The New Freestyle Direction

[WaveDemon]

I've been to a wakeboarding comp where the only rule between the upper level and lower was no inverts for the lower level. maybe that would work here too.

 

[Big Kahuna]

hey Paul, it was 98 when they killed the Mod Class..............

 

[sjetrider]

one thing i don't like is there is not a fluid feel to the routines now. It's all about big air and there is little to no style or variation in between the big air. Its backflip, ride around and put your hands in the air while doing your next setup wake. I like seeing combination of different types of tricks.

This is Crazy, I had this conversation the other day after vewing the WF vids.. I LOVE the big air tricks and the B/A boats and all. But what about the routines? I think that the big air and b/a tricks shouldnt just replace the routine they should be integrated into a routine. There are some out there doing this (Stoyer) and it makes the routine harder but more interesting. I am sure as competition gets tighter we will see more routine come back into play. Malone did not have a routine, but he had a few huge tricks with high degree of dificulty. He deserved to win because of this but some one will catch up and then routine will be a decision making factor again.

BTW I feel Big-K did so well (deservingly) @ NATS. because he did a routine and it flowed well w/ his AIR tricks. Just what everyone here is saying.

 

[Jr.]

hey Paul, it was 98 when they killed the Mod Class..............

Ok, so I'm forgetting a few things in my old age, :banghead:

But you get my point :biggthumpup:

 

[Rickster]

Malone did not have a routine, but he had a few huge tricks with high degree of dificulty.

:bs2:

The flag has to come up on this one. Don't kid yourself, Malone knew exactly what he was going to do before hand, although a true proffesional has done the routine so many times that he is able to change and modify it to match the conditions during the performance.

The Reality is you need to go big in Pro Freestlye now to compete at the world level. If you cannot compete with the $30K boats/riders, and can only do 'hood tricks' then it's time to get a new occupation.

I didn't hear Watanabe complain last year that he could not do a back flip.

my $.02

 

[sjetrider]

I am taking nothing from Malone, he has done alot for freestyle and he is frickin awesome at it and deserved his win hands down. I am mearly saying that there will be a time when others can do the same tricks and a routine will be a deciding factor once again. Its called progression, same thing as MX freestyle, double back flip today, no handed double back flip tomorrow, because 3 more are doing double back flips next year (all led by the Malone of MX Travis).

 

[FL-cracker]

just make it a completely different classes...



freestyle limited - cc limitations, hull mod limitations... no aftermarket hulls, top decks, pumps, or stokers. just re-inforcements and big bores.. lowered hoods, poles, and footholds are acceptable

freestyle unlimited/superstock - no motor limitations, no hull limitations, ride what ya got as hard as you can. Do whatever style of tricks you like...

if it was set up like this, people would feel more like they have a chance. There would be a place for smooth consistant type of riding that so many people like to see... Not just some superhuman w/ a $40,000 ski whoopin up on everyone. (not that there is anything wrong w/ that)

Guys like Harrison who respect the flow and multiple trick runs in the sport would not be left out of the game... Freestyle now has two levels anyway, might as well separate them, so others feel like there is a chance to win... In my eyes... people don't even think they could ever compete w/ malone, so they don't try.... I think they dio feel like they could ride like some freeriders and that's why you see freeride growing so much... to put it simply.... It's doable

this is just my stupid opinion and I don't compete (in flatwater), so take it w/ a grain of salt

:biggthumpup: I comletely agree with your Idea of classes! Forget AM and PRO. Just have 2 classes exactly how you stated. The Malones, Lenzi's, and Stones will all be in the unlimited class. And guys like you and me "98% of this board" who are BALLIN ON A BUDGET would still have a chance on are $3500 dollar boats. As people progress "or get rich" they can move into the other class. It is pointless to have a pro class with only 5 guys in it!:banghead: Does anyone here actualy care if someone sandbags???? Its not like there is big $ on the line......Its more for fun, and pushing the sport to the next level! If people can see that they can get in the sport on a limited budget, I think more would do so. I think you would see better turnouts to these events. Nutta Nigga's 2 cent

 

[WaveDemon]

What are the limitations on the amature class anyway? Can someone ride a 40k ski in ams and then ride the same ski in pro the same weekend?

 

[FL-cracker]

Malones runs almost annoy me. I hate how he throws his hand up after every trick. We all know hes the best, and its not like we didnt watch him throw the trick. Id like to see more flow in his run as well. Freestyle Skiing is fallowing the foot steps of freestyle MX. Last year at Dew Action Tour I think 80% of the tricks were a BF or variation of. Kinda gets old after a while. But yea, I still wish i was throwing them.

One thing I realy like about how Pastrana rides FMX is how between jumps he is railling berms, haulin arse to the next set. I would rather see some more fast pace style stuff, just mix it up a little like BK has been saying all along.

 

[Glory_Freestyle]

I think the easiest way to bring back the fluidity and a more rounded routine might be to add another minute or two (3 minutes would be best IMHO) to the run and start docking points for doing the same trick over and over. The extra time would allow the rider to use more "finess/fill-in" tricks between the Big tricks, and the :nono: on the same trick over and over, would push them to come up with even Bigger tricks. Look at Freestyle MX as an example, if someone goes out and does 6 backflips, even the announcers get on them for not varying their tricks, so then you have the Pastrana's and Adams' who go out and start doing Monster variations (Double BF, Superman BF, Cordova BF, etc.), but you still see a lot of the older, standard tricks used in between the Big ones.

I can't blame any of the top guys for not doing finess/fill-in tricks. When you have to make your own "jump" like we do, it's almost impossibe to put in a bunch of these tricks and still do all the big ones.

(.02 deposited from an old, retired Am Freestyler)

Oh and for anyone who thinks hood tricks and other old school tricks are too easy, sign up for a freestyle comp and go try doing 20-25 different ones in 2 minutes without f'ing any of them up. It's not easy at all.

 

[douglee25]

Malones runs almost annoy me. I hate how he throws his hand up after every trick. We all know hes the best, and its not like we didnt watch him throw the trick. Id like to see more flow in his run as well. Freestyle Skiing is fallowing the foot steps of freestyle MX. Last year at Dew Action Tour I think 80% of the tricks were a BF or variation of. Kinda gets old after a while. But yea, I still wish i was throwing them.

One thing I realy like about how Pastrana rides FMX is how between jumps he is railling berms, haulin arse to the next set. I would rather see some more fast pace style stuff, just mix it up a little like BK has been saying all along.

I think the whole 'throw the hand up' deal is sorta like gymnastics. It somewhat signifies that they are done completing that routine or 'trick' in this case. Others have also mentioned that it pumps the crowd up. I don't think he throws it up to say something like 'hey guys look at me, I'm the best'.

Doug

 

[yamaslut]

There are already too many classes. Adding more will hurt the sport further. It needs to stay Am & Pro. But there needs to be mandatory trick & a certain criteria for the judging.

We live in a go big , or go home world! But making a Super HP boat & rider do a certain trick criteria will help make a better rider , better yet!
Imagine Malone doing a Hood trick on his current boat? Then Imagine him doing a BR or BF on the hood!!!! See where I'm going with this? Every time one of these guys hit the water, they are taking it to the next level. This needs to continue.

The Boats need to follow suit. If you expect to play this game with them. You are expected to have the equipment to play. The CC limit should be the only limiting factor between Am & Pro!!! Injunity & invention is what pulls us foward. That progression should never stop!!!!!
In 95 when the IJSBA killed the mod class, they killed the aftermarket. The money left the sport & the sport died. The evolution needs to continue!!!!
Give the riders what they need to progress. The Money will return. There will be a rebirth............ It's time to let that happen!!!

ski ya, Paul

this is a great topic!!!

why is this??? I don't understand why...

 

[Glory_Freestyle]

only people who run their mouths here like that are the ones who don't.. and can't... and will never.. :cool2:

man up, or shut up.

WERD!!!!

 

[Glory_Freestyle]

this is a great topic!!!

why is this??? I don't understand why...

IMO, Simple Numbers. There aren't enough riders to field all the classes.

However, it could be argued that if there were another class, maybe more would show up.

 

[Waste Land]

BigKahuna was discussing this topic at Smith a few weeks ago and I wanted to discuss it here.

I really like the direction freestyle has gone. I like big air, big landings, and big power like the eme1000.

I really think the days of riding around on one's hood are over as it's the natural progression of every sport like this. At the X-Games, you don't see guys riding on the handlebars of their snowmobile or bike, you don't see the old school handstands on skateboards, you just see big air, big air, big air.

It's nice to be here when it happened.

The problem with skating and bmx refrence isthey have TONS of more variety. Diffrent things to do in the air, diffrent setup parks, ramp variety etc....

jetskis have flat water anda wake board boat....thats it....thats our enviroment....and when every singe person goes out and flat water backflips and rolls and thats it....BORING....

only people who run their mouths here like that are the ones who don't.. and can't... and will never.. :cool2:

man up, or shut up.

Word

 

[Marshj]

I think the whole 'throw the hand up' deal is sorta like gymnastics. It somewhat signifies that they are done completing that routine or 'trick' in this case. Others have also mentioned that it pumps the crowd up. I don't think he throws it up to say something like 'hey guys look at me, I'm the best'.

Doug

I really think malone throws his hands up after his big tricks because he is truely pumped. You can see it in his face after his triple back-to-backs.
He rides with this excitement and style all the time, not just when pumping for the WF's crowds.

And this is a great topic. I wish, honestly, I could have two days on an EME boat, or a lightweight/big motor combo. I know I could get some of these big power to weight tricks down with the right equipment. I personally, being an am rider, feel that my budget and ski are holding me back big time. So limiting the setups on am boats, will force variety and also limit tricks in a way.

 

[Glory_Freestyle]

Here's a thought.

Imagine Malone doing a BallBuster with the boat he has, he'd be in freaking orbit.

Same for a Flying Rhino, or even a Marriott. I'd love to see him throw his boat into a huge Marriott and try to catch it as it comes down. You want danger, try catching the nose of a ski dropping from 10ft.

 

[Rickster]

only people who run their mouths here like that are the ones who don't.. and can't... and will never.. :cool2:

man up, or shut up.

Some people just want to ride, and not compete....:biggthumpup:

Nobody is saying that hood tricks are easy and do not take lots of skill and practice, but if anyone here thinks Malone or any other of the pro riders can not do them in their sleep, then you are a :clown: .:biggrin:

I personally would not PAY to go see a professional compete that is not on the breaking edge of the sport, and in today's environment that means doing a backflip.:Banane01:

 

[yamaslut]

i agree with Jr on that one slut.

its like racing.. show up to a race that has too many classes and youll understand.. 12-14 stock, 12-14 stock with stickers and hood kit, 12-14 stock with stickers-hood kit and footholds, 12-14 footholds and bpipe, 12-14 MSD Open, 12-14 ... you get the point.. :smile:

IMO, Simple Numbers. There aren't enough riders to field all the classes.

However, it could be argued that if there were another class, maybe more would show up.

point taken....


that was my thinking

 

[Glory_Freestyle]

Some people just want to ride, and not compete....:biggthumpup:

Nobody is saying that hood tricks are easy and do not take lots of skill and practice, but if anyone here thinks Malone or any other of the pro riders can not do them in their sleep, then you are a :clown: .:biggrin:

I personally would not PAY to go see a professional compete that is not on the breaking edge of the sport, and in today's environment that means doing a backflip.:Banane01:

No one ever said that the current pros couldn't do them, who do you think invented most of them?

See my post above. And think about how HUGE these "traditional" tricks would be huge if Malone was doing them on his current boat: 50-50, Monkey Jump, Sprung Monkey,