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Revised: 5/05

COMPETITION RULES

                                         UNITED STATES SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS

                     

   I.    USSC

 

            The United States Surfing Championships (USSC), formerly the United States Amateur Surfing Championships (USASC) is a surfing contest held once a year, hosted by the United States Surfing Federation. Any US Citizen is eligible to compete.  Questions concerning USSF amateur eligibility are referred to the USSF Competition Director and/or the USSF Competition Committee. 

 

  I.            EVENTS (Regional, and District Events)

 

            A.  Age division events (PROOF OF AGE REQUIRED) and the regional quotas for the                                           USSC will include:

                         8            Menehunes (boys & girls under 12 years of age)

                                  16            Boys (12-14 years of age)

                        16             Junior Men (15-17 years of age)

                        16            Men (18-24 years of age)

                         8             Masters (25-34 years of age)

                         8             Senior Men (35-44 years of age)

                         4             Grandmasters (45-54 years of age)

                         4            Legends (55 and older)

                         4            Girls (17 years and younger)

                         8            Junior Women (18-29 years of age)

                         4            Women (30 years and older)

                         4            Menehune Longboard (14 years and under M/F)

                         4            Junior Longboard (15-17 years of age)

                         8            Mens Longboard (18-29 years of age)

                         8             Masters Longboard (20-39 years of age)

                         4            Senior Longboard (40 years and older)

                         4            Junior Women Long board (17 and under)

                         4            Women Longboard (18 years of age and older)

                         8            Menehune Bodyboard (14 years and under M/F)

                        16            Junior Bodyboard (15-17 years of age)

                         8            Mens Bodyboard (18-29 years of age)

                         8            Senior Bodyboard (30 years and older)

                         4            Women Bodyboard (all ages)

                         4            Kneeboard (all ages)

                         8          Open Shortboard (all ages)

                         8          Open Longboard (all ages)

           

B.  Specialty events and regional quotas shall include:

 

                         4             Kneeboard (open to all ages)

                         4            Drop Knee (open to all ages)

                         4            Launch (open to all ages)

                         4            Air (open to all ages)

                         1            Team Paddling (open to all ages)

                                     Individual Paddling (open to all ages)

                                    Optional Tag Team

                                    Open Pro Men (any age)

                                    Open Pro Junior (19 & under)

                                    Open Pro Longboard (any age)

                                    Open Pro Women (any age)                    

                 *Additional events may be proposed by the competition committee or competition director           

               C.  All ages are determined as of January 1st of the year of the USSC

 

D. The number of competitors will be limited to the division quotas per region (see USSC    Rule II. A/B for regional quotas).  Any contestant arriving late for their heat may compete    in the remainder of their heat, if there is an opening.  If a contestant misses their 1st round      heat, their name will be placed at the bottom of the alternate list.  There will be no refunds    of entry fees for missed heats.  An alternate list will be kept by the USSC Contest Director    and shall include the competitor’s name, division and rating.  Alternates are individuals who are available, but did not receive a slot in their division at the slot meeting or prior to the start of the competition.  Their refundable entry fee must       be paid in full for their name to be placed on the alternate list.  Beach entries are discouraged.  Alternates should be  ranked largest region to smallest, as well as, regional ranking on an individual basis.

 

            E.  USSF Competition Rules will be made available to all competitors by request.

 

           

   III.              EQUIPMENT (All boards are measured from end to end, using a straight edge)

 

            A.  In age division events, surfboards will not exceed 2 ft. longer than the competitor’s

                 height, except LEGENDS, which has no limit as to equipment used.

 

            B.  Longboards must be a minimum of 9 ft. in length, in Junior, Men, Master, Women,

                 and Senior divisions.  Menehune division will be 3 ft. overhead.

 

            C.  Bodyboards shall not exceed 5 ft. in length.

 

            D.  Paddle boards are limited to surfboards only with a maximum length of 10 ft.

           

            E.  Additional equipment, such as leashes and helmets may be used.

 

            F.  Kneeboards are a maximum of 6 ft. in length and must be consistent with standard

                 acceptable equipment normally used.

 

 IV.              JUDGING AND SCORING

 

            A.  The subjective judging system will be used (0-10 points using .1 integrals) and there will

                  be an active judging panel of one head judge and five scoring judges.  Each region is

                  entitled to provide personnel for the panel.  Active judging panels should attempt to                          represent all four USSF regions, whenever possible, or a wide variety of districts or                         sponsors, etc.  However, it is up to the Contest Director to approve all Judges.   Judges                  shall have the opportunity for a break every five heats and it will be up to each region to                   provide personnel for these changes.  Judges may judge as much as they like (subject                 to the contest directors approval) as long as they are consistent.  Judges may not judge               their own division, members of their family or close personal friends.  See judges                               handbook and judges rotation.

 

B.  When judging standup surfing, a ride will begin to be scored when a surfer’s hands                  leave the rails of their surfboard.  When judging kneeboarding, judges will take into               account that both knees must be on the board for the ride to qualify.  When judging                   bodyboarding, there is no limitation as to body position on the board and the ride will be              scored after the head judge designates bodyboarder has caught the wave and                          executed a maneuver.

 

            B.1 When scoring air competition, competitors will be scored on completed AIRS only -                        (must land and ride out for 3 seconds).  If an AIR is 90% completed (landing and                        fumbling recovery), the head judge may rule a score, but with a major deduction.  The            head judge will make a final ruling on judgment calls.  Competitors will be scored on                    their top one or two AIRS depending on conditions, competitors best AIR will be                                scored double the points.  The competition director or contest director will determine                    the number of AIR maneuvers to be scored  before each event and this will be                          posted at the marshal area.  If conditions change during the event the contest                                    director in consultation with the head judge may change the number of maneuvers                  to score, however,  no change is to occur in the middle of a round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            C. The judging criteria shall be: 

                       

            THE CONTESTANT WHO EXECUTES THE MOST RADICAL

            MANEUVERS GENERATING POWER AND SPEED THROUGH OUT IN A

            FUNCTIONAL MANNER IN THE MOST CRITICAL SECTIONS OF THE                                  BIGGEST AND/OR BEST WAVE FOR THE LONGEST FUNCTIONAL                                              DISTANCE WILL RECEIVE THE HIGHEST SCORE.

 

                             Incomplete maneuvers will not be scored.  The surfer must surf out of the maneuver                    for it to be deemed complete.  The individual judge’s scores should be consistent                   with one another.  If a judge is repeatedly inconsistent, he/she may be replaced.

                        Please refer to USSF Judges Handbook for detailed policy, instructions and                              guidelines for judging.

 

            C.1 The judging criteria for AIR Division shall be:

                                    THE SUFER WHO PERFORMS THE MOST COMMITTED RADICAL AIR IN                                THE MOST CRITICAL SECION OF A WAVE WITH HEIGHT, TECHNICAL                           DIFFICULTY AND CONTROL WILL MAXIMIZE THEIR SCORING                                          POTENTIAL.           

NOTE: CRITERIA RATING (SHALL BE BASED ON 2’ TO 3’ ABOVE THE LIP), ALL AIRS DEPEND ON HEIGHT, BIGGER THE AIR THE HIGHER THE SCORE, POINT RATING BELOW MAY VARY DEPENDING ON HEIGHT, COMMITTMEN AND                 CONTROL AS DETERMINED BY WAVE CONDITIONS.

 

               

           

            C.2       FRONTSIDE AIRS

                        Type of Air                    Description                                        Rating

                        Standard Air                Ollie                                                     2-5

                        Double Grab                Both hands                                      2-5

                        Slob Air                    Back hand grabbing toe-side Rail            5-7

                        Alley Oop                 Off the lip of the wave             5-7

                        Lean Air                    Front hand grabbing heel-side rail            6-8

                        Stale Fish                 Back hand grabbing heel-side rail            7-9

                        Air 360                         Full rotation in the air                                7-9

                        Inverted Air                                                                             8-10

 

                        Backside AIRS

                        Type of Air                    Description                                        Rating

                        Chop Hop                  Below the lip                                       1-2

                        Chop Hop                  Above the lip                                       2-4

                        Standard Air                Ollie                                                     2-5

                        Double Grab                Both hands                                      2-5

                        Method                        Front hand grab toe-side rail                        4-6

                        Indy Air                        Back hand grab toe-side rail                        4-6

                        Mute Air                    Front hand grab toe-side rail                        5-7

                        Various grabs                        Front/Back hand on toe-side rail            6-8

                        Air 360                         Full rotation in the Air                                7-9

                        Inverted Air/Rodeo                                                                 8-10

Note: All Air variations will be a judged depending on degree of difficulty

 

 

            D. The HEAD JUDGE shall be responsible for:

 

                                    •.            Determining which riders and rides are to be scored

                                    •.            Determining wave possession

                                    •.            Maintaining an accurate wave count

                                    •.            Notifying judges of missed rides

                                    •.            Assisting judges in making accurate scores for the

                                                missed rides.

 

                             All missed rides should be indicated by the letter “M” in the appropriate box to be             determined by the head judge according to the individual’s scoring scale             (interpolation).  This should be done immediately or before the end of the heat, as             time allows.              Judges, who are consistently missing rides,  may be replaced.  In the             absence of the Competition Director, one of the following will act in  their place: 

 

                                    1st            Designated Representative approved by the USSF

                                                Competition Committee - Contest Director

                                    2nd            A Regional Competition Director

                                    3rd            A District Competition Director

                                    4th            Any Regional Official

                       

E.     TABULATIONS

Wave counts to be used for tabulation of results are 2,3, or 4 highest waves per heat. The Contest Director after consulation with the head judge shall determine the number of high waves per heat to be tabulated.   This information is to be posted prior to the first heat and will remain in effect for the duration of the event unlessl otherwise posted.  Specifications (scored waves, max waves, and length of time) for all heats including  finals are to be posted  at the contest site. 
Note: Contest Directors are encouraged to consider 2 waves for all heats except 3 waves for finals.

                                               

                        Upon receipt of the completed judges sheets at the end of each heat, the tabulators                    will immediately  check to see if:

           

                                    1.  All judges sheets have been turned in.

                                    2.  The correct number of waves have been scored on

                                         each sheet.

                                    3.  Identify interference calls, if any.

 

                 If a ride has been missed, an attempt will be made to identify the missing rides by                         referring to the other judges sheets.  If the ride is identified to the satisfaction of the head               judge, a score will be given the missed ride by: AVERAGING THE MISSED WAVE                              ACCORDING TO THE SCORING LEVEL THAT THE JUDGE IN QUESTION USES                                                                           (INTERPOLATION).

 

                      NOTE: The head judge, along with a majority will determine the “official” wave count. 

                               

                             When the contest director is satisfied that the best attempt has been made to                         establish the  correct value of the missed wave, the contest director will ensure that                  this value be written on the judge’s sheet.  Upon completion of these formalities, the                         judge’s sheets may be totaled.  The scoring waves shall be circled, totaled, and                             interference penalties deducted. The total shall be placed in the total column. The                  heat places are then calculated and entered on the judge’s sheet.  The competitor                   with the highest score will receive one point, the second highest will receive two                              points and so on.  If a judge ties two or more competitors, the points awarded to                  each of the tied competitors will be the average of the affected placing points added             together.            EXAMPLE: If 2nd, 3rd and 4th are Tied, add 2, 3, and 4 together and                  divide by 3 = 3 points for each tied competitor.

 

 

                 E.1 Air Division

                        To decide a winner, the top two AIRS on each judges sheet will be totaled                                     (highest score will be doubled).