The official wave kitesurfing champions will be crowned at the end of the year, according to the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) world rankings.

Wave kitesurfing is the black sheep of kiteboarding. The exciting division has never matured into a proper class of its own, with full support from the industry.

Therefore, the International Kiteboarding Association has decided to change the rules. The world ranking will aggregate events by Kite Surf Pro (KSP), PKRA and independent event organizers.

"To ensure a consistent quality of event delivery, promotion and judging, IKA will play a bigger role on any future wave world cup, appoint contest director and head judge and supervise event delivery," explains kiteboarding's governing body.

There are, however, a few conditions on the table for the future wave world ranking and titles. Any wave event counts towards the world ranking, according to the standard point system (based on prize money).

Then, any organizer can apply to hold wave world cup events, and the leader of the world ranking at the end of the year is the world champion. A minimum of three wave world cup events must be held throughout the year.

Finally, a strict criteria for wave world cup events supervised by IKA: event run with IKA rules, minimum holding period of five competition days, minimum prize money of 10000 euros/dollars, contest director and head judge appointed by IKA, a judging panel of five qualified IKA wave judges, a minimum of 10-minute heats in the main event, athletes selected from the IKA wave world ranking, and an IKA-approved Notice of Race (NoR).

Here are the conditions for the future wave world ranking and titles:

• any wave event counts towards the world ranking according to the standard point system (based on prize money)
• any organizer can apply to hold wave world cup events in compliance with the minimum criteria below
• the leader of the world ranking at the end of the year is the world champion, provided that a minimum of 3 wave world cup events have been held throughout the year
• Criteria for a wave world cup eventsupervised by IKA
  • event run in accordance with IKA championship rules
  • minimum holding period: 5 scheduled competition days
  • minimum prize money: 10000 EUR/USD
  • Contest Director appointed by IKA
  • Head judge appointed by IKA
  • Judging panel of 5 qualified wave judges
  • majority of judging panel shall hold ISA/ASP license or shall be directly appointed by IKA
  • minimum 10 minutes heats in the main event
  • participants selected solely by IKA wave world ranking as of close of registration (local wildcards, e.g. 2 for men, 1 for women, may be awarded)
  • the qualification system, local qualifiers, wildcard application process etc shall be stated in the NoR (to be approved by IKA)

The International Kiteboarding Association will now accept event proposals for setting up a new wave kitesurfing season.