Freestyle competitions are a chance for riders to show off their artistic side. Set to music, competitors choreograph a routine complete with showmanship and a costume. Freestyle routines are done either individually, in pairs, in groups, or as a club. Also in the Freestyle category this year will be X-Style which uses a different judging system.
Photo by Karin Johnson
To allow riders to compete against others who are at a similar skill level, the individual and pairs competitions are split into three categories: novice, intermediate and expert. To determine proper category placement, riders can use the USA Skill Levels as a guide.
- novice (level 1-3)
- intermediate (level 4-6)
- expert (level 7+)
The freestyle competitions are judged equally on both technical skill and artistic presentation.
Required safety gear: none
Individual Freestyle
The time limits are as follows: novice (2 minutes), intermediate (3 minutes), expert (4 minutes).
Pairs Freestyle
The time limits are the same as for the individual freestyle competition.
Group Freestyle
This is a competition for groups of 3 or more riders not necessarily associated with a single club. A rider may perform in only one group routine. The time limit is 3 minutes.
Club Freestyle
Each USA-affiliated club can field one group of 3 or more riders for this competition. The time limit is 6 minutes.
X-Style
X-Style is a new event for riders to show off their best and favorite skills. Riders mix together freestyle and flatland skills with creativity and ingenuity. The riders are judge solely on the skills that they complete, presentation 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 three best riders advance to the next round. In prelims, riders are given a minute and a half to show off their best skills. In the final round, the top riders compete against each other with a two minute run. Judges will be selected from other starting groups or from non-competing volunteers. This is the first year that a North American title will be awarded for X-Style.