Current ContestRules 26/5/2009

2009 World Surf Kayaking Championships Rules  

The Purposes of these Rules are to:

Provide for a fair and safe competition that encourages the development of good will between nations.

Provide a standard measure to identify the people who exhibit the most skills in moving a kayak on the most challenging parts of the wave.  

General Surfing Criteria

A surfer must execute the most radical controlled maneuvers in the critical section of a wave with speed and power throughout. The surfer who executes such maneuvers on the biggest and/or best waves shall be deemed the winner.

A. Radical Controlled Maneuvers

Judges expect to see changes of direction of the boat on the wave. Such maneuvers would include bottom turns, re-entries, cutbacks, floaters, aerials, tube rides, top turns, late take-offs, trimming and stalling, etc. How radical they are, followed by the amount of control and commitment put into each of them, will determine how high they will score.

It is important to note, even if a surfer has completed 90% of a maneuver, it will not score well if he loses control or is not able to continue on the wave.

B. Most Critical Section

Higher scores occur if the surfer stays in the critical section of the wave, the "pocket" closest to the curl. The degree of commitment and the risk involved in performing close to the curl is the reason that it scores higher.

C. The Biggest and/or Best Waves

Wave selection is a critical factor for a surfer in their heat. The waves selected will dictate the maneuvers they are able to perform. There is less emphasis put on wave size in small to medium conditions due to the fact that the best waves may not necessarily be the biggest. However, in a contest with big wave conditions, a large part of the criteria would be the size. A surfer should be prepared to demonstrate the greatest commitment to the critical part of the wave. A surfer does not automatically score high because of wave size or quality. What the surfer does with the wave is a more important criteria.

D. The Different Categories (Long and Short Boats)

Short Boats : More emphasis will be put on big, more dynamic, maneuvers than on long rides

Long Boats : More emphasis is put on large carving type maneuvers with longer rides.

Note that the longer the ride, the more potential time to score points, so the higher potential score, in both categories

Judging in Bad Conditions

In poor surf judges concentrate on surfers who are utilizing the mini power-pockets on the wave with explosive moves that are normally timed to occur at each of these spots on the wave. Higher scores will occur if maneuvers are being linked directly to another without paddling all the way to the next section.

Interference

To determine interference, the judges first decide which surfer has the ROW (Right of Way) as a situation arises. The judges then determine whether the surfer with the ROW has been possibly hindered in his scoring potential. The key word in this criterion is "possibly." If the judge has to consider, did he/she or didn't he/she hinder, then he/she has possibly hindered the scoring potential of the ROW surfer, so the interference must be called.

What Judges Consider

A. Which surfer has the Right of Way? At the take off point, the inside surfer always has unconditional ROW.

B. Was there interference or not? Did the surfer with unconditional ROW have his scoring potential possibly hindered?

C. What rule in the book reflects to the infringement? Drop-in, snaking, paddling, breaking down a section, or excessive hassling?

The Interference Rule is:

The surfer deemed to have the inside position for a wave, has unconditional right of way for the entire duration of that ride. Interference will be called if during that ride, a majority of judges feel that a fellow competitor has possibly hindered the scoring potential of that surfer deemed to have the Right of Way for the wave.

Anyone who surfs in front of a surfer with the Right of Way has the chance to kick out of the wave without being called for interference, unless he/she hinders the scoring potential of the surfer with the Right of Way by any means including excessive hassling, hindering progress, or breaking down a section.

A. Point Break (Single Direction Wave) - The inside surfer has unconditional ROW for the duration of that wave.

B. Single Peak (Left & Right Breaking Wave) - The surfer considered to have the inside position at the initial point of take off has unconditional ROW in the direction he chooses by making an obvious turn. A second surfer may surf in the opposite direction.

C. Beach Break (Multiple Random Peaks) - Two separate peaks that eventually meet then both surfers are required to kick out of the wave or straighten out to avoid collision.

• If they both give way by cutting back or kicking out, so that neither is hindered, there will be no penalty.
• If they cross paths, collide or hinder one another, the judges may penalize the surfer who has been the aggressor at the point of contact, or may penalize both surfers.
• If neither surfer gives way, by cutting back or kicking out, and both share responsibility for the confrontation, then a double interference will be called.

Paddling Interference

Paddling interference may be called if:

A. The offending surfer makes contact with, or forces the inside surfer to change his line while paddling to catch the wave causing possible loss of scoring potential.

B. The offending surfer obviously causes a section to break down in front of the inside surfer, which would not normally have happened causing loss of scoring potential.

C. When a surfer is put in a position while paddling out that he cannot get out of the way and a collision happens due to this, it is up to a majority of judges to call interference based on whether it is felt to be accidental or not.

Note: If two or more paddlers collide there must have been either dangerous surfing or poor judgment from at least one of the paddlers involved. If one of the paddlers is not at fault for the collision, then both/all the paddlers must have an interference called against them. This is to enforce safety as a prime directive of the sport.

Snaking

The surfer who is farthest inside at the initial take off point is entitled to that wave for the duration of his ride. However, if a surfer takes off on the white water behind the first surfer, he will be penalized if the surfer taking off at the peak is forced to pull out and loses the wave. (Note, this does not prevent behind-the-peak takeoffs started in green water).

The ROW rule says that the surfer who is farthest inside at the initial take off point is entitled to that wave for the duration of his ride. Judges expect that there will be jockeying for position on some waves. However, paddling in front of, around, or behind a competitor who has inside position and is about to take off on a wave, in order to impede the competitor and take possession of a wave, is considered to be snaking, and will result in an interference call.

In all cases, Green (A) has Right of Way

General Rules  

Competitors must be current members of their National Governing Body, with full Insurance.

Competitors should have filled in an entry form and paid all fees no later than the closing date for entries. (Any exceptions to this policy will be determined by host country.)

Competitors must have read and signed the waiver form.

Competitors must be able to perform an Eskimo roll in rough water.

Host Venue will provide safety rescue coverage. All competitors must attend initial safety talk, and be aware of rescue policies.

Host venue will provide First Aid cover.

Host countries and the WSKA will provide, to the best of their ability, professional judges.

It is the responsibility of the competitor to report to the Beach Marshall prior to the start of their heat. Failure to comply will result in possible sanctions by the competition committee.

Any competitor surfing in the designated area, while another heat is in progress, will be subject to competition committee sanctions.

Competitors are responsible for entering their heat wearing the correct color of bib, as determined by the Beach Marshall listings, where they receive their bib. Failure to comply will result in sanctions by the competition committee

Competitors may have assistance emptying their kayaks and re-launching while the heat is in progress.

Heats in International or qualifying competitions will be a minimum of 14 minutes duration.

Competitors' kayaks must be inspected and approved as meeting all boat specification and safety requirements at every competition . It will need to be up to approval level in every surfed heat or the competitor will be disqualified from that heat.

Punishments

The standard punishment for interference is the person at fault loses their lowest scoring wave from that heat. If a person commits multiple interferences in a heat, they can be disqualified from the heat or the competition.
If the judges, WSKA or contest organizers believe that a competitor is purposely trying to disrupt the competition, is constantly causing interferences, or is acting unsafely, unfairly or un-sportsmanlike, the competitor can be disqualified from the competition.

Protests

All competitors have a right to protest. The cost of this will be set by WSKA at the start of the contest. The protest committee will decide the result of the protest. No protest will be heard against a judging problem. Only clerical errors will be looked at. No video footage will be submitted.

The protest committee will be sorted out and displayed before the start of the event.

The host country may have additional requirements.  

Safety Rules

All boats/all categories:

Must have rounded ends: All kayaks must have a minimum diameter of 50mm (allowing for 6mm protuberance) in the plan view at the front of the kayak.

Kayaks Must Not have an “Extended End”: Kayaks must be more than 10cm wide, 10cm back from the front end of the kayak.

Must have buoyancy and must float if filled with water; The kayak must have the rear section full of buoyancy, usually with air bags. There must be sufficient buoyancy in the front half of the boat, so the boat floats in a level plane.

All kayaks must have tails fitted . Tails must be at least 20cm long with a knot in the end, must reach past the end of the kayak and must not form an entrapment (i.e. no loop that a finger or hand can fit through). The tail, if webbing, must have a minimum width of 25mm, if rope, must be 8mm diameter or more (as measured, not manufactured). Tails must be of permanent attachment so not to break off when used.

Helmets are required while surfing in this competition and must be approved by your country's governing body .

Buoyancy Aids / PFD's (Personal Flotation Devices) or Impact vests are required to be worn while surfing in the competition. Inflatable life jackets are not allowed. PFD's and Impact vests must be approved by your country's governing body.

Team Event Competitors

The World Team Event will have the following Divisions and Number of People per Team:

Men's Long Boat - 4 men + 2 Alternates

Women's Long Boat - 2 women + 2 Alternates

Junior's Long Boat- 1 junior + 2 Alternates

Master's Long Boat – 1 master + 2 Alternates

Men's Short Boat - 4 men + 2 Alternates

Women's Short Boat - 2 women + 2 Alternates

Junior's Short Boat - 1 junior + 2 Alternates

Master's Short Boat - 1 master + 2 Alternates

(Maximum number of Alternates: 4 men, 4 women, 4 juniors, and 4 masters)

Total number of team members: 16, plus up to 16 alternates.

Junior is defined as being 18 years of age or younger on December 31st of the competition year. (Not 19 in that year)

Master is defined as being 40 years or older on January 1 of the competition year.

There is a minimum of 6 people (not slots) required to enter a team

There will be heats in both the team and individual events for women, junior, masters and men competitors. In the team events, masters or juniors may compete in the men's category as well as their own. But can only compete in a maximum of 2 categories.

In the team event:
Juniors must have different competitors for the long and short categories.
Masters must have different competitors for the long and short categories.
(Women can have the same Competitors)

If an alternate is substituted after the heat seedings are announced, the person who is removed is no longer eligible to surf in the team contest. If a person is substituted before the draw is made, however, he is eligible to surf in the team contest at a later date.

An individual competition held in conjunction with the team event. The individual competition will have the categories listed above for the team event, plus a Master's and a Grand Master's division. A Master is defined as a person 40 years of age or older on January 1 of the competition year. A Grand Master is defined as a person 50 years of age or older on January 1 of the competition year.

Boat Design Specifications

Boat Length:

Long Boat : 3m or longer as measured in a horizontal plane.

Short Boat : 2.75m or under, as measured in a horizontal plane.

Hull design:

Long Boat : The hull may be any shape as long as the maximum concave depth under a straight edge, placed perpendicular to the long axis of the kayak at any point on the hull, is less than 10mm. There are no additional restrictions on deck design, hull radii or seat location. The kayak can have up to 4 fin boxes, as long as there are no fins in them. Fin boxes must be covered OR empty, and may be no longer than 25 cm and no wider than 2 cm”

Short Boat : no restrictions (fins allowed)

All designs must still take in account, the safety rules as above

The World Committee will have the final decision on any dispute, based upon whether any non-conformance is due to a bad repair/warp or a deliberate attempt to break/bend the rules.

Construction and deck design:

The kayak shall be of hollow construction, with the paddler sitting in, not on, the kayak. Any material is allowed for construction. In addition, each kayak must utilize a fabric type sprayskirt, which completely encircles the paddler's waist, and the boat's cockpit to attain "watertight" status from the waist down.

Final Safety Note

The event competition committee retains the right to disqualify any craft, if its shape is deemed dangerous and disallow any other equipment that does not meet the competition committee's interpretation of the rules and its equipment specifications.