Competition Hints

Before the contest:
· If possible, surf the break a day or two before the contest to familiarize yourself with both the conditions and the surf spot, especially if you’re not familiar with the break. This will help you to get the most out of your surfing when it’s time for you to compete.
· Before the day of the contest, make sure you know where you are supposed to be and the times of your team’s heats. Keep in mind that heat times may sometimes change and you don’t want to be late. It is for this reason you are advised to get to the beach at least one hour before your scheduled heat time.

At the contest:
· Arrive early the day of the contest so you can check the surf conditions for that day and also check out some of your future competition by watching heats before yours. This will also insure that you are on time in case of any necessary changes to the schedule.
· Check in with your coach and the Beach Marshall so everyone knows that you are ready to surf.
· Check your heat time. Your team coach will help you with this, however, you should get in the practice of doing it for yourself.
· About 10 minutes before your heat is to go out, you will need to get your jersey. Locate your name on the board. Your color will appear next to your name. Jerseys will be found at the Beach Marshall’s area. If you have a problem, your coach or the Beach Marshall will help you. Most important, listen for the Beach Marshall to call your heat.
· The Beach Marshall will instruct you whether the heats are water or beach starts. He/she will also explain the specific rules and conditions of that day. Conditions may change, so listen each time the Beach Marshall gives you instructions. In advanced competition you will be required to participate in this pre heat talk.
· Be at waters edge, ready to go out, 3 to 5 minutes before your heat.

After your heat:
· Keep your jersey on until you are back on the beach at the Beach Marshall’s area. Results will be posted approximately 10 minutes after the end of each heat. Check the score sheets to see how the judges scored you and to double-check the tabulation in case of errors. This will give you some idea of what the judges are looking for and how they are scoring.
· Do not free surf in the contest area. You will be disqualified and your team will be penalized. You wouldn’t appreciate it if someone else were in the area when it was your turn to surf. Give everyone the same consideration you expect.
· Do not walk in front of the judges, their eyes may be diverted and they could miss an important score of one of your teammates.
· Don’t create any unnecessary diversions to attract attention away from the surfing.
· Remember, you are there representing your school and the sport of surfing. This is an excellent opportunity for you to do your part toward improving the image of your sport.
· Keep the beach clean. The only things to leave behind are your footprints.

Hints from the judges:
· Wave selection, the most important factor in a heat. The waves you select will determine the type and number of maneuvers you can perform. An open face wave allowing three to four maneuvers will give the judges an opportunity to see your talent and allow them to separate your scores from everyone else’s.
· How many times have you felt that you lost to an inferior surfer? My guess is it’s because they chose better waves.
· Two or three moves will beat one insane maneuver every time!
· Be patient! You only need two scoring waves and one back-up score. Just because you are allowed to catch ten waves doesn’t mean it’s required.
· Get two good waves, then look to improve on those waves. Build your scores. Remember, its quality, not quantity.
· Next time you’re at a contest, check the sheets.
· Don’t take a wave thinking you can make it better than it is. A small closeout will usually allow only one maneuver, no matter how insane it is. That one maneuver is only going to get a 3 or 4. But, an open face wave with 2 or 3 maneuvers will certainly be at least a high average or better score.
· If you perform radical controlled moves it will take you into the higher end of the scoring range.
· Remember, you don’t automatically score high due to wave quality. You must perform on that wave to get the high scores.
· It is a lot easier to get a good score on a decent wave.
· Bottom line is, surfing contests do not decide who the best surfer is, they decide who the best competitor is that day!