Wakeboarding Scoring Format

Wakeboarding is the fastest-growing water-sport in world -- increasing over 100 percent in participation over the past three years. It is a combination of surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding and water skiing. A wakeboard looks like a fat snowboard with a pair of bindings attached to it. The wakeboarder carves turns with body leans and by rocking the board. During competition, wakeboarders do flips and spins and other acrobatic stunts in the air and on the water. These tricks are spectacular to witness -- some athletes go as high as 25 feet in the air while doing a maneuver.

New for 2000 is the introduction of three obstacles for the riders to "hit" in addition to their air trick run. The course is designed similarly to a street course in skateboarding, and riders will have access to a slider, a kicker and Pro Tour's jump ramp converted to an intense takeoff platform. These obstacles should provide new excitement never seen before on the Pro Tour.

The same format will be used at all Pro Tour stops. Riders will perform a subjectively judged routine. Contestants may perform any maneuvers they chose in any order they wish. The riders will have two passes behind the boat traveling in a straight path. At the end of the second pass, riders will be given a double-up. On the double-up, the boat does a wide turn and crosses over the old wake. The rider cuts on the inside of the turn and when the wakes cross each other, he cuts back and hits the wakes coming together. The wakes crossing together form a "double up," virtually three times the size of a normal wake.

Riders will be judged on the difficulty and proficiency of the moves executed, how big they are going, variety of moves performed, and on the creativity and fluidity of the routine. A maximum of 100 points can be earned for the routine. The judges will score the contestants in each of the following three categories:

33.3 Points -- Execution
This reflects the level of technical difficulty and perfection of each maneuver performed, as well as the successful completion of the entire run with a minimum of falls.

33.4 Points -- Intensity
This reflects the degree of performance to which each maneuver was performed in terms of how big the moves were, as well as the overall performance of the run.

33.3 Points -- Composition
This reflects the overall composition of the run in terms of rider's ability to perform a variety of maneuvers in a flowing, creative sequence.