KiteAngola Rules

HEATS AND ELIMINATION FORMAT.

• 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.
• Riders shall compete one against each other in pairs, or in groups of up to 4 at the discretion of the Contest Director.
• The duration of the heats and the transition period is 5 minutes.
• The Contest Director may postpone a heat before the starting signal for any reason.
• The Contest Director may abandon a heat (insufficient wind, any safety reasons)

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 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 assign numerical values to tricks, from 1 to 3 for each of the next section items. The Head Judge will be able to explain judgment to the riders. The Head Judge has the power to re-run a heat at his discretion, only when he has witnessed the complete heat.

FREESTYLE JUDGING GUIDELINES

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 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.

• Power.

The power during the execution of the tricks 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.

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.

• Crashes.

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.

• 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.

HEATS AND ELIMINATION FORMAT.

Heat format will be the same as for FreeStyle.

A heat duration will be 5 minutes with 4 riders per Heat.

SCORING / JUDGING PROCEDURE

Only time of the jump will be taken into account.

Measure will be done simultaneously by 3 chronometers and final time shall be the average of the valid measures. In case of obvious miss measurement one chronometer can be dropped of. At least 2 measures shall be valid for a jump to be taken into account.

The winner will be the longest jumper.

SAILING THE COURSE

• Courses.

The course diagram shall be posted on the Notice board at least 30 minutes before the start of the following race. The starting line and finish line shall be: a) An imaginary straight line between the objects indicated on the course diagram/description. This line shall be taken between those points of the indicated objects which are facing the course side most. If one of these objects is on the beach, it shall be marked by a flag, prominently displayed, or b) A line between two marks, c) Any other line specified in the Sailing Instructions or course diagram.

• Correct Course.

A competitor must sail the course so as to round or pass each mark on the required side in correct sequence according to the course diagram, and so that a string representing his/her wake from the time he/she starts until he/she finishes would, when drawn taut, lie on the required side of each mark. A competitor shall not correct a course error or re-enter the course area after crossing through the finishing line.

• Touching Marks.

Mark touching shall be allowed. However if a competitor gets tangle at the mark and causes the mark to brake loose or the mark sinks due to the contact made, the race will have to be re-run and the competitor that caused the incident shall be penalized with a DNS in the following race.

• Sailing in the Course Area when not Competing.

If reasonably possible, a board not racing shall avoid interfering with a board that is racing.

• Identification of Competitors.

Each competitor must wear their respecting lycra with their assigned competition number. Failure to do so will result on the competitor not being scored.

STARTING

• Starting a Race on the Water.

The signals shall be:

Each visual signal may be accompanied by a sound signal. However, times shall be taken from the visual starting signals, and a failure or miss-timing of a gun or other signal calling attention to any visual signal shall be disregarded.

• One minute rule.

Any rider over the starting line in the last minute of the starting sequence will be disqualified from that race.