APBA Amateur Freestyle rules for 2010 APBA National tour, enforced or a joke?

SUPERJET-113 · 02-09-2010, 12:34 PM

RULE 29 - TECHNICAL RULES – FREESTYLE CLASSES
There are two Amateur Freestyle classes (Class I and Class II) and Pro Freestyle.

29.2 HULL – AMATEUR FREESTYLE CLASS I
29.2.1 Footholds: Footholds may be installed into the foot wells. If the same watercraft is used for racing, the foot wells must be blocked off, allowing no indentation into the footwell sides.
29.2.2 Hand Holds: Hand holds may be installed on the hood and upper deck.
29.2.3 Foot Straps: Foot straps may be installed on the tray of the watercraft.
29.2.4 Hull and Deck Repairs: Hull and deck repairs may be made. However, these repairs must not alter the standard configuration by more than 2.00mm (0.08 in.). Hull, bulkhead and deck may be internally reinforced.
Fasteners may be installed through the hull, bulkhead and deck for
the purposes of securing components to interior surfaces, provided a
hazard is not created. Other than for the use of fasteners,
the bulkhead may not be modified. Glue squeeze-out may be removed from the hull.
29.2.5 Hull Bottom: The hull bottom of the freestyle watercraft must remain OEM.
29.2.6 Top Deck: The top deck of the freestyle watercraft must remain OEM.
Hood, hood baffle, and nose cover may be modified or aftermarket.

29.3 HULL – PRO AND AMATEUR FREESTYLE CLASS II
29.3.1 Footholds: Footholds may be installed into the foot wells. If the same
watercraft is used for racing, the foot wells must be blocked off, allowing
no indentation into the footwell sides.
29.3.2 Hand Holds: Hand holds may be installed on the hood and upper deck.
29.3.3 Foot Straps: Foot straps may be installed on the tray of the watercraft.
29.3.4 Hull: The top deck of a freestyle watercraft may be modified or aftermarket, providing the following: The top deck must resemble the original top deck of a homologated watercraft; length and width of top deck must be within 6.50 inch (165.1mm) in length and within 2.00 inch (50.8mm) in width of the OEM top deck of the OEM powerplant (engine) being used; and the craft must function as originally intended. The hull may be no smaller than the minimum measurements of the top deck. These restrictions also apply to the minimum length of the hull. The front bumper may add no more than 1.25 in (31.75 mm) to the overall length of the top deck for the purposes of meeting the minimum length requirement.

Fuel fillers may be relocated internally. The deck and hull must be joined by the same method as the original hull and deck (e.g., bonded together with a high-strength adhesive). If upper and lower components of the original equipment bond flange are separated and rejoined, they must be rejoined by the same method as original equipment.

bkoche · 02-10-2010, 03:08 AM

Nothing in there seems unreasonable

DK1Designs · 02-10-2010, 10:43 AM

The only problem I have with the rules, is all the pro riders sand bagging in the amateur classes. I don't care if everyones using the pro built skis, I just don't want the pro level riders in the amateur class. All 4 of the amateur Japs from freestyle last year at worlds, were in pro freestyle the next day, and they still did good.

iflyems · 02-10-2010, 11:58 AM

+1
Yea, I noticed that too. That's why I didn't take a whole lot of pictures of the Pro-Freestyle guys. I just took pictures of them doing the exact same tricks in amateur, and their they were again, the next day in Pro......?????
That was a first for me.

SUPERJET-113 · 04-14-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DK-Freestyle

The only problem I have with the rules, is all the pro riders sand bagging in the amateur classes. I don't care if everyones using the pro built skis, I just don't want the pro level riders in the amateur class. All 4 of the amateur Japs from freestyle last year at worlds, were in pro freestyle the next day, and they still did good.

Yeah at the World Finals I agree with this. But I am talking about Regional and National level Amateur freestyle in the US.

Now that its set in stone that the APBA is going to use the IJSBA freestyle rules on the 2010 Regional and National tour, that means that if you are on a stock hull you will be going up against guys that have hulls that are up to 12" shorter and up to possibly 70+ pounds lighter. Real fair...
Switching to the IJSBA rules this year for the APBA races maybe a good thing for the sport PWC racing, but for Amateur freestyle its degrading move.

Good Job APBA/IJSBA!

Another step backwards IMO.
Way to keep the beginners and the people with smaller budgets from wanting to get in the Amateur freestyle comp. game.

Also I believe that a hull like the stunt or the bob is not gonna help peeps get into the sport of AM competition either. Not many people have the budget to splurge on a $3500 hull, even if it is close to 1/2 price of say a Rickter, Matrix, Lenzi1, EME, etc...

Amateur needs to be stock hulls only! Or it needs the APBA rules back that were made only a few years ago where you had 2 classes for Amateur. One with stock hull up to 800cc and Am 2 with aftermarket hulls up to 900cc.
But NOOOO...One step forwards = 2 steps backwards.

DK1Designs · 04-14-2010, 04:40 PM

They need a 3rd class. Beginner/ stock - Amateur/ Limited - Pro/ Open

iflyems · 04-14-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DK-Freestyle

They need a 3rd class. Beginner/ stock - Amateur/ Limited - Pro/ Open

+ 1million!!!

There is such a fine line between Amateur and Pro, that it's hard to tell when your watching them.

freestyle000 · 04-15-2010, 01:27 AM

I don't see any real changes over last year. the same rules were in effect however no event ever specified if they were using amateur 1 or 2 rules

BigKahuna · 04-19-2010, 10:17 AM

There are not enough competitors to have 3 classes. Region 7 has the largest number of competitors at any given event. That number is usally about 6 total. How are you going to split up 6 guys with 3 classes.

boobers blings · 04-19-2010, 10:22 AM

More classes,more problems.