Surfing philosophy of the judges at the 2001 World Surf Kayaking Championships

General 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 the winner.

A. Radical Controlled Maneuvers

Judges expect to see changes of direction of the boat on the wave. Such maneuvers would include bottom turns, re-entries, cutbacks, floaters, aerials, tube rides, top turns and fade take-offs, late take-offs, trimming and stalling, 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.

It is important to note, even if a surfer has completed 90% of a maneuver, it will not score well if he loses control or is not able to continue on the wave.

B. Most Critical Section

Higher scores occur if the surfer stays in the critical section of the wave, the "pocket" closest to the curl. The degree of commitment and the risk involved in performing close to the curl is the reason that it scores higher.

C. The Biggest and/or Best Waves

Wave selection is the single most important factor for a surfer in his/her heat. The waves he/she selects will dictate the maneuvers he/she is able to perform. 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. However, in a contest with big wave conditions, the most important part of the criteria would be the size. The surfer who is prepared to catch the biggest wave shows the greatest commitment. A surfer does not automatically score high because of wave size or quality. He/she must comply with the first section of the criteria and wave selection to capitalize on full scoring potential.

D. Longest Functional Distance

Higher scores are given for longer rides. 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 whilst performing maneuvers.

Judging in Bad Conditions

In poor surf judges concentrate on surfers who are utilizing the mini power-pockets on the wave with explosive moves that are normally timed to occur at each of these spots on the wave. Higher scores will occur if maneuvers are being linked directly to another without paddling all the way to the next section.

Interference

To determine interference, the judges first decide which surfer has the ROW (Right of Way) as a situation arises. The judges then determine whether the surfer with the ROW has been possibly hindered in his scoring potential. The key word in this criteria is "possibly." If the judge has to consider, did he/she or didn’t he/she hinder, then he/she has possibly hindered the scoring potential of the ROW surfer, so the interference must be called.

What Judges Consider

A. Which surfer has the Right of Way? At the take off point, the inside surfer always has unconditional ROW.

B. Was there interference or not? Did the surfer with unconditional ROW have his scoring potential possibly hindered?

C. What rule in the book reflects to the infringement? Drop-in, snaking, paddling, breaking down a section, or excessive hassling?

The Interference Rule is:

The surfer deemed to have the inside position for a wave, has unconditional right of way for the entire duration of that ride. Interference will be called if during that ride, a majority of judges feel that a fellow competitor has possibly hindered the scoring potential of that surfer deemed to have the Right of Way for the wave.

Anyone who surfs in front of a surfer with the Right of Way has the chance to kick out of the wave without being called for interference, unless he/she hinders the scoring potential of the surfer with the Right of Way by any means including excessive hassling, hindering progress, or breaking down a section.

A. Point Break (Single Direction Wave) - The inside surfer has unconditional ROW for the duration of that wave.

B. Single Peak (Left & Right Breaking Wave) - The surfer considered to have the inside position at the initial point of take off has unconditional ROW in the direction he chooses by making an obvious turn. A second surfer may surf in the opposite direction.

C. Beach Break (Multiple Random Peaks) - Two separate peaks that eventually meet then both surfers are required to kick out of the wave or straighten out to avoid collision.

• If they both give way by cutting back or kicking out, so that neither is hindered, there will be no penalty.
• If they cross paths, collide or hinder one another, the judges will penalize the surfer who has been the aggressor at the point of contact.
• If neither surfer gives way, by cutting back or kicking out, and both share responsibility for the confrontation, then a double interference will be called.

Paddling Interference

Paddling interference may be called if:

A. The offending surfer makes contact with, or forces the inside surfer to change his line while paddling to catch the wave causing possible loss of scoring potential.

B. The offending surfer obviously causes a section to break down in front of the inside surfer, which would not normally have happened causing loss of scoring potential.

C. When a surfer is put in a position while paddling out that he cannot get out of the way and a collision happens due to this, it is up to a majority of judges to call interference based on whether it is felt to be accidental or not.

Snaking

The surfer who is farthest inside at the initial take off point is entitled to that wave for the duration of his ride. If a surfer takes off on the white water behind the first surfer he will be penalized if the surfer with ROW is forced to pull out and loses the wave.