Tricks Party

1. RULES, COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES, EXEMPTIONS

1.1. Validity of these rules

These sporting rules apply to federal freestyle kite competitions validated by the ISKF.

1.2. Compliance with the rules

The competition director runs the competition and enforces the sporting rules.

1.3. Exemption from the rules

Where certain provisions of these rules cannot be applied, the competition director, in agreement with the majority of the judges or the national head judge, may grant an exemption. These exemptions will be presented to all pilots.

The competition director will send a report to the Kite Competition Commission explaining the exemptions granted.

1.4. Suggestions for changes to the rules

Pilots are encouraged to send the Kite Competition Commission, in writing, their suggestions, questions or requests for changes to the rules. The Competition Commission may take this input into account when updating the rules.

2. PARTICIPATION IN COMPETITIONS

2.1. Competitors' commitment

A “competitor” is an individual pilot, a pair or a team.

By registering, competitors undertake:

• to comply with the federal competition rules,

• to follow the instructions issued by the competition director,

• to wear the promotional items supplied by the competition organiser, and to comply with Article 17 of French Law No. 99-223 of 23 March 1999 on the protection of athletes' health and the fight against doping (“Prohibited conduct – Article 17: During competitions and sporting events organised or approved by sports federations, or with a view to taking part in them, it is prohibited for any person to:

  • use substances and methods likely to artificially modify abilities or to mask the use of substances or methods having this property;

  • use those substances or methods whose use is subject to restrictive conditions when those conditions are not met.

The substances and methods referred to in this article are determined by a joint order of the minister responsible for sport and the minister responsible for health.”).

2.2. Competition registration

To take part in competitions, the competitor must have registered before registration closes. It is up to each competitor to take all necessary steps to ensure that the organiser has their complete registration before registration closes. A registration will be considered complete if the organiser has the duly completed entry form, payment of the entry fee, a copy of the licence with the competition card and any other supporting documents that may have been required for the registration.

Otherwise, the competitor will not be officially registered for the competition.

2.3. Nationality

Freestyle kite competitions for the award of national champion titles are open to all two-line kite fliers, whatever their nationality, who are duly qualified or selected for these events. However, national champion titles are awarded exclusively to nationals of the country, or to competitors who can prove regular residence there.

2.4. Registration formalities

A competitor wishing to register for a freestyle kite competition must hold a licence issued by a club or national federation that is a member of the ISKF, as well as the competition card.

2.5. Minimum level for registration

A competitor wishing to register for a competition must demonstrate a minimum level of flying equivalent to flying with ease, fluidity and autonomy in any wind between 4 km/h and 35 km/h. Otherwise, the organiser or the competition director may refuse the competitor's registration.

2.6. Categories and classes

There are no age categories, classes (masters, juniors, etc.) or gender categories for freestyle kite competitions. Competitors who are minors (on the date of registration for the competition) must have parental consent. When a minor competitor is not accompanied by one of their parents, the parental consent must include the full name of the responsible accompanying adult. In the absence of parental consent, one of the parents must be present throughout the competition. Otherwise, the minor pilot will not be able to take part in the competition.

2.7. Registration deadline

The competitor must register no later than 15 days before the competition. The organiser or the competition director may nevertheless adjust this deadline.

3. CALENDAR

3.1. Sporting season

The sporting season runs from 1 January to 31 December of the year.

3.2. National competition officer

The national officer for freestyle kite competitions is the head of the Kite Competition Commission. They are responsible for coordinating and publishing the calendar of national competitions.

4. NATIONAL, EUROPEAN OR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

4.1. Titles awarded

The titles awarded are:

• National, European or World individual freestyle kite champion, - French pair freestyle kite champion,

• National, European or World team freestyle kite champion.

In each class, the title is awarded if at least five competitors have registered and taken part.

4.2. Competition area

The competition field is a circle 80 metres in diameter, marked out by a single line known as the “red line” (lime, marker tape, etc.). The field has a central circle five metres in diameter to help competitors find their position.

The stage in and stage out areas are defined by the field director.

4.3 Shared competition equipment

The organiser provides a tent or sheltered area to centralise operations, posting of the flying order, results and score calculation. A dedicated area is set up for the sound system (PA, sound manager, announcer).

4.4 Competition staff

Line judge: determines whether a competitor or their kite crosses the red line. Ideally there are two line judges.

Field director: announces to competitors (if they wish) the tricks of their ballet in the order of their programme and the time remaining. They inform the competitor that the judges are ready to assess their performance, start the music, time the elapsed time, check the wind speed and monitor the competitor's movements during their performance.

Judges: they determine the scores during the competitor's performance. There are at least three judges, unless an exemption is granted by the head of the Kite Competition Commission.

4.4 Flying conditions

Minimum wind 4 km/h for individuals, 4 km/h for the others,

Maximum wind 35 km/h,

Competitors may ask the field director to check the wind speed during the first minute of their performance by calling “wind check”. If the request is made during the flight, pilots must continue their performance until they receive the answer. The field director measures the wind speed for 10 continuous seconds and announces the result to the pilot(s). If the measurement is outside the limits, the pilots may choose to continue or to land their kite. If the competitor(s) decide to stop, the field director tells them to land their kite. The performance of the pilot(s) is suspended pending better conditions.

4.6 Pilots' briefing

Signing of the attendance sheet.

Submission of the competitor's ballet tricks form.

Announcement of the compulsory tricks.

Communication of the pilots' flying order.

Collection of music (if not collected at registration).

Introduction of the judging panel.

Questions/answers with participants

5. CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

5.1 Competitors' preparation for their events

Before the start of the events, the competitors' flying order is determined by a draw. The flying order is given to the judges, field director and announcer, and made available to the pilots.

Competitors must be ready at least three turns before their performance. Otherwise, their performance may be penalised or rescheduled.

The competitor is responsible for being on time for their performance.

Each competitor comes onto the field with the retriever(s) of their choice; pilots may place their retrievers wherever they wish. Maximum 1 per pilot on the field.

Once on the field, the individual pilot or the pair has 2 minutes before starting their performance. Teams have 2 minutes 30

During their preparation time, pilots may change two tricks in their ballet programme.

If the competitor does not begin their performance within the time allowed, the field director informs the judges, who may impose a penalty. The music will only start at the competitor's request.

5.2 Competitor's equipment

Competitors may use any type of two-line kite.

It is advisable to use lines of no more than 35 metres, given the dimensions of the flying area.

Competitors have 45 seconds at any time during their performance to replace or repair broken equipment and then continue their performance.

Pilots whose equipment breaks during the first 30 seconds of their performance have one minute to replace or repair their equipment and may restart their ballet from the beginning.

5.3 The ballet

Each competitor fills in, in advance, a form (provided at registration) giving the order of the tricks they will perform in their ballet:

9 tricks maximum for individuals and pairs, 7 tricks for teams.

A figure may not be chosen more than twice in the programme. The correct execution of each figure is assessed on its first execution, or attempted execution. It may be performed as many times as desired, but additional executions are only taken into account in the ballet score.

The ballet lasts between 2 and 3 minutes to music for individuals.

The ballet lasts between 2 and 4 minutes to music for pairs.

The ballet lasts between 3 and 4 minutes 30 to music for teams.

The ballet tricks score is weighted by a coefficient of 50%.

The overall ballet score is weighted by a coefficient of 50%.

5.4 Compulsory tricks

Four of the ten tricks selected (for the competition year) are chosen by the judging staff on the day of the event according to the weather conditions. Each figure is scored out of 10; however, the competitor may perform it a second time, but will then be scored out of 8, and the judges will keep the higher score.

The compulsory tricks are performed in the order announced at the briefing and after the preparation time. Individuals have 2 minutes, pairs 3 minutes and teams 4 minutes to perform the tricks. The competitor calls an “in” and an “out” for each figure. - The compulsory tricks score is weighted by a coefficient of 40%.

5.5 Free expression

Following the compulsory tricks, the pilot has 30 seconds between the last trick and the start of the free expression. It begins with an “in” and ends with an “out”, and lasts a maximum of 1 minute. Free expression is judged with a score between 0 and 10, which is added in full to the final score. The competitor demonstrates their ability to perform tricks in combination. The score takes into account correct execution, the speed of the combinations and risk-taking.

6. SANCTIONS

6.1 Penalties

Any lateness for briefings will result in a 5% deduction from the final score.

The presence of one member of a pair or team at the briefing is sufficient.

Kite falling: 1 point deduction.

Kite falling with retriever intervention: 2 points deduction.

Incorrect ending: 1 point deduction.

Exceeding the preparation time: 1 point deduction.

Arriving late on the competition field: 2 points deduction.

Failing to start within the maximum preparation time allowed by the rules (90 + 45 seconds): 1 point deduction.

An individual pilot or their kite may cross the red line once, pairs may cross the red line twice, and teams may cross the red line three times. A crossing is counted over a 20-second interval; further crossings result in a penalty of 1 point for every 15 seconds spent outside the flying area.

These penalties will be deducted from the ballet score.

6.2 Disqualification

Unsporting, aggressive or dangerous behaviour.

6.3 Protests

Competitors may make a written or verbal protest to the judging panel immediately after the incident. After consultation, the decision is communicated to the competitors before the end of the competition.

7. END OF THE COMPETITION

7.1 Debriefing

A debriefing may take place one hour before the prize-giving, at which the ranking may be announced and the results posted.

7.2 Podium

The top three are invited to attend with their equipment.

The time will be set according to the general schedule.

The top three are invited to perform their ballet for the public.

8. HISTORY OF CHANGES TO THESE RULES

• Version 1.0 - Basis of the rules – Tricks Party format

• Version 2.0 – October 2014

• Version 3.0 – November 2014: addition of “free expression”

• Version 3.0 – February 2026 – revision of penalties

• Version 3.1 – ISKF adaptation

9. APPENDICES

• Attendance sheet

• Competitor's ballet tricks form (“free programme”)

• Tricks points table for editing