Preparing For Your Heat and Heat Structure

A. All contestants must report to the ready area 15 minutes prior to the start of their heat to be checked in and receive their instructions.

B. All heats, including finals, will run 15 minutes (except for 7-man heats which will run 20 minutes). Administration’s time clock will be deemed the “official time,” regardless.

C. WATER STARTS - All heats will begin (and the previous heat will end) with the blast of the horn and/or the raising of the green flag. The raising of the yellow flag will indicate the five minute warning. At the five minute warning, the next heat of competitors may start paddling to the designated standby area, being careful not to interfere with the heat in progress. When the horn sounds ending the heat in progress, the standby heat begins. Surfers up before or after may be penalized. All heats require competitors to paddle, ride prone (on their bellies), or on their knees, (WITH NO MANEUVERS), to the beach when the signal is given that their heat has ended. All heats end (and the next heat begins) with one horn blast. If a competitor starts a scoreable ride after their heat ends (or before it begins), they risk being penalized points from his/her total score.

All jerseys are to be worn into the beach as they were used going out, and returned in a timely and sportsmanlike manner by all competitors. All competitors must wear competition jersey to the beach marshall area and return it immediately after their heat. Any other action is to be considered an unsportsmanlike infraction and may cost competitor points from his/her total score.

In the event of danger or a problem, three or more horn blasts will sound and/or the red flag or neutral (no flag) will be raised. All competitors must leave the water immediately under this condition.

Wave Possession

A competitor may gain wave possession in one of the following ways:

1. By catching a wave and completing a maneuver (turn in chosen direction) before the face of the wave reaches another competitor.

2. If two or more competitors are paddling in the face of the same wave, in the same shoulder, the competitor closest to the curl has possession upon catching the wave and completing a maneuver.

3. Two competitors may go in opposite directions on the same peak, providing they don’t cross paths or hinder one another.

4. If two competitors, at opposite ends of the contest area, catch the same wave and ride toward each other, both gain wave possession. If they eventually meet, the competitor who gained wave possession first on their respective peak shall have the right of way.

Interference and Penalties

Interference

A competitor may be called for interference for any of the following reasons:

1. For catching the same wave in the shoulder as the competitor who gains wave possession.

2. For occupying any part of the wave that could simultaneously or eventually be reached by any possible maneuver of the competitor who gains wave possession. For breaking down the wave on the competitor with wave possession or infringing on the possible length of the ride of the competitor with wave possession.

3. Both competitors may be called for interference if no right of way has been established in the opinion of the judges. Interference must be called on one or both competitors for cross overs if there is a collision. If one competitor is clearly the aggressor in forcing the cross over or collision, in the opinion of the judges, only he/she will be penalized. All cross overs are discouraged in competitions. If there is no hindrance of scoring potential for either surfer as determined by majority of judges and there is no contact then interference may not be called.

4. THE HEAD JUDGE, along with the other judges, may rule interference on any competitor for:

a. Blatantly paddling for a wave in a manner so as to intimidate or hassle a competitor who is in position to gain wave possession.

b. Grabbing or touching any part of another competitor or their equipment in a manner that impairs their ability to surf.

c. Paddling out in such a manner as to interfere with the ride of the competitor with wave possession, whether intentional or not.

d. Board caddying is not allowed. This includes losing your board and having someone retrieve it for you for the specific reason of helping you in your heat. Saving boards from damage is allowed so long as the board isn’t paddled, handed, carried or pushed to the competitor.

PENALTIES

1. If a judge thinks an interference has taken place, the judge shall triangle the ride of the offending competitor and draw an arrow to the ride of the competitor who was interfered with. In the case of a paddling interference, the triangle shall be placed on the line between the appropriate rides for the offending competitor and filled with P. I. (no ride/no score) and the arrow still drawn.

2. If any two of three judges, including the head judge, rule interference, the tabulators shall give the offending competitor a score of 50% of their second best wave. Their triangle wave receives a zero score and counts as a wave caught. It is the responsibility of each competitor to keep track of their wave count. Officials, judges, and other administrators are discouraged from assisting competitors, coaches, friends, or any others in keeping track of individual’s wave counts.

3. Announce interference calls immediately.

a. All attempts should be made to consistently inform surfer upon majority decision of interference calls.

b. Head judge informs Competition/Contest Director, then notifies announcer of decision. Head judge may notify announcer directly if Competition or Contest Director is not readily available.

c. Announcer Verbiage: “Blue interference on White.”

Visit the SurfUSA.org site for a more comprehensive outline of rules. Be informed that there are some differences (corrected above) and some of the minor details may not align exactly with HASA Big Island events. Interference rules are found at the ASP site, aspnorthamerica.org, pages 30-32.