ASP Judging Criteria:
"A surfer must perform radical controlled maneuveres in the critical section of a wave with Speed, Power and Flow to maximize scoring potential. Innovative / Progressive surfing as well as Variety of Repertoire ( maneuveres),will be taken into consideration when rewarding points for waves ridden. The surfer who executes this criteria with the maximum Degree of Difficulty and Commitment on the waves shall be rewarded with the higher scores."

SURFING CRITERIA

The ASP criteria quote concerns the maneuvers, how radical and controlled they are, the section of the wave they are performed on, and how they are strung together. They can be graded into four main sections as follows.

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". 

3. THE BIGGEST AND OR BEST WAVES: WAVE SELECTION IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR A SURFER IN A HEAT.  The waves you select will dictate the maneuvers you are 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) tips provided complimentry by surfusa.org