SP:1.1 Each competitor will be given an opportunity to practice and “dial-in” his/her watercraft lift height setting prior to any Timed Qualifier, Round race, Heat race, Semi, or Final.

SP: 1.2 A Drag Race-style Light Tree will be implemented for each start. Each Gate will have access to viewing a Light Tree that will “tell” each competitor when it is time to start the race. A series of lights will light in a predictable timed sequence. When the green light is lit, the race commences and competitors may accelerate towards the first turn in each of their specific lanes. A laser beam or electric eye will be affixed in the most forward position of each Gate and  will sense when/if a competitor “goes” before the green light lights. It also records each competitor's reaction time and sends the information instantly to a computer at the announcer’s tower and is available as a topic of discussion to the fans! If a competitor accelerates prior to the green light being lit and breaks the plane of the laser with any part of his/her watercraft, it will be considered a “Red Light '' on behalf of that particular competitor and he/she will be disqualified from the competition. There will be no red flag as a result of any competitors “red lighting”, they will simply be black-flagged by the course marshal as they are navigating the course which will indicate to them that they need to vacate the course.

SP:1.3 Staging for a race will start immediately after the race prior has left the starting line. Competitors will have been called to “Pre-Staging” via the Staging Steward 2 races prior. A designated lane on the boat ramp will be for entry into the water for the “Pre-Staged” competitors only.

SP:1.4 Start Procedures will be quick. Once the last competitor from the previous Class is cleared from the course, the Dock Stager will verify that each competitor in the current race is loaded into his/her Gate and ready. At that time a white top lights that represent “PRE-STAGE” will light and the "Starter" will let each competitor know to "watch the lights" at which time an automatic sequence of countdown lights will start with 1-second between them. The order will be the following: a yellow, followed by a yellow, followed by a yellow, and then green. Green indicates the start of the race. No competitor will be permitted to accelerate in such a way to break the plane of the laser beam until the Green light is illuminated. In the event a competitor(s) breaks the laser beam prior to the green light, a red light will light on the Gate for that particular competitor and that competitor will be DQ'd. There will be no red flag starts.

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