CONTEST FORMAT

FORMAT

The competition will be based on the freestyle or free ride format.  All riders will have 2 passes to complete as many maneuvers as they can.  A rider’s run is over when:  they fall for a second time, or the boat completes the course.  Riders who do not complete the course will be picked up by a jet ski and taken back to the dock.  Riders must stay within the limitations of their respected divisions.  Riders who perform more tricks or more technical tricks than allowed in the division they specified will be bumped up to the next division.

 DIVISIONS

    Youth- Novice Male and Female riders age 12 and under
    
    This division is for beginner riders who want an opportunity to compete on a level playing field.  Riders in this division face a restriction on the difficulty of tricks they can perform.  Riders can not perform any inverts or wake to wake 180 or greater spins.  Riders may perform wake to wake jumps with grabs both heelside and toeside.  All surface and ollie maneuvers are legal.  Riders are not limited on the number of tricks they complete, only the difficulty.

    Beginner- Novice Male and Female riders age 13 and up

    This division is for beginner riders that are older than 13.  Riders in this division face a restriction on the difficulty of tricks they can perform.  Riders can not perform any inverts or wake to wake spins (180, 360, 540 etc.).  Riders may perform wake to wake jumps with grabs both heelside and toeside.  All surface and ollie maneuvers are legal.  Riders can perform 1 wake 180’s both frontside and backside.  Riders are not limited on the number of tricks they complete, only the difficulty.

    Intermediate- Male and Female Riders of all ages, Total 2 inverts or spins

    This division is for riders who have been riding for some time and have good board control.  Riders are allowed to perform any combination of two inverts or spins (540 or less).  Riders can perform as many frontside and backside 180 variations as they like.  Don’t have any inverts or spins?  Not to worry, a run full of well executed grabs and 180’s can certainly get you on or near the top of the podium.

    

Advanced- Male and female Riders of all ages, Total 5 inverts or spins

    This division is for riders who have really progressed their riding and can consistently land inverts and spins.  Riders are allowed to perform any combination of 5 inverts or spins (540 or less).  No Mobes, Whirlies, 720’s, or spinning Raley variations allowed in Advanced.
    
Expert- Male and Female Riders of all ages, Total 9 inverts or spins

    This division is for very advanced riders that can consistently land a host of inverts spins.  Riders are allowed to perform any combination of 9 inverts or spins.  No Mobes, Whirlies, 720’s, or spinning Raley variations allowed in Expert.  This division gives riders who would otherwise finish at the bottom of the outlaw division a chance to win some great prizes and get some well deserved recognition.
    
    Outlaw/Open- You know who you are

    Come and ride in front of a really appreciate and enthusiastic crowd for a piece of the cash up for grabs in Outlaw.
Payouts will be as follows:  1st  $1,000
                        2nd $750
                        3rd $500
                        
    Wakeskate- One open class for all entrants.

    Come grab some cash in the open division.  Wakeskater’s will have a total of four falls to showcase their moves and will be pulled by the boat.   The top three skaters will be win the following:
1st  $250
                          2nd  prize
                          3rd  prize

                
JUDGING

Judging will be based on several elements: style, execution, intensity, composition, and technical difficulty.  These elements are subjective and their interpretation varies between tournaments and judges.  Tricks will not have a specific point value.  At the Riptank Open, all judges will be well versed in wakeboarding and all judges will go through a brief orientation to insure that they are all in agreement on what the definition of each element.  Intensity refers to how big a rider’s tricks are.  Execution refers to how clean and smooth a trick is from take off to landing.  Style is somewhat ambiguous and is definitely open to interpretation, but you know it when you see it.  Composition refers to the variety of tricks performed.  Striking a good balance of spins, inverts and raley tricks will get the best composition score.  Technical tricks are riskier and thus worthy of more points.  Riders who perform the most handle pass maneuvers will receive the highest technical scores.

The same 5 judges will judge an entire division.  The high and the low scores will be dropped and 3 remaining scores will be averaged to return the riders placement.

ENTRY FEES

The entry fee for all divisions except Outlaw will be $35.  Entry fee for the Outlaw division will be $50.  Wakeskate only entry fee will be $35.  Anyone who wants to ride in a wakeboard division and in wakeskate will pay the entry fee for their wakeboard division plus $15 dollars for the wakeskate division.

REGISTRATION

Pre-Registration will be available online starting on August 22nd and will close on September 19tht.  Registration will also be available at the Riptank Boardshop at 3003 50th St. Suite 600 Lubbock, TX from August 22nd to September 19th.  On-site registration will be available on September 20th at Buffalo Springs Lake from 8am on.  All riders must have completed a registration form and paid their entry before the start of their division.  All pre registered riders must check on September 20th at Buffalo Springs Lake.  All riders will receive a free Riptank Open Tshirt and raffle ticket on September 20th at check in.

Registration will be limited to the first 60 riders that enter.

SCHEDULE

 8:00  am- On-site registration opens
 9:00  am- Youth division begins
10:30 am- Beginner division begins
12:00 pm- Intermediate division begins
  1:30 pm- Advanced division begins
  3:00 pm- Wakeskate division begins
  4:30 pm-  Expert division begins
  6:00 pm-  Outlaw division begins
  8:00 pm-  Awards

**This is a very loose and prospective schedule.  On the day of the event we will be pushing the schedule ahead as far as possible so please show up at least two hours before the start of your division.  The only guaranteed division is start time it the youth division start at 9am.**
RAFFLE

A huge raffle will be going on all day long.  Tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the event for $3 a piece.  Are vendors are really hooking us up and we are going to give away thousands of dollars worth of prizes.

PRIZES

The top three riders in every division will receive prizes.  Outlaw and wakeskate are the only divisions that will receive cash prizes.  All other divisions will receive great prizes.

TOW BOAT

Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV

FOOD AND DRINKS

Grilled hamburgers and hot dogs will be available starting at 12pm.  The Buffalo Springs Lake Café will be open from 8am until 8pm serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and is within walking distance from the contest venue.  Outside food and beverage is welcome, but glass containers are not allowed ($200 fine).  

CURRENT SPONSORS*

    Presenting Sponsors:  Family Powersports

    Major Sponsors:  Helium, Hyperlite, Ronix, Team Rehab Sports Medicine, Texas Tech Physicians Sports Medicine

    Associate Sponsors:  USMC

    Supporting Sponsors:  Buffalo Springs Lake

*As of July 23, 2008
Please direct any questions to John Marshall at the RIPTANK BOARDSHOP.

RIPTANK BOARDSHOP
3003 50th St. Suite 600
Lubbock, TX 79413
Phone:  806-799-8265
Fax:  806-799-2213
Email: john@riptank.com