration periods will be posted on the PKRA website under the corresponding event page.
a) If circumstances beyond a riders control disable the rider to complete registration for the event by the published time as per the PKRA website www.pkra.info that rider must contact the PKRA Head Representative via email mau@pkra.info and advise of their delay and gain consent to have their registration period extended. The rider must supply the PKRA with evidence to support that the circumstances were beyond their control. Note: that failing to do the above will prevent a rider from participating in the event.

2.    Mandatory Riders Meeting. The first day of official competition there will be a mandatory meeting for all competitors at the judge’s tower at least a half hour before the start of the first heat. The official time for the meeting will be announced to all riders at registration. Riders failing to attend, or to show up on time for the mandatory meeting will be given a warning. After the first offence, riders will be given a fine according to the rule 46 fine schedule.

3.    Heat Participation. Any registered rider who does not participate in their assigned heat without notifying the Contest Director, will be fined according to the fine schedule below.

II.    SAFETY AND RIGHT OF WAY

4.    Safety and fair play are the most important aspects of the competition. Unsafe riders will be disqualified. Leeward riders have right of way, therefore Windward riders should not jump when a leeward rider is close to them. When crossing paths a windward rider should keep his kite up high while a leeward rider should keep his kite down.

5.    When Riders are on opposite tacks and equally upwind the Starboard Rider has right of way over the Port Rider. Starboard Rider should cross-upwind keeping the kite high while the port rider should cross- downwind keeping the kite low.

6.    Riders doing transition jumps should watch for riders behind them before attempting a transition jump. In case of tangle or collision with another rider while doing a transition jump, the jumping rider will be given a warning or will be automatically disqualified from the heat at the discretion of the Head Judge.

7.    When a Leeward rider changes course or the position of his kite, he shall give the other rider room to keep clear.

8.    Riders must not change course to obstruct another rider (blocking).

9.    Riders should stay clear of the competition area when not competing.

10. Riders shall not land jumps on the beach, and shall stay clear of any natural obstructions near the competition area.

11. A rider is capsized when his kite is in the water, his lines are tangled, or has lost control or has accidentally become disconnected from his kiteboard.

a) If possible a non-capsized rider shall avoid a capsized rider, a rider that has not regained control after capsizing or jumping over the lines of a capsized rider.
b) A capsized rider shall not take any action that hinders another rider

In case of a dangerous action, tangle or collision, as a result of the infringement on any of the above rules will result in a warning or disqualification from the heat at the discretion of the Contest Director or Head Judge.   
 
12.    In the case the affected rider, during a tangle or collision, is not competing against the rider at fault and the action penalizes the rider’s performance limiting his chances of wining the heat, the affected rider’s heat will be rerun.

13.    During the transition period, a competitor entering the competition area to compete has right of way over a competitor returning to shore. Therefore the standard right-of-way rules do no apply.

III. ASISTANCE

14.    Riders that during their heat end up downwind of the competition area, will be allowed to make their way back to the competition area by walking upwind on the beach by themselves. If a rider gets assistance of another rider while walking upwind on the beach or bringing the board, the rider competing in the heat will not be scored from this point.

15. While competing a rider could get assistance to re-launch his kite from a rider, only when the downed kite is out of the competition area. (Example when the kite drifts to the shore brake).

16. Riders who during their heat get assistance inside the competition area from the rescue boat, press boat, Jet ski, or any other craft, will be disqualified from that heat. The Contest Director can make changes to this rule at certain events.

17. In the event if a rider looses his kite from equipment failure, the rider will be allowed to replace his kite during the heat only outside from the competition area. The rider has to get out from the competition area by his/her own means. If the rider is not wearing a leash, he will not be scored from the point he looses his kite.

18. No forms of communication shall be permitted between a competitor and any team member, rider or representative during competition. No radio communication devices or hand signals shall be permitted from the beach by anyone trying to assist a rider during the heat. The above will be considered outside assistance, which could lead to disqualification from that heat if, in opinion of the Head Judge, such assistance materially prejudiced the result.

IV.    NOTICE BOARD

19. Any changes in the instructions will be posted in the official notice board. All riders have the
responsibility of checking the official notice board periodically for any changes.

20. Each rider is responsible for checking his heat number. This will be posted on the official notice board, at least 15 minutes before the start of the first heat.

V.    SPONSOR LYCRAS

21. Riders are required to wear the official lycra shirt during their heats. The lycra must be worn outside the harness. Riders should check in with the beach marshal two heats prior to competing and will receive a color lycra shirt which will identify them to the judges. Competitors not wearing the lycra or not wearing the lycra correctly during their heats will not be scored. After the rider has completed his heat, the lycra shirt must be returned to the beach marshal when returning to the beach.

22.    The lycra shall be worn at all times during the warm up periods.

VI.    FREESTYLE EQUIPMENT

23.    No limitation.

VII.    FRESTYLE HEATS AND ELIMINATION FORMAT

24.    The Contest Director, will make the decision as to the suitability of the conditions for running heats. This decision can be disputed only if all riders competing agree to change it.

25.    There will be a qualifier round(s) at the start of the contest if the total number of riders exceeds 24 men and or 12 women. The qualifier rounds will be on dingle or single elimination format depending on time.

26.    The qualifier Freestyle rounds (trials) will be run in a single elimination format with the best 2 advancing. When time allows the trials will be run in Dingle or modified Dingle format. (Riders eliminated in the trials, could still participate in the second discipline).

27. There shall be a double elimination for the freestyle discipline of the main event if conditions are suitable.
 
28.
The entire single and double elimination ladders will be run using the format below.



(a) rider’s names shall be entered on the elimination ladder for the first elimination series according to the event seeding list.
(b) “byes”, if any, shall be positioned so that they are allocated to the most highly ranked riders.
(c) Riders shall compete one against each other in pairs, or in groups of up to 4 determined by the elimination ladder and at the discretion of the Contest Director.

29.    During the single elimination, the men’s results will be considered valid for that event when we reach the quarterfinals or beyond, and 8 competitors or less are left in the elimination round. For the women the results will be considered valid for that event when we reach the semifinals or beyond, and 4 competitors or less are left in the elimination round.

30. If the looser side of the double elimination is partly completed, the results of each completed round or column of the looser side shall count in combination with the remainder of the winner side.

31. In case the single elimination doesn’t get completed, then 50% of the prize money will be split equally between all the riders competing in the main event. The organizer will keep the other 50%.

32.    The duration of the heats and the transition period shall be specified by the Contest Director before the start of the daily competition. If needed this times will be modified at any time. All heats times will be posted on the official notice board.

33.  The Contest Director may postpone a heat before the starting signal for any reason.

34. The Contest Director may abandon a heat:
(a) after the starting signal because of insufficient wind, or for other reasons directly affecting the fairness of the competition. The time limit for such abandonment shall be one minute before the end of the heat.
(b) after the starting signal at any time for safety reasons.

VIII. ELIGIBILITY

35.    Riders should be current members of the PKRA and IKA in order to participate in the world cup events.

IX.    WORLD CUP RANKINGS AND RESULTS

36.    The points system for the freestyle tour ranking will be calculated as follows:

37. The current freestyle ranking for the year will be determined by the cumulative adding of the year’s event points, after discards: Discards will be done in the following way:

        • 3 or fewer official event results, 0 discards.

        • 4 to 6 official event results, 1 discard.

        • 7 to 9 official event results, 2 discards.

        • 10 or more official event results, 7 best results will count.

38.    Breaking of ties for the world tour rankings after discards will be done in the following way:
     
        • Tied riders’ event results shall be listed in order of best to worst and at the first point where there is a difference the tie shall be broken in favor of the rider with the best results (no discard scores shall be used)
       
        • If tie remains, then discard scores will be used to break the tie.

        • If tie remains, then the last event result will break the tie, in favor of the winner of the last event.

X. SEEDING

39.  The 8 top seeded men and 4 top women will be pre-qualified for the next event. (Seeding will be recalculated after each event).

40. Seeding for the 2011 PKRA event:

             1. For the first event, the 2011 PKRA overall rankings will be used.

             2. After one valid PKRA 2011 result seeding for the second event will be based as follows:
              • 2011 PKRA event result counting for 50% of their score.
              • 2010 Overall PKRA Ranking counting for 50% of their score.

            3. After two valid PKRA 2011 events, we will count the cumulative rankings of the 2011 PKRA events, and the 2010 overall PKRA freestyle ranking counting as one of the results.

            4. When 4 or more valid 2011 PKRA events, seeding will be determined by the official 2011 PKRA ranking, without counting the 2010 overall result.
 
41.    In case a pre-qualified rider doesn’t show up to an event, their place will be given to the next rider down on the seeding.

XI. WILDCARDS

42. Event organizers will get 2 wildcards for the men and 1 wildcard for the women to pre-qualify riders of their choice.

XII.    PRIZE MONEY
43.    The prize money distribution will be done according to the following schedule:

If double elimination is completed:

If only single elimination is completed:

46.   The TOUR FINAL PURSE will be distributed as follows:

If double elimination is completed:

XIII.    AWARDS CEREMONIES

45.    Riders who place on the top 3 of each discipline are required to attend the Official Award Ceremony of each event. The Penalty for missing the awards ceremony not being justified by a force majeure circumstance will be a fine equal to their prize money.

XIV. FINES

46.    Misconduct behavior or disregards for competition procedures will incur fines.

47.    Tour fines:
        
         a. First offence: $50.00
         b. Second Offence: $100.00
         c. Third Offence: $500.00

XV.    GRAND SLAM EVENTS

48.    The following rules apply only to grand slam events:

         a.    Riders will be required to place in a visible area of their board one event sticker, no larger than 700 cm2

XVI. JUDGING

49.    SCORING / JUDGING PROCEDURE

A rider shall be scored while being in the designated competition area. Whether a rider is in or out of the competition area, will be at the discretion of the senior judge on the relevant panel and the Head Judge.

One or two panels of judges, each panel comprising an odd number of judges, no less than three in number, shall score each heat. The scores of the respective riders will be tabulated to get their results from that heat.

Judges will not assign numerical values to tricks, but will have a shorthand notation for taking brief notes of the tricks performed on each tack during the heat. They will also write a short note with an explanation of their judgment. Watching the heat takes precedence over writing down the tricks.

All judging sheets for each heat shall bear the full names or identifiable abbreviations of the judges judging the heat.

The Head Judge will be able to understand the short hand notes of the individual judges and will be able to explain judgment to the riders.

The judging sheets of the judges shall be shown only to competitors in that heat, on their request.

The decisions of the judges may not be appealed.

The Head Judge has the power to re-run a heat at his discretion, only when he has witnessed the complete heat and there is a discrepancy in the judging sheets or a tabulation error.

50.    JUDGING CRITERIA

Judging will be based on an entire heat, not on individual tricks. A rider who performs just one \'big\' trick in a heat and little else will not be judged as highly as a rider who can perform tricks of a high standard throughout the heat. In a man on man format, riders are competing against each other.

Freestyle PKRA World Tour will be judged on Overall Impression, which will be based on the following.

Technical Difficulty – The technical difficulty of tricks completed during the heat. Note that “combination tricks” will not automatically score higher than a “regular trick” (eg kiteloop-Mobe Vs Mobe). Everything is related to the quality of the execution (Power) and when considering Kiteloop / Downloop combinations, to the extra Power and Amplitude generated by the Kiteloop / Downloop compared to the “regular trick” one. Technical difficulty of low tricks is directly related to the speed in and out of the trick and the amount and quality (lines direction) of the air during the trick execution. Landing low tricks with a high degree of technical difficulty on the execution will increase the chances of winning the heat.

Power – The power during the execution of the tricks. Power will be considered as a combination of:

                - Speed into and out of the tricks.
                - Kite at 45o or lower during the execution of the trick.
                - Height and amplitude of the trick.

Risk factor – is directly linked to the Power (already involves speed in and out, lines direction and amplitude - height) involved in the execution of the tricks, but also to the commitment of the rider, technical and physical challenge during the execution, duration of the critical moment, amount and quality (lines direction) of the air in the trick, and energy on the execution.

Variety – Variety of tricks completed during the heat on both tacks.
               Repetition of tricks on the same tack will decrease the chances of winning the heat.
               Repetition of tricks on both tacks (switch tricks) will increase the chances of winning the heat.

Height – Height of the tricks completed during the heat. This aspect will exponentially come into consideration as the wind conditions increase, but only when the height is achieved along risk factor and technical difficulty.
 
Smoothness – Smoothness and fluidity during the execution of tricks completed during the heat, between different tricks in a routine and on landings.

Style – The personal flamboyance and attitude of the rider when performing in the heat.

Innovation – Tricks that have never been landed in competition before.

When the heat is close, the quality of the execution of the tricks completed during the heat, will be the key factor to decide the winner. The quality of the execution of the tricks is determined by the power, risk factor and speed in and out of the tricks for the low tricks.

Pushing the limits under control will increase the chances of winning the heat.

Crashes are ignored by the judges and will never penalize the rider in his overall impression, although, if a rider continually crashes it will be difficult to judge.

Tricks are judged from take-off to the landing. Combinations and risk factor are taken into account when judging.

In general the judges will look for quality of tricks over quantity.

51.    OTHER JUDGING ASPECTS

Any handle pass that is finished by pulling the leash to get the bar, will be considered a crash and therefore will not be scored.

The chicken loop is considered as part of the bar. Grabbing the chicken loop when passing the bar still gives credit to the trick, although, won’t be considered as a clear pass.

If a rider “butt checks” when landing the trick and doesn’t loose the board, the judges will still give some credit to the trick. It’s at the discretion of each judge to consider if it’s a crash or a butt check and to consider how much credit will give to the trick.

XVII.    START, FINISH, TRANSITIONS

52. START Heats shall be started with the following system:

54.    HEAT AND TRANSITION DURATION

Heat and Transition Duration shall be posted at least 15 minutes before the heat in question on the Official
Noticeboard.
 
XVIII. DISCREPANCIES

55.    RE-RUNNING OF HEATS
The Head Judge may re-run heats in case of discrepancies in the judging sheets. Whenever possible, the decision to re-run heats shall be made before announcing a winner of the heat in question.

56.    APPEALS AGAINST JUDGES If competitors feel to be disadvantaged by certain judges they shall report this in writing to the PKRA tour
manager at the end of the competition day.

XIX.    CONDUCT RULES

57.    GENERAL ATTITUDE
All PKRA members must, by their actions & general attitude, during all events and at all times while within the precincts of the site of a PKRA recognized or sanctioned event, promote the image of the sport, the sponsors of the event, the PKRA and themselves in a professional manner.

Any failure to do so immediately prior to, during and immediately after a PKRA event may result in appropriate fines being levied by the PKRA. More severe cases of bringing the sport into disrepute may result in the suspension or expulsion of a member from the PKRA after due consideration by the PKRA management board.

58.    OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE
All competitors may be required to attend a post heat/Contest media conference immediately after, or within 15 minutes of the end of heat/Contest, whether he/she is a winner or loser. Members must wear the event sponsors’ advertising vest or a suitable supplied by the organizer during this conference.

Competitors failing to attend a post heat/Contest media conference or to wear the correct bib/lycra will be penalized.

59.    DISCIPLINARY CODE OF CONDUCT & FINES GENERAL CODE & FINES

The rules set forth under this section apply to the conduct of each competitor while within the precincts of an
event site.

Fines levied for breach of this code are payable to the PKRA and members fined shall not be allowed to compete further in any event, Contest or heat recognized or sanctioned by the PKRA until the fine is paid.

The PKRA representatives, Head Judge or Contest Director may discipline and fine members. In all cases the Contest Director &/or Head Judge shall consult with the PKRA representatives before imposing any fines or penalties under the code.

When imposing a penalty or a fine, the committee involved, will consider the seriousness of the offence, the current ranking of the rider and if the rule violation is repetitious.

Riders will be notified of any fines levied in writing by the PKRA. Any rider wishing to appeal against a fine may submit a written appeal to the PKRA. This appeal will be considered by a committee consisting of the Contest Director, the Head Judge, a PKRA representative and a Management Board representative.

Failure to obey written or verbal instructions at an event: A member failing to follow clear written or verbal instructions at an event may be subject to a fine of not more than $500.

60.    COMPETITION AREA VIOLATIONS

Riding in the course/competition area when not competing : Violation under this rule will incur a fine per violation and/or warning or disqualification from the series, event or elimination.
 
61. LITTERING

Members found to be littering or causing any other environmental damage within the precincts of the event
site will incur a fine per violation.

62.    AUDIBLE OBSCENITIES

Any member using an audible obscenity will incur a fine for each violation. For the purpose of this rule, obscenities are defined as words commonly know and understood to be profane and uttered clearly and loudly enough to be heard by any officials in the proximity.

63.    VISIBLE OBSCENITIES

Any member making an obscene gesture of any kind will incur a fine for each violation and/or disqualification from the series/event or elimination. For the purpose of this rule, a visible obscenity is defined as the making of signs or gestures by a competitor using his hand, body, or riding equipment that commonly have an obscene meaning to a reasonable person.

64.    VERBAL ABUSE

Any member heard to be verbally abusive of an official, opponent, spectator, member of the media or any other person will incur a fine for each violation and/or disqualification from the series, event or elimination. For the purpose of this rule, verbal abuse is defined as a statement directed at an official, opponent, spectator, member of the media or any other person that implies dishonesty, or is derogatory, insulting or otherwise abusive.

65.    ABUSE OF EVENT EQUIPMENT

Any member abusing or damaging event equipment, on purpose, will incur a fine for each violation, and/or
disqualification from the series, event or elimination.

66.    PHYSICAL ABUSE

Any member found to be physically abusive of an official, opponent, spectator, member of the media or any other person will incur a fine each violation and/or disqualification from the series, event or elimination. For the purpose of this rule, physical abuse is the unauthorized touching of an official, opponent, spectator, member of the media or any other person.

67.    UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

Any members failing to conduct themselves at all times in a sportsmanlike manner and or give due regard to the authority of officials and the rights of opponents, spectators, members of the media or other persons, will incur a fine for each violation and/or disqualification from the series, event or elimination. For the purpose of this rule, unsportsmanlike conduct is defined as any misconduct that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport, but does not fall within the prohibition of any specific on site offence contained in these rules. In addition, unsportsmanlike conduct shall include but not be limited to the giving, making, issuing, authorizing or endorsing any public statement having or designed to have an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interests of the PKRA, the event, the organizers or the sport.

68.    COACHES, MANAGERS

Members take responsibility for the presence of their coaches, managers and any ancillary staff and the violation of any of the above rules by any of these will result in the appropriate penalty being applied to the member.

69.    FUTURE DISCIPLINARY ACTION

When the PKRA representatives, Contest Director or Head Judge excludes a competitor from further participation in an event or takes further disciplinary action against the competitor after a gross breach of good manners or unsportsmanlike conduct, his action shall be reported to the Management Board, who may reconsider the matter after further investigation.