Marathon Rules

Starting rules vary based on the size of the stretch of water and type of event. In marathon events, the starting signal can be given to various classes at the same time; whereas for closed circuit events, many participants in the same class can start at different times. As a safety precaution in Québec, there have never been more than seven teams starting at one time, and there has not had a single accident in 15 years.

The boats line up at the 5 minutes mark when the blue flag is raised. When the yellow flag is raised at the three minutes mark, the skiers sit on the freeboard side of the boat. At the 30 second mark, when the green flag is raised, the skiers slide into the water and the driver taut the towline while the observer watches for tangles in long ropes. The skier must remain in the water until the green flag is lowered after the 30 seconds are up, otherwise he will receive a one-minute penalty. Starting position is chosen by draw.

It is forbidden to pass on the inside in closed circuit events. Passing is only allowed on the outside. A team cannot take the inside line unless the skier is 100 meters ahead of the other boat. An illegal pass warrants a 3-minute penalty and any dangerous or inside passes result in disqualification. No passing is allowed in turn.

The boats must remain 10 meters apart at the start. This distance is reduced to two meters on the course. However, in turns the outside boat must prevent its towline from touching the other boat. Therefore, the distance between the boats should be increased to ten meters in turns to ensure that the cable does not come in contact with another boat and to thus avoid a penalty.

Should the skier fall, the observer immediately raises the orange flag. The driver stops the boat and returns on its line to retrieve the skier. The driver in the boat behind raises an arm to signal the fall to all other drivers. The judge at the closest turn raises the yellow flag. Should the observer not raise the orange flag, the team will receive a one-minute penalty. The flag is lowered when the skier resumes the event. It is preferable to install a support mechanism in the boat to give more freedom of movement to the observer who remains seated throughout the event except to help out when the skier falls.

These are the main rules of speed marathons and closed circuit events. The Québec Water Ski Fédération has published a rulebook in co-operation with the Marathon commission, available in French. The International water ski federation, racing council rulebook is available in English.

Québec Water Ski Fédération

2003 International Water Ski Federation (IWSF) Racing Rule Book