WGSF has a brand new rule book. But don’t worry, while there are a few changes, the gist of the rules are similar to the rules that most people are familiar with and have been racing under for the last few decades. An attempt was made to simplify some of the rules, and clean up a few, and format others to make them easier to read. But of course there were a few changes as well.
First and foremost, WGSF will be adopting IOC’s Code of Ethics, https://olympics.com/ioc/code-of-ethics.
There are a few minor rule changes, but let’s take a look at some of the bigger changes.
3.4.2 and 3.4.3 Event Branding and Advertising
Event branding is important. Sponsorship allows the events to be filmed and live streamed and to help grow the sport. Event branded clothing will be required to be worn, whether the branding are bibs, arm sleeves, or leg sleeves. When worn, at the event, must be worn correctly. While branding is important for the event, it can also help the individual. We are still working on mechanisms to identify the athletes, one option is to add a sticker to your helmet with your name, or a portion of it along with your country’s flag. Stand Up should consider placing their name on the seat of their suit, and Street Lugers on their back.
3.4.5 Technical Inspection
Technical inspection will be making a comeback. The process will be streamlined as much as possible. Safety gear will be checked at each event. For the near feature we will also inspect equipment at each event. In addition equipment may be spot checked throughout the season, for any reason.
4.3.1 Helmets
Helmets are important. They can save lives. The helmet rule has been stripped down to require a full face helmet. With a recommendation of using a certified helmet. Helmets must be in good shape. Helmets that have been in a severe crash, or that are cracked may be banned. It is each rider’s responsibility to make sure their helmet is in good shape.
4.4 Video Cameras
Protests are difficult to judge without evidence. As WGSF grows its collection of POV cameras, they will become mandatory at events, starting with finals. WDSC events will require POV cams from quarters onwards. If cameras are required, everyone in the heat will need to wear one, even if they don’t work.
5.3 Race Formats
Lane choice, historically, went to the person with the best qualifying time. While this is still true, for the first round. Subsequent rounds, lane choice will go in order of the winners of the previous rounds. That means the two winners will get the top two lane choices, based on their respective qualifying times, followed by the two second places, etc. If the #1 qualifier comes in second place in the first round, they will have third lane choice in round 2!
6.3 Passing
The passing rules have the biggest change, as there were quite a few inconsistencies and ambiguities in older rules. Historically passing rules say that the lead rider has the right to the line. It is the overtaking rider’s responsibility to completely pass the lead rider before entering the lead rider’s line. While the gist of this rule hasn’t changed much, WGSF is trying to clear up some of the gray areas surrounding this rule, by defining some of the terms.
The lead competitor is defined as the rider that is leading another rider by at least three quarters of board length entering a turn. A lead is between any two competitors, and not necessarily the entire heat. This is actually the biggest change from previous rules. The lead rider hasn’t exactly been defined in the past. Previous rules stated the lead rider held the right of way, until completely passed. This meant an overtaking rider could almost, but not quite pass the leader, but the leader would still have the right of way into the next turn!
The lead competitor has a “right of line” which means they have the right to any position on the track, as long as they don’t abruptly deviate from the ideal race line. An abrupt change can be considered rough riding, or an attempt to mooch bump and steal speed, it will lead to the lead rider being disqualified!
The line or racing line is the line a rider has to take, from their current position, that an average rider would consider to be an ideal or close to ideal racing line. A lead rider doesn’t have to follow the race line, for example they can weave back and forth. But anything that isn’t the ideal race line, or close to it, might be considered an attempt at blocking. And if the weaving is very abrupt, it could be considered rough riding.
Beginning of a turn is the area heading into a turn that requires a change of board direction, or board speed to make the turn. Coming down a long straight a rider may drift to the outside, this drifting wouldn’t be considered the beginning of the turn. The turn starts where the rider slows down, or starts to turn the board, more than a drift. The beginning of the turn is where most riders would consider the beginning of the turn. This beginning will be the same for everyone in discipline, but may be different between the different disciplines.
Hopefully these definitions will clear up some of the misunderstandings surrounding the passing rule. The main changes were written to try to clear up some ambiguities, while keeping the gist of the rule the same.
There is one significant change, and that is WGSF considers the lead rider on a turn by turn basis. If neither rider is ahead by at least three quarters board length heading into a turn, then neither rider is considered a lead rider, and neither rider has a right of line. This is an important distinction. If neither rider has a right of line, they both need to be careful not to have too much intentional contact.
One example of this change, imagine a left right combo, Rider A is in the lead, but B is gaining fast, as they round the left, B starts to overtake on the outside and pulls even with A (or not quite even) and then they start to enter the right. Now B is on the inside, and previous rules claim that B is now in an illegal position, as they are in A’s line. But this new rule says that neither have the lead and neither have the right to the line.
A couple of points to consider, a lead rider retains the lead until completely passed, for that turn. But may lose the lead, before being completely passed for the next turn. Also if an overtaking rider steals the lead, by being about three quarters ahead, entering the turn, and thus have a rider to the line, they still can’t run into the rider they are still overtaking.
Rough riding is still illegal. There are many aspects of rough riding, including forcing another rider off the road, or spinning them out. As the rule points out, some contact in close racing is expected. And as riders of similar skills try to push the limits, accidents will happen. But if a rider is involved in too many incidents, they may be sanctioned. WGSF’a goal is to keep riders as safe as possible.
6.4 Restarting after a Crash
After a crash, riders need to start from where their board ended up. Or enter the course as close as possible to where the board ended up. Starting must be done similar to how the race is started. Skaters must put one foot on the board and start kicking, not running and jumping on the board. Lugers must sit on the board and push off, not standing on the board and kickingf. Help from spectators, such as retrieving a board, is discouraged but not outlawed. Except riders must restart themselves, with no outside help.
6.5 Protective Position
Protective position will only apply if the apex of the last hard corner is about 250 meters from the finish line. If an incident occurs after this point, and someone is disqualified due to a rules violation, then the others will move up in their position, at the time this incident occurs. The primary goal of this rule is to protect riders who are in a transfer spot that get taken out while an out of control rider tries to overtake from behind. Even if the overtaking rider starts to pass the lead rider, but doesn’t completely overtake, when the crash occurs. The rider that used to be in the lead will still transfer
It is everyone’s responsibility to know and understand the rules. Eventually WGSF will be instituting racing licensing which will require answering some questions about the rules.