Part 8
Freestyle: X-Style
8A Overview
8A.1 Definition
X-Style is an event for riders to show off their most difficult skills. Riders can show their own style with creativity and ingenuity. The competitors are judged solely on the skills that they complete. Performance and falls do not count like in other freestyle competitions.
In X-Style, starting groups of ten or fewer riders compete against each other, and the top three riders advance to the next round. Riders show off their best skills in an individual run that is between 1 and 2 minutes in length based on the round. Judges will be selected from other starting groups or from non-competing volunteers.
8A.2 Rider Summary
This section is intended as an overview of the rules, but does not substitute for the actual rules.
- No safety gear is needed.
- Any number or type of unicycle is allowed.
- Riders may be expected to judge other starting groups.
8B Competitor Rules
8B.1 Safety
No safety gear is needed.
8B.2 Unicycles
Any type and any number may be used.
8B.3 Rider Identification
No rider identification is required.
8B.4 Protests
Protests must be filed on an official form within two hours of the posting of event results. Every effort will be made for all protests to be handled within 30 minutes from the time they are received.
8B.5 Event Flow
8B.5.1 Definitions
Unicycle Skill: The main action of a movement is done on and with the unicycle.
Example 1: If you do a handstand, while the unicycle is laying on the floor, this is a non-unicycle trick, because the main action is the handstand.
Example 2: If you do a handstand on the unicycle, while it is upright with only the tire on touching the ground, this is a unicycle trick, because the main action is balancing the unicycle while doing the handstand.
8B.5.2 Music
A DJ plays music for each run. Riders can also hand in their own music.
Any performance music must be provided on CD, or only those other media types supported by the event host.
8B.5.3 Starting Groups
The group of competing riders is split randomly into starting groups of about the same size with a maximum 10 riders.
8B.5.4 Runs
Every competitor has a run in which the rider shows his/her skills. After the run the DJ waits until the current skill is finished and stops the music. Riders can ask the DJ to give a time-remaining notification during his/her run.
8B.5.5 Run Length
The length of a competitor’s run is determined by the round:
- Final Round: 2 minutes
- Semi-final round: 1 min 30 seconds
- Previous rounds: 1 minute
If there are fewer than three rounds, use only the run lengths that are relevant.
Example: If there is one round, it is considered the final round, and would be 2 minutes in length.
In smaller competitors, the director may alter the run lengths due to time constraints.
8B.5.6 Advancement
The best 3 riders of each group advance to the next round, forming a new pool of competitors. If there is a tie on one of the first 3 places which extends to more than the 3 riders, all involved riders advance. This pool again gets split into starting groups and the next round begins. The final round consists of only one starting group. In the final round the best 3 riders are awarded for the first, second and third place of the competition.
8B.5.6.1 Ties
If the competition doesn’t allow ties (e.g. Unicon), the tied placed riders of the final round will be given another run. The run will be one minute. The judges bring all tied riders in order. If there is still a tie between riders, the tie rules will be applied again, until all ties are resolved.
8C Judges and Officials Rules
8C.1 X-Style Director
The X-Style Director is the head organizer and administrator of X-Style events. With the Convention Host, the X-Style Director determines the system used to run the event. The X-Style Director is responsible for the logistics and equipment for all X-Style events. With the Chief Judge, the X-Style Director is in charge of keeping events running on schedule, and answers all questions not pertaining to rules and judging. The X-Style Director is the highest authority on everything to do with the X-Style competition, except for decisions on rules and results.
8C.2 Chief Judge
The Chief Judge is the head X-Style official, whose primary job is to make sure the rules are followed. The Chief Judge oversees the competition, deals with protests, and answers all rules and judging questions. The Chief Judge is responsible for seeing that all judges are trained and ready. The Chief Judge is also responsible for the accuracy of all judging point tabulations and calculations.
8C.2.1 Starting Groups
If there are obvious critical groups (e.g. all the best riders in one group), the chief judge is allowed to modify the groups.
8C.3 Judging Table
The Chief Judge composes the Judging Table for each starting group. All judges can be active competitors or non-competitors. Preferred are people with judging experience and competitors. It is also preferred that the Chief judge attempt to pair riders of different backgrounds (ex: Flatland, Street, Freestyle) to foster more accurate judging of skills. Non-Competitors can apply for being a judge by contacting the Chief Judge in advance. The Chief Judge sets the application deadline. It is recommended that every starting group is judged by two other starting groups. The judging table consists of at least 5 Judges.
Every routine is judged by the judging table. One judging table stays for one starting group. Judges can judge alone or in pairs. Judging in pairs is the preferred system. All judges must either judge alone or in pairs so that each judge’s vote has equal weight. (Pair judges are referred to as one judge below.) There must be an odd number of pair judges, or an odd number of judges if individuals are judging alone, on the judging table.
8C.4 Judging
The judge should rank the riders of the current starting group in order. They should do this by comparing the difficulty of the shown skills in each run. When comparing the difficulty of runs, judges should take into consideration the difficulty of each competitor’s run as a whole. The same skill when completed with higher quality (for example elegant, smooth, or clean) is considered more difficult. Assigning the same rank to multiple riders is not allowed.
Only executed skills are taken into account. An executed skill is defined as when the rider reaches the point of being in control.
Examples:
- The landing of a unispin is part of the skill. The rider can only reach the point of being in control after landing. If the rider is hopping four times after the unispin without control and then falls off the unicycle, the skill does not count.
- In coasting, the rider is in control after getting far enough. Getting back to pedals is a separate skill.
Negative aspects like dismounts are ignored. Every judge should use blank sheets of paper to take notes.
8C.5 Removing Scores
The highest and the lowest placing points per rider are discarded. All the remaining placing points get summed up for each rider. The 3 riders with the fewest points win and advance to the next round.
Additionally, the Chief Judge has the power to remove scores only if they are deemed to be biased, inaccurate, or another extreme case.
8D Event Organizer Rules
8D.1 Venue
X-Style should be held in a gym suitable for Freestyle riding.
8D.1.1 Size Of Performing Area
The minimum size of the performing area for an X-Style event at an international championship or Unicon is 28 x 15 meters.
The minimum size for all other X-Style events must be at least 12 x 9 meters. If the performing area is smaller than 28 x 15 meters, hosts must publicize the dimensions of the available performing area as far in advance of the competition as possible, but at least one month prior.
8D.2 Officials
The host must designate the following officials for X-Style:
- X-Style Director
- Chief Judge
8D.3 Communication
8D.3.1 Publishing Results
The published results contain the riders total ranking in order with their summed placing points and the anonomized results of the judges with their ranking for each rider.
The event director can choose the length of the runs, but it must be announced at least one month before the competition if it differs from the recommended format below. Runs must be between 1 and 2 minutes 30 seconds.
8D.4 Judges Workshop
The host must schedule a judges workshop for training X-Style judges. This may be held just before the competition if the riders will also be judges.
8D.5 Age Groups and Classes
- There will be no age group scoring. Scoring will only take place in the junior and senior classes in accordance with rule 1C.7, even if no titles are awarded.