RULES!
Empire Wake's Collegiate Wake Series Rules
A school must be an official club at their stated university or community college. They must abide by the regulations of the club sports department under what defines a school club.
Each rider must be a part time or full time enrolled student at their team's school. If a rider is riding for University of Florida, then that rider must be enrolled at the University of Texas for the entire season. A part time student is 9 hours.
If a student graduates in December, in the middle of the season, then the rider may ride until May graduation. That student must have ridden in the qualifiers that same year. A student id showing the enrollment in that school is required to register at each event. The roster of each school can be checked at any point during the season. If a rider is found to be an ineligible rider during an event then that team may be disqualified for that season.
A team must register with "Empire Wake's Collegiate Wakeboard Series" with their intent to compete. This will help us know what schools have teams, and be able to offer benefits included with membership.
Each team must register each year to update that club still exist. A club may register any time during the year as long as it is before competing in an event.
Each rider must register at each event they compete in.
There is no limit to the number of events a school or rider can compete in.
There is no age limit to a rider as long as enrolled as a current student at that school.
To earn a spot in the finals a school must compete at least once during the year at any qualifying event. Riders can qualify individually and/or help the team earn points to qualify that school.
If a school competes at more then one event then they will better their seed for nationals. Even if a school competes at 2 events and places 3rd at both, they will be seeded higher then a school who only rides one event and gets 3rd. Therefore the more you compete, the better seed you will get. Top school gets top seed in finals.
There are no bad attitudes allowed. Unsportsman-like attitudes will result in disqualification of that rider if sever enough. This decision is made by the staff. No Sandbagging (riding in a division below your skill level). You will be bumped to the appropriate division, looked down upon, and scored against the correct division.
DIVISIONS:
There is no pro division in college sports because professionals cannot technically be a collegiate athletes. This is also why there will be no individual payouts to athletes and only school teams.
Beginner
No inverts allowed. A rider is allowed grabs and 180's. If an invert is thrown that rider is bumped to the next division.
Intermediate
Riders are allowed 3 inverts and 360's. No spins over a 360 are allowed. Also no mobes are allowed in this division. If a rider can execute a mobe, judges will assume that rider is "sandbagging" and be disqualified.
Advanced
Riders are allowed 7 inverts and 540 spins. Mobes are allowed.
Open
This is a division anyone can ride in. This division gets the most points for a team. There are no limitations on inverts or spins.
Women's
Only one division for women. It is encourages each team ride at least one women to score more points for a team. In the national finals each team will need a women rider.
Wakeskate
If you don't know what it is, then you shouldn't be riding this division.
POINTS:
A school team much place top 2 at a qualifying event to get an automatic bid to the Collegiate Championship Finals. A school can ride until it places top 3 at any event. An example is if a team places 4th in Atlanta, they my ride Raleigh and place 3rd. This would allow them an automatic bid to the finals. The top 16 teams in the final rankings will get the invites.
Schools who are pre ranked top 16 have an advantage in receiving an invite. However, if they lose to an unranked or lower rank, it will effect their position and road to the finals. If an unranked team beats out a ranked team they will be placed in the top 16 accordingly.
If spots are unfilled due to a school electing not to compete in finals then an alternate team may be invited. These teams are selected by the committee based on size and quality of the team. It is more likely a large team will be invited over a team of 2. It will also be based on how strong that team is. If they placed 4th at a qualifying event, they are more likely to advance then a team that places 6th.
Beginner division riders scores are multiplied by 1.
Intermediate division riders scores are multiplied by 1.5
Women's division riders scores are multiplied by 2
Advanced riders scores are multiplied by 2.5
Open riders points are multiplied by 3.
Therefore it takes 3 beginner riders to equal an open rider.
If a school brings more riders then they have a better chance then a school who only brings 2 open riders.
Below is the points to place system used.
| 1st | 100 | 19th | 18 | ||
| 2nd | 90 | 20th | 17 | ||
| 3rd | 80 | 21st | 16 | ||
| 4th | 75 | 22nd | 15 | ||
| 5th | 70 | 23rd | 14 | ||
| 6th | 65 | 24th | 13 | ||
| 7th | 60 | 25th | 12 | ||
| 8th | 55 | 26th | 11 | ||
| 9th | 51 | 27th | 10 | ||
| 10th | 47 | 28th | 9 | ||
| 11th | 43 | 29th | 8 | ||
| 12th | 39 | 30th | 7 | ||
| 13th | 35 | 31st | 6 | ||
| 14th | 31 | 32nd | 5 | ||
| 15th | 27 | 33rd | 4 | ||
| 16th | 23 | 34th | 3 | ||
| 17th | 20 | 35th | 2 | ||
| 18th | 19 | 36th | 1 |
JUDGING:
Judging will be based on a 3 judge system. The scores are 4 parts worth 25 points each totaling 100 points. The criteria are as follows:
Style
How well does a rider add his or her own style to their run. Grabs, pokes, and tweaks, are a few examples. It is making wakeboarding look aesthetically pleasing. The essence of style is a combination of smoothness and being unique.
Composition
Judges look for the riders' ability to perform a fluid, creative run. Repeating tricks and lacking variety in your run may hurt your score. This is where a rider shows his mastery of wakeboarding. The second is part of competition is how technical the rider's run is in comparison to the other riders in the same division.
Execution
How clean does each rider execute his or her run. Missed grabs, not riding away clean from a spin and butt-checking may hurt your score.
Amplitude
We want you to take tricks big! The bigger the better.
The judges are educated and knowledge they are the judges and not the announcer or other staff members. If you have questions, please ask someone BEFORE you ride.
RUNS:
In the qualifying events, each rider is given one run with 3 falls.
The tow boat will be weighted the same though the entire division never changing until a new division.
Riding conditions and other boat wake will not be a cause for a re ride. Only the judges and head coordinator can decide if a rider receives a re ride at any time. Majority rules in this decision.
Riders and teams who qualify will ride a second time to determine the top 3 places. First place schools will have a better placing at Championship finals. So it is not only important to place but place high as possible.
4th place teams have a chance to be alternate teams if there are spots to fill for nationals. So do your best each event.
During Empire Wake's Collegiate Wake Series Championships, a new set of rules will be issued on number of team riders allowed to advance. A team format will be created before the event and distributed to each school competing. Please refer to these new rules before the event.
ENTRY FEES:
There are no team fees for qualifying events. Just individual entry fees of $40 per person.
For collegiate finals there will be a team entry fee of $500 per team. There is no individual entry fee.
Each rider will be required to have WWA insurance. We recommend you buy it for the year instead of each event. It is cheaper and most wakeboarding contest require WWA.