Judging Criteria

The following is an exerpt from the judging handbook of Surfing Australian:

“The surfer must perform committed (outside) radical maneuvers in the most critical sections of a wave with style (control), power, and speed to maximize scoring potential. Innovative and progressive surfing will be taken into account when rewarding points for committed surfing. The surfer who executes these criteria with the highest degree of difficulty and control on the better waves shall be rewarded with the highest scores.”

With particular reference to longboard judging, points will be awarded for classic surfing maneuvers. In longboarding, such maneuvers include:

  • Nose riding, trimming, and stalling
  • Walking on the board
  • Standing and crouching “Island pullouts”
  • Bottom turns - full rail or from the tail
  • Cut backs - Drop knee or wide stance/sit down style
  • Tube rides and cover-ups
  • Top turns and fade take offs
  • Late take offs
  • Critical surfing

It is not necessary for a surfer to “work the wave over” in this division. Simple trimming or climbing and dropping, if performed with control in the critical part of a wave, may receive a high score.

SUMMARY OF POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN JUDGING LONGBOARD HEATS:

  1. How well were the maneuvers connected together?
  2. Did the surfer walk foot over foot or did they shuffle?
  3. Are the surfer’s toes really hanging over or are they back from the nose?
  4. Has the surfer used the whole length of their surfboard?
  5. Compare outside maneuvers to inside maneuvers. Are they major or minor maneuvers?
  6. Compare take off area and how deep the surfer was at the initial point of take off
  7. Consider how the surfer utilized the wave
  8. Consider the ability of the surfer to make sections and whether the maneuvers were functional in doing so
  9. Did the surfer actually complete the maneuver and with control?
  10. What did the surfer complete before falling?
  11. Do not be fooled by tricks or arched backs. Judge the real maneuvers
  12. Most importantly, the rules state that longboarders will be judged on a 50-50-percentage combination of traditional and modern maneuvers with control being the major factor.

Competitors are judged on their best 2 waves in a 20 minute heat.