Amature freestyle switching to 1200

Location
minnesota
As some of you are aware I'm sure, it looks like amature freestyle is planning on bumping up the cc limit in amateur to 1200cc. As some one with skin in the game who just started competing this year, I strongly disagree with this move. The more I stew on it the more it pisses me off for several reasons. What do you guys think? I respect the opinions of most the folks on here vs 95 percent of the face book hooligans. But I did notice quite a few freestyle guys comment on the Facebook post that they also think it's a bad idea. What's your take on the situation? Thanks
 
I wonder what kind of tricks there will be this coming year? You think a backflip? Or a 360? Maybe 2 back flips? Maybe 2 360s?

Maybe another 12 yr old will win after riding for 2 years?

Why does it really matter? Didn't one of the main builders get caught cheating? And no one even cared? Like that doesn't happen all the time? When was the last time you heard of someone mention anything to do with jet skis, that didn't have a jet ski in the garage?

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Location
minnesota
I wonder what kind of tricks there will be this coming year? You think a backflip? Or a 360? Maybe 2 back flips? Maybe 2 360s?

Maybe another 12 yr old will win after riding for 2 years?

Why does it really matter? Didn't one of the main builders get caught cheating? And no one even cared? Like that doesn't happen all the time? When was the last time you heard of someone mention anything to do with jet skis, that didn't have a jet ski in the garage?

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Sorry a 12 year old on a jetski offends you. Not sure if he actually cheated or if they skipped tech to protest how they felt about where they placed. Either way it was bs and poor sportsmanship. The technical difficulties of the tricks the top 8 in amature have been pulling off the last 2 years has gone up substantially. 50/50 flex flips, super flips 540s ect. But i doubt you cared to notice any of that.
 

Christian_83

Xscream
Location
Denmark
Like i wrote on the FB thrust page, i think its the wrong direction. Will scare alot of the young and new people with low budget away.
If anything, there should be a Sub 850 or sub 800 class with AM hull. This could push real talent.
Enough talk about kids and weight advantage.
Yeah the 12 year old might have -30 kg on the 40 year old - the the 40 year old hopefully has more years riding.
Also kids will progress (luckily) WAAAAY faster than us older guys. is this also unfair?
I mena stop trying to accomodate the people with really deep poclets who can start on a pro built 40K ski.

Wayyyy cooler to see real talent evolve like Jace Forrest, when he slept in his van to afford gas, riding the crap out of a BOB G2 (or G3)

Also the argument about MSD TL gone is a setback or could give an advantage. please stop. some people have been riding with ATP TL like @AdzUK with NO power missing.
All seems to me, like someone is trying to please the rich and keep the (real new commers) even more away, than they are now.
Sad day for freestyle if you ask me - but hey thats just me
 
Sounds like what happened in competitive standup racing. Rule makers allowed 951’s and 1200 triples in ski for those that couldn’t or didn’t want the Hydrospace.

That was the end of years of great consistency and somewhat affordable racing. Today we have lites and hopefully it stays
 

Jr.

Standing Tall
Staff member
Site Supporter
Location
Hot-Lanta
I myself am against the change to 1200 for Am. Its a Bad Move! Amateur is by all intent, the stepping stone into the Pro Ranks. Wether it be racing or freestyle. A rider needs to understand and have the ability to control the boat.
Freestyle is about ultimate control, of doing something somewhat out of control. Too much power, and the rider is merely along for the ride. In my opinion, this will degrees the sport, and hurt the natural progression.
As a motor builder, Im told this rule will benefit me! BS! To me, its not about just building a $12k motor!
i want to see riders actually succeed, and progress. Too much power hurts that! I enjoy watching the 12 year olds compete in Am Freestyle. I feel secure, that we will have a future sport ahead of us! We all need to start someplace!
I feel a Pro Card needs to be earned Also!

on another front, some of you might have seel the announcemet this morning about Ryan Kulka, of Brave the Wave, joining forces with Great Lake Watercross to have a Freestyle Triple Crown! What Ryan is doing is Fantastic for the sport! I have already pledged my support to them and the Triple crown format. Any riders that might be reading this, I hope you choose the Support the events and compete also! Even if your not into competing, Please come to the event to Support those that do!

Ski ya, Paul
 
Location
dfw
None of the organizations have ever cared about the participant. They are owned by the industry and make rules to funnel money into their hands. Everything is a custom part now, it cost no more to make it a little bigger or smaller. There is no reason to limit the machines in any way other than to protect the current MFGs. As a spectator I have noticed that small engines also need a small rider, big guys struggle more on these. The same could be said for racing 30 years ago. Maybe the organization wants to make it so the guy funding the ski can compete and not just his kid. Most likely they want to just squeeze a little more money out of him on his first boat. Not enough people are sticking with it long enough to buy a second and third machine.
 
Last edited:
Novice Amateur Pro
550-900 700-900 900-1200+

The sport has changed and is constantly evolving, stepping up from amateur to pro was only when u won 1st place, somewhat earned that position.

Now anyone can buy into a class or cc's if you got the $$'s and the freedom ( no responsibilities like jobs, family's , kids etc ....)

As for the age thing, we always, always remember that this way was paved .....
>>> who did all the endless hours /days/ months/ years of R&D and creating a platform for everyone who follows .

My respect goes to the people that paved the way , put in the hours, worked their way up , even if they get beat at WF by kids....
these people in my opinion they will always be number 1 to me regardless .

We will see kids on E-skis fly all over the place soon .... just a matter of time .

And for having Amateur ride 1200 no thx ....u gotta bring some game to the game not just your wallet.


The Handler
 
Location
Wisconsin
I think its a bad move, but can someone put it into perspective what the cost of a 900 comp ready boat is vs a 1200 comp ready? Seems like the only differences would be pump spec and short block cost.
 

Christian_83

Xscream
Location
Denmark
I think its a bad move, but can someone put it into perspective what the cost of a 900 comp ready boat is vs a 1200 comp ready? Seems like the only differences would be pump spec and short block cost.
Well its not jsut the direct cost - but also the signal.

The reason this sport is strugling (if you ask me) is becasue its soooo expensive, and with some people having really deep pockets its easy to scare away the people with a garage slapped setup.

It would be way more cool to have a AM class or novice class with SUB 850cc engine or OEM cylinder max 800cc and then AM and AM exhaust to force cost down and get people to be creative and build their own setup and forcing them to learn how to setup up and ride the damn thing.
Rather than buying all the most expensive pro setup.

If you ask me, a really talented AM rider with not be super limited on highend 900cc.

And again for the rider weight (kids vs adults) i dont think its relavent, some people are small, look at Derrick jr. not the heavy dude, should he have a penalty for being to light?
 
Location
Stockton
If they do away with the 900cc limit, a manufacturer might benefit ( sell everyone a new engine ) or ( all the engines I make are now comp legal ) ( don’t have to make a 900 for just a small group of riders, or on the other hand, The amateur rider can run what he can afford and all our engine we all already have are now comp legal. Does that mean prices are going up in the used engine market ?
 
Seems silly to have any discussion about the reason the sport is struggling or growing the sport when there is zero promotion.

As far as I can see, if the IJSBA was trying to deny that freestyle ever happened and hide the evidence they're doing a pretty good job.

I see no results posted, no pictures or videos of any kind. If you wanted to prove that you won the freestyle event last year how would you do it?

Who did win?
 

Jcary85

Site Supporter
Location
Glenmoore pa
Seems silly to have any discussion about the reason the sport is struggling or growing the sport when there is zero promotion.

As far as I can see, if the IJSBA was trying to deny that freestyle ever happened and hide the evidence they're doing a pretty good job.

I see no results posted, no pictures or videos of any kind. If you wanted to prove that you won the freestyle event last year how would you do it?

Who did win?
THIS! We can debate how rules should be changed all we want but none of it matters really. What needs to change is the way the sport/hobby is (well, isn’t) promoted. We have a chicken and egg problem. Stuff is so expensive most people can’t do it. Prices won’t go down until there’s more people doing it. I think someone needs to start a new org for freestyle only or something. This stuff is so crazy to watch. It really should be in the X games.
 

Christian_83

Xscream
Location
Denmark
THIS! We can debate how rules should be changed all we want but none of it matters really. What needs to change is the way the sport/hobby is (well, isn’t) promoted. We have a chicken and egg problem. Stuff is so expensive most people can’t do it. Prices won’t go down until there’s more people doing it. I think someone needs to start a new org for freestyle only or something. This stuff is so crazy to watch. It really should be in the X games.
Yes i somehow agree about Exposure and promotion, and IJSBA is somehow indiffrent about freestyle. I but i think it deffo would help to get some more PR (but we have SOMO to promote and expose our sport, which didnt have in 1990's)
But i really think we need to be able to get riders in, with a ski at a pricetag below 15K i know this is difficult. But not impossible.
 

Jcary85

Site Supporter
Location
Glenmoore pa
Yes i somehow agree about Exposure and promotion, and IJSBA is somehow indiffrent about freestyle. I but i think it deffo would help to get some more PR (but we have SOMO to promote and expose our sport, which didnt have in 1990's)
But i really think we need to be able to get riders in, with a ski at a pricetag below 15K i know this is difficult. But not impossible.
It’s totally possible at 15k. Not gonna happen until there’s a big enough customer base or a company takes a big risk assuming there will be a customer base if they release a ski at that price. Again though, I think there’s a lot of people out there that don’t even know freestyle jet skiing exists. Sorry to thread jack BTW.
 
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