How to be a Judge for SUP contests - Please help!

I believe the key point is are the turns initiated by the paddle! Many people surf with a paddle in their hand and initiate turns using the feet only.

The other thing is whether your judging to short board or long board criteria?

my 2 cents

Since it's harder to turn without a paddle, why isn't it scored higher?

Hey Lobes ,

This file from ISA 2008 has probably changed or been upgraded, this has some helpful info for you to start on.
I recall some changes made just prior to the first SUP Nationals at Port Macquarie.

Rich


International Surfing Association
STAND UP PADDLE [SUP] SURFING RULES:


Introduction:

SUP surfing is unique and can be done many ways but for competition it is important to set criteria’s
that set it apart from just longboarding. The paddle is a tool and a big part of the sport therefore it is
not just used to help catch a wave, but is necessary as a tool [aid] for riding the waves [similar to a Ski
pole when skiing].
Too many times we see great longboarders just catching the wave using the paddle, then ripping into
their manoeuvres without using the paddle any further in any practical [beneficial to performance]
way. Often it is just “held”.


Judging Criteria:

A surfer must demonstrate board handling skills in the transition phase and the surfing phase of their
performance, for it to be considered complete. A surfer must perform radical controlled manoeuvres,
using the paddle as a key tool, in the critical sections of a wave with speed, power and flow to
maximize scoring potential. Innovative / progressive surfing as well as variety of repertoire
[manoeuvres], wave negotiation and use of the paddle to increase the intensity of the manoeuvres,
will all be taken into account when awarding points for SUP surfing. The SUP surfer who executes
these criteria with the maximum degree of difficulty and commitment on the waves will be rewarded
with the higher scores.

SUP Scoring Considerations

1. The judging scale will be 10 points with normal ISA contest rules applying.
2. The aggregate of the best rides will decide the final score for each surfer and interferences
adjudicated according to the ISA Surfing Rulebook.
3. Good SUP transition time [end of one wave to paddle-in to next one] should be spent
standing and paddling with good technique and stable wave negotiation. Kneeling, lying or
sitting whilst paddling, unless necessary for safety is regarded as bad SUP form. Note the
critical element: To the best of a rider’s ability he / she is expected to stand up on the board at
all times throughout the heat, unless the situation of safety dictates otherwise.
4. Entry into the wave should be by paddling in the standing position to enable the maximum
score.
5. Surfing - average scores for all manoeuvres will be allocated unless the paddle is used as a
pivot or tool in manoeuvres, then power, radical moves, critical sections and degree of
difficulty are the deciding factors.
6. Competitors will start from the beach unless instructed otherwise by the Contest Director.
7. “Using the paddle”: The paddle is correctly used in SUP surfing to do three main things: it is
used in turns as a brace, a pivot, and a force multiplier. A surfer will be scored higher when he
uses the paddle in some or all of these three ways to achieve sharper or more powerful turns.
8. Tricks such as twirling or otherwise using the paddle in a non-functional manner will earn little
or no extra score for the surfer.
9. Traditional longboard surfing compared to progressive SUP surfing techniques: Because the
paddle allows large SUP boards to be turned with high rates of speed and power, stand-up
paddle surfing is deemed to be, at the competition level, a performance-centred branch of
surfing, much like conventional shortboarding. Footwork, nose riding and style points will be
scored, but this will be done in their relationship to the criteria of degree of difficulty and
critical nature of wave positioning.
10. If a rider cannot sustain the standing position throughout the heat [in transition and surfing],
this will be regarded in the same manner as improper use of the paddle and judges will only
allocate average scores to his / her performances at best. This fact should be a mandatory
part of the contestant’s pre-heat briefing.
Officials Responsibility:
As SUP is a new discipline of surfing in terms of competition, it is the responsibility of every Contest
Director and Judge to promote the above ideas and criteria, to ensure all competitors develop a
standard approach and understanding of what is expected from an elite performer in SUP.

ISA: Edit July 10, 2008.

Oh cool thanks session. That looks like what I need to know. I'll have a good read once I'm off my iPhone and on a decent size screen LoL

When judging a sport like SUP, you have to look past the equipment and how it's used and see what the rider is able to do on the wave. The things I look at are,

- Wave choice
- Take off intensity and positioning
- Calculation of moves (are they in a critical position on the wave or out on the shoulder).
- Intensity of moves, the power and drive carried through the move or the amount of bucket thrown.
- Fluidity and intention of moves. A smooth delivery with a planned outcome.
- Use of all opportunities on the wave, i.e. barrels, floaters, cutbacks/roundhouse, etc...
- Length of the ride

With all this in mind you can basically start each wave score with 1 (for actually catching a wave) then add in the points as they tick them off the list so to speak.

The paddle versus non paddle moves, doesn't really phase me, but I know you can get so much more out of a SUP with the Paddle, so you'd be silly not to use it. However some short SUP's can be thrown around without paddle aid. The use of equipment is at the hands of the rider, and is their decision to choice appropriately for the condition and the style of wave/riding they are doing. And you should score them accordingly to their ride, not weather they did their speedo string up.

JB

Did the Level 1 judging course on the weekend and really enjoyed it. Glenn Elliott from Surfing Australia flew in to run it and I found him to be a first class instructor who did an excellent job of delivering the course and explaining the details and reasoning behind it all.

If anyone gets the chance to do the course I thoroughly recommend as it will help with your appreciation and understanding of the sport of surfing.

Thanks to all but especially JB and Session for their advice in this thread, it was very helpful. I also copied it and emailed it round to the other people in my judging course and they really appreciated it.