IBTF News Brief: 2023 IBTF World Freestyle Championship to include WFNBTA Rhythmic Twirl and WBTF Freestyle

Today’s news brief focuses on the 2023 IBTF World Freestyle Championship.  

Looking ahead to the disciplines of the Championship, the competition will offer both WFNBTA’S Rhythmic Twirl and WBTF’S Freestyle Solo.   

So, what are the major differences between the two disciplines?    

Both disciplines are choreographed programs and interpretive routines that integrate blended baton skills in the modes of aerials, rolls, and contact material and body skills technique using the space allotted (performing area) for maximum effect allowing the athlete to display the technical and artistic aspects of baton twirling and body movement in a creative and entertaining performance to music of the athlete’s choosing.  
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• FREESTYLE SOLO - is a composite program that also involves a SHORT PROGRAM. The Short Program is a choreographed program demonstrating 8 required technical elements to a prescribed musical selection. 25% of the athlete’s total score is based upon Short Program and 75% of the athlete’s total score is based upon Freestyle.
  
  
• RHYTHMIC TWIRL - is a standalone program that does not incorporate the use of a short program and also limits the use of acrobatic moves.
  
  
• FREESTYLE PAIR - is a choreographed program and interpretive routine of two athletes similar to the "Pair" of figure skating demonstrating blended baton, body, and partnering skills to music of the athletes’ choosing. The Freestyle Pair discipline is a combination of the freestyle and team concept. A pair should perform as one with the same style and ability level. These standards are in agreement with those of "freestyle" with some additional responsibilities. The most obvious are exchanges. A pair is expected to exhibit variety in the exchange work with respect to pattern, planes, levels, paths, modes, releases, catches, bodywork, number of batons involved (i.e. one, two) stationary or moving.
  
  
• FREESTYLE TEAM- is a choreographed program and musically interpretive routine with a maximum of eight athletes all using one baton each to demonstrate baton, body, and group skills of synchronic twirling and interactive elements blended together with both stationary and traveling complex body movements, along with exchanges with respect to pattern, planes, levels, paths, modes, releases, catches, bodywork, number of batons involved,  stationary or moving executed to music of the team’s choosing.