IJSBA Releases Voting Results For 2023 Rule Changes

IJSBA is alerting the Personal Watercraft Racing Community to the long awaited and long overdue release of the rule changes for the 2023 Competition Season.  These rules should be taken as being effective immediately unless an organizer declares, in advance, that the organizer will adhere to 2022 rules until a certain date.  The following questions were posed to the IJSBA Board of Directors who answered with a response of “YES, NO, or ABSTAIN. “  These results are posted below.  Draft rules will begin appearing within 48 hours.

These rules are being posted very late.  There is no passing the buck for responsibility.  IJSBA has a managing director/president capacity and the author of this posting is that person.  I set an agenda that I thought had enough time and flexibility to get the rule changes out in a reasonable time to turn them around.  This miscalculation is my fault and so long as I am the person running the company, I will not deflect the responsibility when things do not go as planned.  With this said, the evolution of rules is already very problematic and was, more so, this year.  Some of you may not be responsible for the organization but you have a responsibility to the sport.  Delayed responses, important supporting data that never shows up, and last minute ambush tactics intended to derail directions of progress all cause a disintegration of what could otherwise be a prompt and orderly process.  For 2024, we will have a workshop at the 2023 World Finals and work towards the 2024 rules.  People who want to participate in that process will be welcomed.

 

If you have questions or comments about these rule changes, please email info@ijsba.com

 

2023 Rule Change Results:

 

1. Shall IJSBA allow the use of an aftermarket fuel tank in Sport GP and Sport Spec using the same standards as Ski GP?

Answer:  YES

2. Shall IJSBA Competition Memberships expire on December 31 of each year regardless of when purchased?

Answer:  NO

3. Shall IJSBA require all competitors under the age of 16 to exclusively ride Junior Classes and prohibit competitors under the age of 16 from any other classes?

Answer:  NO

4. Shall IJSBA reduce the minimum age for Veterans Ski to 30?

Answer: (NO) NO

5. Shall IJSBA increase the minimum age for Veterans Ski to 40 while allowing 35 in 2023 to continue?

Answer: YES

FOOTNOTE: Anyone who would have been eligible for Veterans Ski in 2023 or 2024 will remain eligible for Veterans Ski.

6. Shall IJSBA require the use of wetsuits at all times?

Answer: NO

 

7. Shall IJSBA require the use of eye protection at all times?

Answer: (YES, EXCEPTION FOR VINTAGE)  YES, Exception for Vintage

 

8. Shall IJSBA Require the use of gloves at all times:

Answer: (NO) NO

 

9. Shall IJSBA require a fluorescent coating on helmets?

Answer: (YES) Modified to IJSBA and organizers shall maintain a supply of refective tape or other material to require competitors to apply to their helmet if the race director determines that that competitor’s helmet is of a color that would be difficult to see if the competitor is a downed rider.

YES

 

10. Shall IJSBA increase required minimum floatation standards on live vests?

Answer: NO

 

11. Shall IJSBA increase required minimum protection ratings of helmets used by competitors?

Answer: NO

 

12. Shall IJSBA require additional “ballistic” protection for Endurance Racing?

Answer: YES.  To be developed in 2023 and mandatory in 2024.

 

13. Shall IJSBA require additional “ballistic” protection for Drag Racing?

Answer: YES.  To be developed in 2023 and mandatory in 2024.

 

 

14. Shall IJSBA allow modifications to the OEM SuperJet nozzle to allow for adjusting the angle in Ski Lites?

Answer: YES

 

15. Shall IJSBA allow nozzle boring for Kawasaki 800 watercraft in Ski Lites?

Answer: YES

 

16. Shall IJSBA remove the 760 Cylinder Allowance for Superjets in Ski Lites?

Answer: NO

 

17. Shall IJSBA allow dry type aftermarket exhaust pipes in Ski Lites?

Answer: NO

 

18. Shall IJSBA require the use of the OEM impeller in Ski Lites Classes?

Answer: NO

 

19. Shall IJSBA specifically prohibit backdating to 650 Superjet parts on a 701 based Superjet in Ski Lites?

Answer: NO

 

20. Shall IJSBA create a Ski Competition division with aftermarket hulls but Stock Class engine allowances for 1500cc engines?  Shall IJSBA evolve this class to be the dominant aftermarket hull based class for Ski division (Veterans, Masters, etc.) and streamline GP into one single experimental class?

 

Answer: YES

 

21. Shall IJSBA specifically restrict or prohibit appendages on the upper deck of Ski Watercraft whether in aftermarket or OEM form?

Answer: YES

 

22. Shall IJSBA allow spray deflectors above the bond line?

Answer:  YES

 

23. Shall IJSBA allow for spray deflectors to be rigid?

Answer: YES

 

24. Shall IJSBA implement a maximum weight for watercraft competing in GP Ski?

Answer: NO

 

25. Shall IJSBA allow unlimited sets of sponsons on Ski GP Watercraft?

Answer: NO

 

26. Shall IJSBA allow unrestricted hull designs in Ski GP classes?

Answer: NO

 

27. Shall IJSBA increase the Ski GP displacement allowance to 1600cc ?

Answer: NO

 

28. Shall IJSBA increase boost limits for categories where turbochargers are allowed?

Answer: NO

 

29. Shall IJSBA increase sponson allowance size for 1500cc SXR watercraft?  If so, to what size?

Answer: YES, 90 Inches.

 

30. Shall IJSBA limit RPM in Runabout Stock to 8700 RPM?

Answer: NO

 

31. Shall IJSBA allow a second set of sponsons for the Four Stroke 2021MY+ based Superjet?

Answer: YES

 

32. Shall IJSBA allow a fuel surge system to be installed for Runabout Superstock, Open, Modified, and GP Classes as well as in any Endurance category.

Answer: (NO) Revisit for 2024   NO

 

33. Shall IJSBA allow Sea-Doo  X4 type hulls to use aftermarket hulls in any category where these type of watercraft are eligible to compete?

Answer: NO

 

34. Shall IJSBA allow Sea-Doo  X4 type hulls to use aftermarket hoods in any category where these type of watercraft are eligible to compete?

Answer: YES

 

35. Shall IJSBA remove boost limits for categories where turbochargers are allowed?

Answer: NO

 

36. Shall IJSBA allow durability upgrades to Sea-Doo parts such as welding the supercharger shaft in Runabout Stock Class?

Answer: YES

37. Shall IJSBA allow aftermarket fuel pressure regulators in Runabout Stock Class for Sea-Doo products?

Answer: NO

 

38. Shall IJSBA specifically allow driveline couplers and dampeners in Runabout Stock Class?

Answer: YES

 

39. Shall IJSBA specifically allow for fuel test sensor mounts to remain on watercraft, during racing, so long as the sensor is removed?

Answer: YES

 

40. Shall IJSBA allow “free flow” exhaust kits or similar products in Runabout Stock Class?

Answer: NO

 

41. Shall IJSBA clarify Rule RAS.4.1  to make clear that the ribbon delete is allowed regardless of what claims the part manufacturer makes about the qualities of the product (in other words, if a product manufacturer claims performance gains on a product that is otherwise allowed in the rules but the claim of performance gain conflicts with the rules, should the part be prohibited)?

Answer: YES

 

42. Shall IJSBA allow larger aftermarket top decks in Sport GP categories?

Answer: NO

 

43. Shall IJSBA abandon a 900cc/1200cc division between Amateur Freestyle and Pro Freestyle by having a 1200cc displacement only?

Answer: YES, effective January 1, 2024

 

44. Shall IJSBA change Vintage X2 Rules to mirror Modified Rules?      

 

Answer: YES

 

45. Shall IJSBA allow aftermarket valve springs and retainers specifically in Runabout Stock with the provision that valves must remain OEM

Answer: NO