On December 5, IJSBA announced the opening of the annual rule-change suggestion period, allowing racers and other interested individuals the opportunity, in a very specified format, to suggest changes to IJSBA rules and regulations. The suggestion period was set to expire on Dec. 20.
IJSBA Executive Director Scott Frazier, in the post, explained that, according to the standard procedures for the annual suggestion/review/action period, the suggestions would be compiled and a list of recommendations would be made available to the public for peer review on Dec. 23, and after Christmas, those recommendations would be submitted to the IJSBA Board of Directors with a request for approval or rejection by New Year’s event. He said that, by Jan. 4, the Board’s results would be made public, and by Jan. 11, a draft of pending rule changes would be submitted for peer review, with finalized publication of the rules made by Jan. 18.
On Dec. 26, Frazier posted to the IJSBA website, stating that, in response to “incidents at the 2023 Kings Cup and final round of the 2023 IJSBA WGP-1 World Series,” there would be an extension of the rule suggestion period, and a drafting of a global code of conduct. He mentioned, also, that there were currently disciplinary actions pending regarding the Thailand incident.
Regarding the rule suggestion period, Frazier stated, “The rule suggestion period is closed and the synopsis of suggestions made will be posted within 24 hours. However, IJSBA has received considerable input, the last several days, regarding updating and clarifying sponson language in response to rulings made at the 2023 Kings Cup. Therefore, IJSBA will continue to receive any rule change suggestions relating to sponsons until January 2 at 3:00 PM.”
Regarding a Global Code of Conduct, he stated that the IJSBA is drafting a global Code of Conduct to apply to all races, and said the global code would be based on the IJSBA World Finals Code of Conduct, which has been in place since 2005. He stated “Expected conduct and good sportsmanship do not have to be spelled out for most of us to know when we have stepped outside of the space where we should be. This updated code of conduct will more likely spell out when the line is crossed for administrative response as well as which responses should be expected by the public.”
In a statement about pending disciplinary actions regarding the Thailand event(s), he stated “IJSBA has received an extensive volume of comments and request for administrative action regarding conduct that took place during the Kings Cup event in December. Reported conduct was exclusive to a single block of incidents which we will address in a separate posting. Please be aware we have received sufficient comment to prepare a response. The IJSBA response will be consistent with the responses we have made in the past to similar incidents. This draft will be submitted to the WGP-1 World Series organizers for joint finalization.”
On Dec. 27, as IJSBA released the compiled list of suggestions submitted for changes to the 2024 IJSBA Competition Rule Book. The full list of suggestions can be read here.
Following the release of the suggestions, Frazier made a follow-up post on the IJSBA website yesterday, Dec. 28, regarding the rulings at the 2023 Kings Cup regarding sponsons.
He notes that “IJSBA’s Rule Book Glossary defines sponsons as follows: “Sponson: A special surface which may be attached to the hull sides or transom for stability. Ski Division Only: Sponsons may be attached to the hull sides, transom or inside the bond flange portion of the hull.”
Following a lengthy discussion of sponson-related rules, and the Thailand rulings, Frazier concludes by saying,
“This language can be interpreted that the portion of the sponson to be evaluated is only the surface area which intersects with the water. Historically, it cannot be disputed that sponsons with recessed areas above the bond flange have been allowed for competition. Further, some sponsons have indentations to receive bolts and screws; these indentations make 6mm sponsons less than 6mm in the sections where the screwheads and boltheads are intended to rest. Thus, IJSBA is left with a conflicting set of interpretations from officials at various events. IJSBA must resolve this conflict.The IJSBA Managing Director will recommend to the IJSBA Board of Directors that sponson language, in all classes, will be changed to allow for indentations of less than 6mm where screwheads and boltheads are placed for seating. A recommendation will also be issued that allows for the portion of bond line affixed sponsons to be recessed above the bond line. IJSBA wants to make it perfectly clear that this recommendation is based upon reconciling rulings based on a lot of currently existing sponsons and is not, in any way, a reflection upon any decision made by any official.”
Frazier invited anyone with questions regarding statements made in the release to email [email protected].
