Rockstacking Rules | llanoearthartfest

2023 World RockStacking Championship Rules

The judges may use their discretion to disqualify any competitor at any time for any actions they deem inappropriate to the spirit of the event including, but not limited to, foul language, lewd behavior, and bad sportsmanship.

Rockstacking Competition Waiver

Height Competition

Build a tower to the sky

1. Competitors may compete in solo, junior solo or team competitions. For the solo competitions, no outside help can be provided with lifting or moving rocks. For the teams competition, only a maximum of three people will be allowed to compete per team and the same person cannot compete in another team if there are additional heats.
2. Each competitor will have an area of 8'X8' to stack in. The competition area will be defined by the judges before contest starts.
3. Competitors will have 25 minutes in which to complete their stack. This includes time for collecting of rocks.
4. Competitors are allowed to use footstools or ladders.
5. Use of any adhesive or outside support system is not allowed. Shims will be allowed as the intent of this competition is height and not quantity of rocks.
6. At the end of 25 minutes, time will be called and competitors must stop stacking. A competitor can call time before the allocated time.
7. Each rock stack must have a single moveable rock as its base. Height is measured from the bottom of the lowest moveable rock to the top of the rock stack. The base rock must be moved a minimum of 5 total feet.
8. No more than 15 competitors may compete at once. There may be multiple heats.
9. Interfering with another competitors rock stack is not allowed and will be grounds for disqualification.
10. Competitors may use rocks from the competition area only. In no case is throwing or tossing rocks allowed. Competitors must carry all rocks to and from their stacking area. Throwing or tossing rocks will be grounds for disqualification.
11. Once a heat is over and a winner determined, all rocks must be dispersed.

12. Judging of stack height will be done with a tape measure (or custom-built measuring tool). Measurement will be performed on the highest stacks first, as visually determined by the judges. In case a stack falls before measurement is determined, a competitor may request entry into another heat- subject to approval of the judges.
13. Stack height for each competitor will be logged and a winner determined at the end of all heats.
14. Once a rock has been carried into a competitors stacking area, it may not be removed or used by another competitor, unless specifically approved by the possessor of the rock.

16. In case of a tie, there will be a 10 minute stack off will follow with the same rules are to be followed as the regular competition.

Arches Competition

Create the biggest and longest rock arch

1. Competitors may compete in solo competition or team competitions. For the solo competitions, no outside help can be provided with lifting or moving rocks. For the teams competition, only a maximum of three people will be allowed to compete per team and the same person cannot compete in another team if there are additional heats.

2. Competition area will be defined by the judges.

3. Competitors will be given 20 minutes to complete their arch. Only one arch will be judged.
4. Once competition starts, competitors may choose any location in the competition area to build their arch.
5. No forms or support structures may be brought in from outside the competition area.

6. Competitors may use only rocks for their arches. No wood, metal, found objects, etc. are allowed.
7. At the end of 20 minutes, time will be called and competitors will wait next to their arch for the judges to arrive.
8. Arches will be judged on 4 criteria: span width, number of rocks used, height of the arch and degree of difficulty. The base rocks have to have been moved a minimum of 5 feet to count as part of the arch.
8A: Span Width is the distance from the bottom of the first moveable rock in the arch to the bottom of the last moveable rock in the arch- measured in a straight line. Number of points equals the measurement in inches (i.e. 14" = 14 points)
8B: Number of rocks used is counted from the first moveable rock in the arch to the last moveable rock in the arch. Number of points equals the number of rocks in the arch (i.e. 11 rocks = 11 points

8C: Height of the arch will be determined from the bottom of the highest rock in the arch to the straight line between the two base rocks. Number of points equals the measurement in inches. (i.e. 14” = 14 points) 8D: Degree of difficulty is a subjective determination of the judges (0-10 points).
9. Points for the 3 judging criteria will be added together to determine the score.
10. New this year, only one arch will be judged.

11. In case of a tie, there will be a 10 minute stack off will follow with the same rules are to be followed as the regular competition.

Quantity Competition

See how many rocks can be stacked in a single column

1. Competitors must compete solo within the competition area. No outside help can be provided with lifting or moving rocks.

2. Competitors will have 20 minutes in which to compete their stack. This time allowance includes time for collecting of your rocks.

3. Competitors are allowed to use footstools or ladders

4. Use of any adhesive or outside support system is not allowed. No shims are allowed in this competition as the intent is for total number of rocks as opposed to height.

5. At the end of 20 minutes, time will be called and competitors must stop stacking.

6. Each rock stack must have a single moveable rock as its base that has been moved a minimum of 5 total feet. Number of rocks is measured from the bottom of the lowest moveable rock to the top of the rock stack.

7. No more than 10 competitors may compete at once. There may be multiple heats.

8. Interfering with another competitors rock stack is not allowed and will be grounds for disqualification.

9. Competitors may use rocks may forage for rocks inside the competition area only. In no case is throwing or tossing rocks allowed. Competitors must carry all rocks to and from their stacking area. Throwing or tossing rocks will be grounds for disqualification.

10. Rocks must be stacked in a single column. If multiple rocks which support another rock above occurs in your stack, your stack ends there.

11. The number of rocks in a stack will determine a competitors score

12. The number of rocks in your stack will be logged and a winner determined at the end of all heats.

13. The judges may use their discretion to disqualify any competitor at any time for any actions they deem inappropriate to the spirit of the event including, but not limited to, foul language, lewd behavior, and bad sportsmanship.

14. Once a rock has been carried into a competitors stacking area, it may not be removed or used by another competitor, unless specifically approved by the possessor of the rock.

15. In case of a tie, there will be a 10 minute stack off will follow.

Balancing Competition

A test of balance under pressure

1. Competitors will compete solo, two at a time.
2. Competitors will have 3 minutes to balance a set of rocks on top of each other. There will be 2 sets of 7 rocks pre-selected by the judges.
3. Each competitor will attempt to balance from one of the 2 sets of rocks.
4. Each rock successfully balanced earns a competitor 1 point.
5. Judges will award up to an additional 10 points, based on degree of difficulty.
6. Rocks must remain balanced at the end of time called, to count in the scoring.

Artistic Competition

Imagination is the only limit

5. Competitors will have from 10am-3pm in which to create their artistic rock stack.

6. Competitors may have outside help in creating their art.

7. Artistic Rock Stacks may contain other natural materials found in the competition area, such as wood, grass, etc., in addition to rocks. Artistic Rock Stacks must have at least 1 rock stack of 3 rocks in its design.

8. Artistic Rock Stacks judging will be based entirely on the subjective opinions of the judges.

Rock Skipping Competition

See how many skips you can make across the water

1. Competitors will collect 5 skipping rocks on-site.

2. When the competitor's name is called, they will skip their rocks in a timely fashion from the designated location.

3. Each judge will count the skips from each throw, using their best judgement. No use of cameras or filming or instant replay will be required for counting skips.

4. Each judge will write down the number of skips for each throw for each competitor. The judges will not be allowed to collaborate on scoring during the competition.

5. At the end of the competition, the judges will add together the count for each throw and divide by the number of judges. (Example: For competitor Jane Smith's first throw, the judges counted the number of skips as Judge 1) 14, Judge 2) 17, Judge 3) 18. To score the throw, the judges add 14 + 17 + 18 = 49. 49/3 = 16.3 skips).

6. The first place winner will be the competitor with the most skips on a single throw. The second place winner will be the competitor with the next most skips on a single throw (all other skip totals for the first place winner will be disregarded, even if they are higher than those of the second place winner.) The third place winner will be the competitor with the next most skips on a single throw (all other skip totals for the first and second place winners will be disregarded, even if they are higher than those of the third place winner.) In case there is a tie, the additional throws will be used for tie breaking purposes starting with the second highest skips and so forth.

Arches Solo

Balance Solo

Artistic

click here for a printable waiver

The Rock Stacking World Championship
Llano Earth Art Fest
WAIVER

I, __________________________________________(“Participant”), acknowledge that I have voluntarily applied to participate in the following activities at The Llano Earth Art Festival (“LEAF”): The National Rock Stacking Championship

I AM AWARE THAT THESE ACTIVITIES ARE HAZARDOUS ACTIVITIES AND THAT I COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. I AM VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATING IN THESE ACTIVITIES WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE DANGER INVOLVED, AND AGREE TO ASSUME ANY AND ALL RISKS OF BODILY INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, WHETHER THOSE RISKS ARE KNOWN OR UNKNOWN.

I verify this statement by placing my initials here:
Parent or Guardian’s initials (if under 18):_

As consideration for being permitted by LEAF, the State of Texas (“State”), the County of Llano (the “County”), the City of Llano (the “City”) and any lessor of the festival premises (“Lessor”), to participate in these activities and use the festival premises and facilities, I forever release LEAF, the State, the County, the City, the Lessor, any fair affiliated organization, and their respective directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, contractors, and representatives (collectively “Releasees”) from any and all actions, claims, or demands that I, my assignees, heirs, distributees, guardians, next of kin, spouse and legal representatives now have, or may have in the future, for injury, death, or property damage, related to (i) my participation in these activities, (ii) the negligence or other acts, whether directly connected to these activities or not, and however caused, by any Releasee, or (iii) the condition of the premises where these activities occur, whether or not I am then participating in the activities. I also agree that I, my assignees, heirs, distributees, guardians, next of kin, spouse and legal representatives will not make a claim against, sue, or attach the property of any Releasee in connection with any of the matters covered by the foregoing release.

I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS CONTENTS. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND A CONTRACT BETWEEN MYSELF AND LEAF, THE STATE, THE COUNTY, THE CITY, AND THE LESSOR, AND SIGN IT OF MY OWN FREE WILL.

If Signed by Parent or Guardian: I verify that the dangers of the activities and the significance of this Release and Waiver were explained to the Participant and that the Participant understood them. Executed at _, Texas on _, 20 .

PARTICIPANT/RELEASOR PARENT OR GUARDIAN _ __ Signature Signature
Address:_ Address:___ _ ________________

IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE, YOU AND YOUR PARENT OR GUARDIAN MUST SIGN AND INITIAL THIS FORM WHERE INDICATED.

Rockstacking Waiver