Judging Tips

THE SURFING CRITERIA

“A SURFER MUST EXECUTE THE MOST RADICAL CONTROLLED MANEUVERS IN THE CRITICAL SECTION OF A WAVE WITH SPEED AND POWER THROUGHOUT. THE SURFER WHO EXECUTES SUCH MANEUVERS ON THE BIGGEST AND OR BEST WAVES FOR THE LONGEST FUNCTIONAL DISTANCE SHALL BE DEEMED WINNER.”

ANALYSIS OF THE SURFING CRITERIA

The criteria has purposely been broken into two sentences. The first sentence being the major emphasis of the Criteria, concerns the maneuvers, how radical and controlled they are, the section of the wave they are performed on, and how they are strung together.

The criteria can be graded into four main sections:

1. RADICAL CONTROLLED MANEUVERS

This is by far the MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE CRITERIA. Contemporary

maneuvers basically constitute change of direction of the board on the wave (not the

surfer on the board). Such maneuvers would include re-entries, cut backs, floaters,

aerials, tube rides, etc. How radical they are, followed by the amount of control and

commitment put into each of them, will determine how high they will score.

POWER COMMITMENT CONTROL

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, EVEN IF A SURFER HAS COMPLETED 90% OF A MANEUVER, IT WILL NOT SCORE IF HE LOSES CONTROL AND FALLS!

2. MOST CRITICAL SECTION

This part of the Criteria describes the positions on the wave maneuvers should be

performed to score the maximum points.

THE CRITICAL SECTION OF THE WAVE IS THE “POCKET”, CLOSEST TO THE CURL.

The degree of commitment and risk involved in performing a maneuver close to the curl is the reason that it scores higher. Generally, the most critical section of a wave is the first section...”out the back” or “outside”.

THE BIGGEST AND OR BEST WAVES

WAVE SELECTION IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR A SURFER IN

HIS HEAT. The waves he selects will dictate the maneuvers he is able to perform. Today

there is less emphasis put on wave size in small to medium conditions due to the fact that the best waves may not necessarily be the biggest waves.

4. LONGEST FUNCTIONAL DISTANCE

It is important to note that the functional length of a ride means the longest possible distance that can be ridden in the horizontal plane across the judges “field of vision” WHILE PERFORMING MANEUVERS. Once the maneuvers end, so does the score – milking a wave or doing “spinners” on the white water does not meet the criteria.

JUDGING

The point scoring system to be used is zero to ten broken up into one tenth increments like this:

0 - 2.0 BAD

2.0 - 4.0 POOR

4.0 - 6.0 AVERAGE

6.0 - 8.0 GOOD

8.0 -10.0 EXCELLENT

NOTE: Refer to this to establish first wave exchanges.

USE WHOLE POINTS AND HALF POINTS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN DURING A

HEAT. RESORT TO DECIMAL POINTS ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. DO SO TO

DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WAVES IN THE GOOD TO EXCELLENT RANGE AT

THE END OF A HEAT.

During the course of a heat, try to use the whole of your scale from 0 -10 regardless

of surf conditions. Score the good waves up and the bad waves down.

Avoid scoring higher as the heat continues. Bear in mind the previous scoring waves. The final wave exchange in a heat should be in context to the first waves scored in a heat.

It is important that a judge concentrates on the scoring of individual waves and ignores the final outcome of a heat.

No rides are identical, so try to differentiate between all scoring waves.

Do not deliberate on your scores, put pen to paper.

QUICK LOOK SCORE BREAKDOWN BY MANUVERS:

1. ONE BASIC MANUVER COMPLETED 3 - 3.5

2. TWO BASIC MANUVERS COMPLETED 4.5 – 5.5

3. THREE MANUVERS COMPLETED 6 – 7.5

4. FOUR OR MORE MANUVERS COMPLETED 8 – 9.5

5. ONE BIG – HUGE MANUVER OUT THE BACK

CRITIAL, FINS OUT, POWER, GENERATING

SPEED THROUGHOUT 6 – 7

6. TWO HUGE MANUVERS 7 – 8

7. THREE HUGE MANUVERS 8 – 9

8. EXCEPTIONAL RIDE SURFED

WAVE TO IT’S FULL

POTENTIAL COULD DO NO MORE 10

REMEMBER MANUVER MUST BE COMPLETED TO SCORE

YOU MUST “SURF OUT” OF THE MANUVER TO DEFINE COMPLETED.

REMEMBER TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN FLAT SURFING AND SURFING ON THE RAIL USING FINS. BOARD ON EDGE.

HOPPING IS NOT PROGRESSIVE LOSES SPEED AND SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED. RAIL TO RAIL S-TURNING THROUGH SLOW SECTIONS IS BETTER.

WHERE WAS THE MANUVER DONE? OUTSIDE (RISKY) OR INSIDE AT END (SAFE)

WAS IT A COMMITTED MANUVER? TAIL OUT OFF THE TOP (RISKY) OR CUTBACK (SAFE)

PLEASE NOTE: NEW CHANGES TO ASP JUDGING CRITERIA AS OF JANUARY 2010:

Judges analyze the following major concepts when scoring waves:

-          Commitment and Degree of Difficulty
-          Combination of Traditional and Modern Maneuvers
-          Innovative and Progressive Maneuvers
-          Combination of Major Maneuvers
-          Variety of Maneuvers
-          Speed, Power and Flow

Judges will utilize a 75-25% ratio being that surfers will only ever get a maximum of 75% (7.5pts) of the scale for surfing only one aspect of Modern or Traditional, up to an additional 25% (2.5pts) can be added when the two aspects are combined. Incomplete maneuvers will not be rewarded.

It is important to note that the emphasis on certain concepts is contingent upon the location and the conditions on the day, as well as changes of conditions during the day.

Scale Utilized:
0.0 – 1.9 = Poor
2.0 – 2.9 = Fair
4.0 – 5.9 = Average
6.0 – 7.9 = Good
8.0 – 10.0 = Excellent

Judges analyze the following major concepts when scoring waves:

It is important to note that the emphasis on certain concepts is contingent upon the location and the conditions on the day, as well as changes of conditions during the day.

Scale Utilized:
0.0 – 1.9 = Poor
2.0 – 2.9 = Fair
4.0 – 5.9 = Average
6.0 – 7.9 = Good
8.0 – 10.0 = Excellent