This is only a partial list of some of the rules to prepare and inform surfers in HASA events on the Big Island. This list was taken (and modified where necessary) in segments from http://www.surfusa.org/id3.html and http://www.aspnorthamerica.org (for interference)
HASA does not allow non-contestants in the contest surfing area. For the safety and fairness of everyone, all coaches, family and friends are to remain on the beach. Also, for contestants, you are only allowed to surf in the contest surfing area during your heat only.
All heats with 6 or less surfers are 15 minutes. Heats with 7 surfers are 20 minutes. Heats are back-to-back meaning when one heat ends, the next heat begins. Green flag means current heat is on. Orange flag means current heat ends within 5 minutes. Sound of horn signals both the ending of current heat and beginning of next heat. Once tabulated, score sheets will be available at the contest table (must be kept at table). Trophies are awarded for top 3 places after each final heat (marked "FINAL").
Judges calls are final. You may discuss heats with the head judge or contest director ON THE CONTEST DAY ONLY, when available, but the outcome will remain the same. All score sheets are available for public viewing on the day of the contest only. Protests and discussion regarding each event will not be allowed once the contest is over. Phone calls to the directors or judges will not be tolerated. As a reminder, all competitors and parents (if competitor is under 18) have signed the following agreement on the Hold Harmless Waiver:
I agree to conduct myself in a professional and sportsmanlike manner before, during and after and while I am in the vicinity of all HASA related events. I agree I will review the rules and regulations and any unprofessional or unsportsmanlike conduct will be cause for immediate disqualification from the event at the discretion of the President or other Director of HASA Hawaii Chapter in charge at the event.
This material is provided to assist competitors in becoming successful in surfing competitions.
COMPETITION TIPS
The Venue:
Typical - a beach break with multiple random peaks
Introductions:
As a competitor you will be scored by a panel of judges. The role of a judge in a surfing contest is to decide which surfer performs the closest to the “Judging Criteria” in any heat. The fundamental importance of the criteria is that each judge understands what he is looking for from the surfers, and each surfer knows the points on which he is going to be judged.
The Judging 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 given higher scores.”
The criteria has purposely been broken into two sentences. The first being the major emphasis of the criteria, concerns the maneuvers, how radical and controlled they are and the section of the wave they are performed on.
Wave selection is the single most important factor for a surfer in their heat. The waves they select will determine the maneuvers they are able to perform. Today, there is less emphasis put on wave size in small and medium conditions due to the fact that the best waves may not necessarily be the biggest.
It is extremely important to note that wave selection (size or quality) does not automatically score high. A surfer must comply with the first sentence of the criteria and wave selection to receive the higher score!
What the judges consider when scoring:
* The competitors earn the higher scores by performing the higher quality maneuvers. Generate speed and show power throughout the execution.
* The judges look at what the competitors are doing right - not for their mistakes. This will prevent the judges from holding down scores on good and excellent waves. Maneuvers must be completed 100% in order to score.
* The judges will reward good and excellent surfing with good (6.0 to 7.5) and excellent (8.0 - 10.0).
* The judges will not reward poor surfing. Competitors may surf poorly on quality waves for a long distance, however the fact remains - it’s still poor surfing no matter how long the ride. Judges are looking for quality not quantity.
COMPETITION STRATEGY
Precontest Training
* Time your paddleouts - every time
* Surf a heat for the first 15 minutes of every free session
* Over emphasize your maneuvers and length of rides especially during free surfing
* Paddle hard, work out, drink lots of water and stay in the shade
* Stretch every day and tune your equipment
Heat Strategy
* Watch at least the one heat if not two heats before your own. Study how the waves are breaking; where are the sets coming in and how often; judge a heat in the sand; what does it look like from the beach
* Check in on time
* Do not free surf too much prior to your heat
* Drink lots of water and stay in the shade
* Use a watch
* Remember only your best 2 will score
* Try to catch the first quality wave
* Rip hard to the beach, do not bounce or waste time milking the white water get back outside and get another set wave - go for the big maneuvers outside!
* Outpaddle your opponent
* Finish each wave cleanly - never fall off!
* Always check your heat sheets. Look at what scores well for the day.
* Do not catch too many waves - be selective and hustle into deeper positioning
* ALWAYS BE A GOOD SPORT! IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU! REMAIN POSITIVE, UPBEAT AND WHERE A SMILE AT ALL TIMES - IN THE WATER, ON THE BEACH OR IN THE PARKING LOT! DO NOT COMPLAIN. POSITIVE ATTITUDES HAVE A WAY OF ATTRACTING POSITIVE HAPPENINGS AND PEOPLE. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR NEGATIVE ONES. BE SMART, BE HAPPY! MANY THINGS ARE BEYOND YOUR CONTROL EXCEPT YOUR ATTITUDE WHY NOT MAKE IT A GOOD ONE!
Win and lose like a king, be gracious, courteous - remember - surfing, after all, is the “sport of kings”
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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 at contest director's discretion). 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 orange 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 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. If this surfer incurs another interference penalty during the same heat his/her best wave score will be halved also.
4. Where any surfer incurs two or more interference penalties they must immediately leave the competition area. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from the event.
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.