Freestyle judging in Nashville

[djkorn1]

(A standardized way of judging is always a good thing and if part of it is how many different tricks you can do, that will make it even better.)

THAT BEING SAID...I think the flatwater thing is cool, to have along with the races, but I think the true future of Freestyle is gonna be surf events and competitions.

 

[Shonuff]

I declared Macc the winner early on.

Of course, my knowledge and subsequent appreciation of freestyle is severely limited.

 

[Cody25911]

I would have liked to seen Josh's run if he would of had a Trim cable. I would like to see a show down bettwen Ratti, Stoyer (with a 1000cc under the hood) and Lustic with a trim cable, not working the last two months and got to practice more than not at all. All of these guys are on a diffrent playing fields with there equipment also. In reality these guys are having a good time out there. You fourm guys are complaining about formats and contest more then they are.

 

[Big Kahuna]

I would have liked to seen Josh's run if he would of had a Trim cable. I would like to see a show down bettwen Ratti, Stoyer (with a 1000cc under the hood) and Lustic with a trim cable, not working the last two months and got to practice more than not at all. All of these guys are on a diffrent playing fields with there equipment also. In reality these guys are having a good time out there. You fourm guys are complaining about formats and contest more then they are.

you do realize that about 8 of the 12 people here posting were actually there dont you??? 4 of those 8 competed in AM Freestyle, another of those 8 won AM Freestyle 2 years ago. So, these so called "Forum Guys" are not actually speaking out of there asses. They are speaking from direct experience.

So, I will piss some people off. Having been a judge at 2 of 3 nationals that I have been at. Here is how they would have scored.

1. Stoyer
2. A tie between Lustic and Parr
4. Ratti

This is based on the competitors going out and throwing a wide variety of tricks. Not basically just 2 tricks.

I was very critical of malones 05/06 WF routines. Rolls and flips over and over again. It was intense and boring at the same time.

The only thing I will say Ratti's run that could set him apart from the rest is he did not fall, hit bottom or bobble. But there was nothing spectacular about 3 rolls and 1 back flip. Oh, a power 360 that was just, well, out of place and not smooth.

Oh, to show you how critical I can be. I have not seen my own routine from Saturday, but I do not feel that it was a good run, I thought Jawbreaker had a better run with more variety. But, The judges say otherwise. with that, Congrats Ratti.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Oh, the runoff with Lustic and Stoyer was total BS, it should have been a 1 minute runoff, not a sickest trick. But hey, I dont make the rules.

 

[typhoontommy]

Judging is always an issue. I made a judging form that would be easy to follow, but nobody would ever use it and that is why I went to doing our freestyle events, which we could do competitions as part of. We had two super successful events on Labor Day weekend with all expenses paid!! Cash purse, big crowds, media, big acts, etc.

I also watched all the Videos and based on where freestyle is going and I think mistakes should be given automatic deductions. So based on that I think Ratti was the winner. Ratti did ride around alot, but so did everyone else, but he was clean - no mistakes, the others had minor mistakes. The one thing video doesn't tell is energy at the event -- Ratti looked good in the white too..

 

[Kaveman]

We need to either change the name of the competition to "Backflip/Barrell Roll-off" or revamp the whole damn thing. For three years now that's what it has been. Yes these tricks are impressive and difficult, but start docking points for repition. Okay, so as the world or national champion you must master these two tricks (as well you should), but shouldn't the best freestyle rider in the world be a bit more versatile?

Change the runs to 5 minutes (this years nats only had 4 riders, what's another 12 minutes of time on the water going to take away from?), develop a standard for the staple manuevers (bulldog all the way up to the latest and greatest) and allow judges the freedom to award a point value of their discretion to any NEW trick, have riders earn bonus points for combining tricks with more possible points for a longer string of tricks. Only have qualified judges, ie..pro and amatuer freestylers, current and past, as well as other seasoned veterans, such as Mac and so on. Also Gil's idea of heats is a great one. Use an X-games type of format.

 

[Kaveman]

I would have liked to seen Josh's run if he would of had a Trim cable. I would like to see a show down bettwen Ratti, Stoyer (with a 1000cc under the hood) and Lustic with a trim cable, not working the last two months and got to practice more than not at all. All of these guys are on a diffrent playing fields with there equipment also. In reality these guys are having a good time out there. You fourm guys are complaining about formats and contest more then they are.

Not really sure where you are coming from!? I am coming from the water in direct line of the judging, having won events I shouldn't have even podium'd(sp?) in and playing second fiddle to inferior runs.

The judging and selection of judges has ALWAYS been questionable at best, with a few exceptions.

 

[boggs]

i watched the video and i have to say that a lot of the tricks reminded me of that amature video slymo made back in 2000. parr's run with the exception of his flair or what ever you want to call it looked on par with his am runs. i read he wasn't on his ski so i understand that made it difficult. this is pro freestyle so i don't want to see stuff that i saw on the larry rippenkroeger video. I have video of parr going bigger from when i went to the riot ride in 05 so i know he has the skill. I just don't think hood riding makes up for not landing clean rolls in PRO. if stoyer had landed his first trick it would have been much closer. he had great energy, but i have to ask you guys what happened to the fluidity of the pre flip days. i've seen you guy do runs with combos. roll to big throw. i'd much rather see a big throw than hood riding. how about an around the world. stoyer's big flat 180 is a perfect set up for an around the world. as far as lustic i was really disappointed in his routine, i remember watching videos of his runs on his old 750 that looked better, seems like with better equipment floating around these days he could do better. ratti looked clean. i agree he could have done a few more tricks but it was a clean run. he has worked hard to get where he is and really deserves some credit. Congrats Bro! i think all of you pros HAVE to step it up if you want to do well in havasu.

 

[djkorn1]

1. Stoyer
2. A tie between Lustic and Parr
4. Ratti

This is based on the competitors going out and throwing a wide variety of tricks. Not basically just 2 tricks.

I respectfully disagree with ya Kahuna...Everyone was very sloppy...except Ratti. I mean, you gotta at least ride out of the tricks for them to count right? I think if Stoyer, Josh and Parrdaddy were as clean as Ratti, they would have beaten him hands down, due to variety, but they all flubbed a couple tricks.

Basically.... Ratti had HUGE ROLLS. Ratti had the only backy. Ratti rode 10x cleaner. I think that trumps the variety, this time. :naughty:

Tomorrow, any of those guys could win. It's just who rode better on THAT day. Please understand this is no slight to any of these guys. They all rip.

 

[jetskiking]

I have been out a while and was not at the nats this year. I do have to say I watched the video and those were some of the most boring runs I have seen. I personally would rather watch videos from three years ago. Remember when Malone used to do everything from hood tricks to big air and made it look flawless. It does seam to be alot of riding around now chasing setup wakes.

Not taking away from the difficulty of the big air tricks but very few of the competitors seamed to have any fill in.

 

[Kaveman]

They have all had MUCH better showings...perhaps it should have been a 4-way tie for 2nd.

 

[PancakePete]

Congrats to Competitors, You take your time and money and go compete !
Great Job, Great Runs, and I think the judges did Great.

Long time ago I was told, one well executed trick is better than 2 floops.

I am just happy to see more guys in Pro. Did not see the Am. Vid ?

How did those guys do?

Wish I was there. Cant spend That money to ride for 2 mins...
Its insane. I could ride all day for weeks for what it would be to travel.
Sorry, Thank you for who ever did the Video ! Good Show ! :bananapowerslide:

 

[SuperJETT]

Congrats to Competitors, You take your time and money and go compete !
Great Job, Great Runs, and I think the judges did Great.

Long time ago I was told, one well executed trick is better than 2 floops.

I am just happy to see more guys in Pro. Did not see the Am. Vid ?

How did those guys do?

Wish I was there. Cant spend That money to ride for 2 mins...
Its insane. I could ride all day for weeks for what it would be to travel.
Sorry, Thank you for who ever did the Video ! Good Show ! :bananapowerslide:

I did the video, but was only there on Sunday for pro so didn't get the amateur guys. I know they were filmed as well, but not sure if it'll get online.

 

[PancakePete]

I did the video, but was only there on Sunday for pro so didn't get the amateur guys. I know they were filmed as well, but not sure if it'll get online.

Werd ! Good shootin.

I am suprised I did not get any, "Pete you really are medicated" from the post above. ! !!! :biggrin:

 

[Big Kahuna]

I respectfully disagree with ya Kahuna...Everyone was very sloppy...except Ratti. I mean, you gotta at least ride out of the tricks for them to count right? I think if Stoyer, Josh and Parrdaddy were as clean as Ratti, they would have beaten him hands down, due to variety, but they all flubbed a couple tricks.

Basically.... Ratti had HUGE ROLLS. Ratti had the only backy. Ratti rode 10x cleaner. I think that trumps the variety, this time. :naughty:

Tomorrow, any of those guys could win. It's just who rode better on THAT day. Please understand this is no slight to any of these guys. They all rip.

DJ, scroll up and look at 2nd to last paragraph. I also stated that Ratti was the only one to have a basically mistake free run. That is why most likely he did get the win. My only gripe with his run is he had no variety. Stoyer and Lustic both bobbled several times. As far as my ranking, I look at it from a show stand point, I openly do not like just seeing Rolls and Flips over and over. I like variety.

 

[waterfreak]

Congrats to Ratti!:Banane09: Is routine was flawless with the biggest and cleanest tricks out of all 4 riders. Personally, I think hood tricks are for amateurs . Big air and difficult tricks are what the pros have to focus on. IMO. Lustic looked better when he was on his kawi 750 back in early 2000. I was expecting a huge backflip out of him. Also IMO, I don't think any of these pro riders have a chance for the top 5 (except Ratti) without a clean backflip at WF. they will have to go up agains Malone, Lenzi, wannabe (sp) and Rok if they want to podium. I don't think any of these guys will be doing hood tricks anytime soon. Yes , we are spoiled and want big air just like freestyle motocross. When I saw Malone's flair into a backflip, I got chills...that's what and every spectator want to see and feel when watching the pros.

 

[IKSTEJ]

Congrats to Ratti!:Banane09: Is routine was flawless with the biggest and cleanest tricks out of all 4 riders. Personally, I think hood tricks are for amateurs . Big air and difficult tricks are what the pros have to focus on. IMO. Lustic looked better when he was on his kawi 750 back in early 2000. I was expecting a huge backflip out of him. Also IMO, I don't think any of these pro riders have a chance for the top 5 (except Ratti) without a clean backflip at WF. they will have to go up agains Malone, Lenzi, wannabe (sp) and Rok if they want to podium. I don't think any of these guys will be doing hood tricks anytime soon. Yes , we are spoiled and want big air just like freestyle motocross. When I saw Malone's flair into a backflip, I got chills...that's what and every spectator want to see and feel when watching the pros.

Well put :biggrin:

 

[Big Kahuna]

Congrats to Ratti!:Banane09: Is routine was flawless with the biggest and cleanest tricks out of all 4 riders. Personally, I think hood tricks are for amateurs . Big air and difficult tricks are what the pros have to focus on. IMO. Lustic looked better when he was on his kawi 750 back in early 2000. I was expecting a huge backflip out of him. Also IMO, I don't think any of these pro riders have a chance for the top 5 (except Ratti) without a clean backflip at WF. they will have to go up agains Malone, Lenzi, wannabe (sp) and Rok if they want to podium. I don't think any of these guys will be doing hood tricks anytime soon. Yes , we are spoiled and want big air just like freestyle motocross. When I saw Malone's flair into a backflip, I got chills...that's what and every spectator want to see and feel when watching the pros.

Yo Steve, you can have variety without hood tricks. You got the Ghost Rider, Big Throw Combo's. Flairs, Underrolls, Some of these tricks can be used to get setup for another "Big Air" trick.

 

[DAG]

simple solution, need mor big air tricks.