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2008 Video Competition Rules
The US Hydrofoil Association is holding a competition, with entries submitted on video. This allows all members an opportunity to compete against other riders of similar skill levels, but does not require the expenses and hassle of travel.
Dates: Entry forms PDF or WORD (available separately at hydrofoil.org) must be received by 31Aug2008. Videos must be received by 15October2008. The rides must take place between 1Feb2008and 14Oct2008. Videos must be submitted via internet download (preferred), on mini-dv tape, CD or data dvd, with the rider(s) clearly identified. .avi, .mpeg (2 or 4) are preferred -- the less compression the better.
Eligibility: If you live in the US, you must be a member of USHA as of August 31, 2008. You can join as supporting or active. See https://www.usawaterski.org/members/join/ to join.
You do not have to be a member of USHA if you live outside the US, but there is an extra $20 fee to enter. All video submissions must be in NTSC format or computer format (.avi, .mpeg, .mp4, .mov).
Submissions: Send all videos to Brad Scott, USHA, 320 Starlight Place, Lutherville, MD 21093. If shipping and you need a phone number, use 410-583-5859. Please clearly identify the riders in each video.
Video: Riders must submit a video of a 120 second free ride (maximum). The video must clearly show the rider who is competing, and must clearly show foil entry and exit points (to judge air). So, video quality counts. The 120 seconds starts with the rider’s first trick, so it is okay to video from startup, etc. The video must be continuous -- no edits or starts/stops of the camera. If the rider falls, that counts toward the 120 seconds -- hey, you get unlimited attempts at putting together the run, so keep trying until you get it right.
Turnarounds: Because some riders may not be able to do a 120 second straight run, you can turn the boat around at any point – keep the video rolling. The clock suspends 5 seconds after the last trick on the first pass (to allow for setup time between tricks). Example: A rider completes a trick at the 35 second mark of the first pass, then turns around. The rider would have used 40 seconds, with the clock restarting with the initiation of the first trick on the second pass.
You can turn around up to three times, which would give you the equivalent of roughly three 25 second passes and a 30 second pass.
One Entry: Each rider can submit only one entry. Please queue the tape (if using tape) to the start of the run. If you submit more than one competitor on a tape, please identify where each competitor is on the tape (by time marks). Data DVD's or CDs with each rider's runs clearly labeled are good. Internet download works best – The video must remain available for download until Brad Scott acknowledges that he has downloaded it.
Scoring: The highest scoring ten tricks out of the first 14 executed in the free ride will be scored. The weighting between air points, technical points, and style points depends on the division. See the trick lists for the weightings for each component. The trick lists are available at hydrofoil.org and USHANationals.com. The Air Matrix tables let you see how the combined air and technical values will be scored as you are preparing your run. Note that the Mens Pro, Outlaw, and Open divisions use a different set of trick values than the other divisions, so be sure to reference the correct trick list when planning your run. Riders can perform any trick, whether it is on the list or not. The judges will score the trick based on similarity to an existing trick, or if the trick is quite unique, will use their best judgment in determining a value.
Air is judged by counting video frames – frame zero is when the front wing of the foil can first be seen exiting the water. The next frame counts as frame one. The last frame is when the foil makes contact with the water again.
In the event of a tie, tiebreakers will be in the following order: the highest scoring single trick, the highest total air component, the highest total technical component, the highest scoring single air component, the highest scoring single technical component, and the highest single style component.
Here are the points and weightings:
Amateur/Intermediate/Advanced technical trick point values
Technical Air Matrices
Open/Outlaw/Pro technical trick point values
Repeats: If tricks are repeated, then the higher of the two scores will be used, with the lower score not counting. A repeat is the same trick in the same location (wake driver to passenger, wake passenger to driver, flats driver side, flats passenger side are the four locations). Style differences do not count as separate tricks, e.g. a gainer and a gainer with tail grab in the same location is considered a repeat. A gainer to jump is the same as a gainer.
A gainer to roll and a gainer to gainer are considered the same trick.
Sinker combos and swoop combos are considered unique – therefore it is not a repeat to do a roll to roll combo sinker and a roll to roll combo swoop.
In the Men’s Pro, Outlaw, and Open divisions, jumps to / from any trick are not unique from the trick – they will be considered a repeat if the trick is also performed by itself. For example, if a rider does an air roll and a jump to air roll, only the higher scoring of the two tricks (based on air and style) will be scored.
You can combo out of any given trick (in the same direction and location) two different ways. Any third combo off of the same starting trick in the same location and direction will be considered a
repeat, even if comboing TO a different trick.
A three trick sinker combo is a repeat of a similar two trick sinker combo if the three tricks have consecutive air back rolls or consecutive air front rolls. For example, a back roll to back roll to air front flip is a repeat of a back roll to air front flip (only the higher scoring trick counts). But a back roll to air front flip to air back roll is not a repeat. An air back roll to air back roll to air back roll (all sinker) is a repeat of an air back roll to air back roll (sinker).
Combos: To receive credit for all combo maneuvers, after the board touches the water there must be immediate initiation of the next trick. No hesitation is allowed between tricks.
Sinker Style Combos: once the foil hits the water the board must sink continuously before initiating the next part of the combo. In general, the bottom of the foil will enter the water in a tip up attitude.
Swoop Style Combos: The main criteria for the swoop is that the foil breaks the water in a tip down attitude, AND the motion of the foil through the water is like that of a "pendulum" (as opposed to sinking).
Boats/equipment: Please use what you normally ride behind – a standard wakeboard or ski inboard is preferred, or the typical inboard/outboard you use. No cabin cruisers please. No Stiffy towers, but an AirSling is acceptable. Ballast must be within legal limits and the limits the boat is designed for. No kicker wakes. Rope length is limited to 100 feet. Standard safe practices must be followed. Speed is limited to 30 mph. If you plan on riding at 30 mph, please make sure your gauges are calibrated with a GPS.
Kicker wakes: No kicker wakes please. We do not use them in our other competitions.
Cheating: If it doesn’t show up on the video, the judges probably won’t know unless someone tells them. But like golf, we expect people to be honest and abide by the rules. What is the glory of winning dishonestly?
Property of USHA: All videos become the property of USHA. We may compile a DVD with the winners or all competitors – we’re not sure yet. We will try to post the winners videos on our web site. By submitting your video, you give USHA the rights to use the video as we please.
Divisions: The number of divisions depends on how many entries we get, and the judges reserve the right to move people to a different division, create new divisions, or consolidate riders. We'll strive for a minimum of three riders in each division, and a goal of 7 to 10 riders. We expect to have the
following divisions:
Women: Novice (one inconsistent invert max), Intermediate (up to 3 inverts) and Pro (unlimited). We may add an under 20 novice division if there are sufficient entries.
Men: Novice 17 and under, Novice over 17 (no inverts). Intermediate (up to 3 inverts), Advanced (unlimited inverts).
Open: 3 or more advanced tricks (front flips, 360s, combos – anything scoring higher than a wake roll).
Men's Outlaw: You feel you belong between Open and Pro based on air and technical ability.
Men's Pro: You feel you belong at the highest level based on air and technical ability.
Cost: $30 per rider submitted on mini-dv, $25 per rider submitted on DVD or CD or via internet download, or $50 for a family (spouses, children 17 and under).
Prizes: Fame only – no cash. The winning videos, and likely all the videos, will be posted on hydrofoil.org once the results are announced. This competition does count toward the 2008 USHA rankings.
Insurance: Any injuries are your responsibility. USHA is not insuring this competition.
