General Rules

When competing we need a set of rules and guidelines. Here you find the general rules for the Nordic Kite Challenge.

1.0 General
The Nordic Kite Challenge competition format is developed for individual pilots.

1.1 Staff
One Field Director (required)
The Field Director is the link between the pilot and the judge/s. He will inform the pilot when the judge/s are ready, when to begin, remaining time, which trick to fly etc. He will inform the judge/s when the pilot is ready and when he/she will do the tricks.

1.1.1 At least one judge (required)
The judge/s judge and score the pilots performance in accordance to the rules. When the competition is over the judge/s also are responsible for calculateing the score and display the results.

1.1.2 Ground Crew (optional)
If requested, each pilot can have a ground crew (normally one person) that will help the pilot getting the kite (back) into flying after a crash (and breakage) or any other mishap. The pilot can place their ground crew wherever they want on the field.

1.2 Administration
Latest time for signing up for the competition will be determined by the organiser.
The entry fee will be determined by the organiser. The entry fee might vary from competition to competition.

1.3 Equipment
When competing in The Nordic Kite Challenge you are allowed to fly with any dual lined sportkite matching the criteria below:

* Wingspan: min.: 120cm - max.: 350cm
* Flying lines: min.: 20m - max.: 40m

You are allowed to change both your kite and lines between the MiniRoutine and the TrickSection.

1.4 Breakage
Should a pilot's equipment (kite or lines) suffer from breakage during the performance, the pilot (and his/her ground crew) dispose 1 minute to either fix the breakage or replace the kite with one of the same make/model.

1.5 Wind speed limit
Minimum wind range: 1 m/sec (3,6km/h or 2,2mp/h)
Maximum wind range: 8 m/sec (29km/h or 18mph)


The conditions should be discussed at the briefing. If all competitors agree, the competition can be accomplished even if the wind exceeds the minimum or the maximum wind range. The wind should be monitored regularly during the competition.

1.7 Extreme weather conditions
If extreme weather conditions, that might compromise the safety for the pilots, staff or spectators should occur, the competition will be postponed until the conditions improve, or cancelled if conditions remain extreme.

2.0 The Field
2.1 Size
The field is a square (or rectangular) measuring minimum 2 x the maximum allowed flying length (40 m). In other words, the field should measure at least 80 x 80 meters. (Approx. 260x260 feet).

2.2 Marking
The field edges should be marked with small flags or pennants. A larger flag (or pennant) is marking the centre of the field's furthest end. The four corners should also be marked with a larger flag.
The center of the field should also be marked as a reference for the pilot.

3.0 Briefing
3.1 Pre Comp Briefing
Before a competition can start there will be a pilots and judge briefing. The briefing should take place approximately 30 minutes before the competition starts. At this briefing the following topics should be discussed:
* Short Recap of the General Rules
* Announce the mandatory trick (in the TrickSection)
* Pilots informs the organizing committee about their three selected tricks
* Clarify DQ situations
* Explain the field
* Safety concerns
* Weather conditions
* Recap of the Miniroutine
* Display the Starting Order
* Questions and Answers

It is of vital importance that all attendees - pilots, judges and crew - fully understand each of these topics.

3.2 De-Briefing
As soon as possible after a competition ends there should be a de-briefing. At this de-briefing the following topics should be emphasised:

Publication of the results
Comments to the competition
Complaints (if any)
Questions and answers

4.0 Starting order
The starting order is selecte py pulling ''names out of the hat''. The starting order will be displayed at the pre competition briefing.

5.0 Time rules and -limits
5.1 MiniRoutine Start
Before you can start your MiniRoutine, you must wait for the Field Director to give you the ready signal. This means the judge/s are ready. You must now start your MiniRoutine within one minute.

5.2 MiniRoutine Time Limit
There is no time limit for the MiniRoutine, however you should start the MiniRoutine within one minute after the judges are ready. (The Field Director will indicate this.)

5.3 TrickSection Start
Before you can start your TrickSection, you must wait for the Field Director to give you the ready signal. This means the judge/s are ready. You must now start your TrickSection within one minute.

5.4 TrickSection Time Limit
The TrickSection must be accomplished within four minutes after the Field Director tells you to start (when the judge/s are ready).

5.5 Sequence of competition
First all competitors fly the Miniroutine. Then all competitors fly the TrickSection. If extreme conditions should occure, this sequence can be altered if agreed upon at the briefing.

6.0 Flyer's In- and Out signals
6.1 IN signal - MiniRoutine
When the timekeeper has given the ready signal, you must start flying your MiniRoutine within 1 minute.

You "announce" your start by calling IN! Make sure to shout out loud. The judge/s (and the Field Director) will be behind/upwind from you and they might have a hard time hearing your call if you don't' shout LOUD!

Your 'IN' is a signal to the judge/s to start judging! If you fail to call IN, the judge/s cannot judge your performance, because you've not given the indication when to start.

6.2 OUT signal - MiniRoutine
When you have completed your Miniroutine, you call the OUT-signal by shouting OUT loud! This is your signal to the judge/s that you have completed The Miniroutine and they can stop their judging. You must now leave the field to make way for the next competitor.

6.3 IN signal - TrickSection
You tell the Field Director that you are ready to do a trick. (He should be right behind/beside you.) If required he will also help you by telling you which trick you are to fly. The Field Director raises his hand to indicate to the judges that you are about to perform the trick. His hand will be raised until you have completed the attempt.

For the next trick attempt you once again tell the Field Director that you're ready, and the above procedure is repeated.

6.4 OUT signal - TrickSection
When you are done with all your attempts you tell the Field Director and he waves his arm to indicate for the judge/d that you're done. You must now leave the field to make way for the next competitor.

7.0 Scoring
7.1 MiniRoutine
The MiniRoutine is divided into six parts and each part will be scored separately. For each part the following elements shall be scored...:
Overall impression
Proportions
Speed Control
(Number of) Crashes
Key elements

...using the following score range:
0 – Missed/Unrecognizable
1 - Poor performance
2 – Fair performance
3 – Average performance
4 – Good performance
5 – Excellent performance


7.2 TrickSection
The TrickSection consists of flying four different tricks selected from the tricks pool. Each trick can be performed three times whithin the time limit of 4 minutes. Judges score each trick performance using the following score range:
0 - Skipped trick/unrecognizable
1 – Poor performance
2 - Fair performance
3 - Average performance
4 - Good performance
5 - Excellent performance


7.2.2 TrickSection Score Calculation
After the judges have set their scores, the scores are due for the 'score calculation'; calculate the final score. There are two factors will imply on the final score:
Level of difficulty
Number of attempts


7.2.2.1 Level of difficulty
There are five groups of tricks with increasing difficulty, thus a difficult trick will have a higher max score than an easy one. The score is multiplied with it's according factor of difficulty.

7.2.2.2 Number of attempts
The competitor can do the same trick three times. For the first attempt the score is multiplied with a factor of 1,0, the second attempt the score is multiplied with a factor of 0,8. For the third attempt, the factor is 0,6.

8.0 Disqualification
There are two causes for disqualification; repeatedly neglecting safety precautions such as:
- Flying over spectators and/or fellow competitors
- Flying equipment not suitable for the wind- and weather conditions
- Other flying/behaviour that compromises safety


...or not showing up on the field.

In other words, use common sense and watch the time every now and then and you won't be DQ'ed.

The Field Director and judge/s are responsible for disqualifying.