Want to Surf Competitively? Here's How to Get Started.

Aidan Sautner
Aug 18
4 min read

From the likes of legendary surfers like Kelly Slater and John John Florence to surfers grinding it out on the Qualifying Series, every surfer's competitive talent did not spawn overnight, and, just like everyone else, they too were faced with preparation for the ever-daunting first contest.

So, if you want to launch your competitive career, or you just want to surf in your first contest, here's everything you need to know.

Learn the Ropes

Before heats, jerseys, and judges, you should attain a well-grounded knowledge of the sport. You’ll need to have all the basics down, from paddling, to wave selection, to simply standing up and riding a wave. It would be ideal to have spent a few years consistently surfing.

Of course, this is all based on your own learning curve. If you have quickly progressed to the point you can surf well both frontside and backside, (as well as mixing in a few maneuvers) then by all means take the next steps.

What Contests Should I Do?

Stand-alone/local contests

Every year there are thousands of smaller, local contests that occur around the globe. They are often put on by local brands, stores, or the city as a whole. This is usually the best starting part for a new competitive surfer, with entry fees being low and stoke levels high. Check your local newspaper or online to see when such contests might be occurring.

NSSA

The National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) runs contests on the east and west coast of the United States.

They run events year-round with divisions that range from ages 10 and under to 55 and up. They also have circuits dedicated solely to middle-school, high-school, and college surf teams.

ISA Surfing

The International Surfing Association (ISA) runs the world championships for shortboard, longboard, para surfing, SUP, and bodyboard. Qualification for these events can be quite difficult, and is often reserved for the most skilled surfers in the world.

WSL QS/CS/CT

This is where the most elite level of competitive surfing takes place. Surfers from around the globe begin by competing on the regional circuit (the QS). The top competitors from each region will earn spots on the Challenger Series (CS), which exists as a second tier to the Championship Tour (CT). QS events are where the path to professionalism begins, and can be open for all to enter. If you feel your surfing is on par with the world's best, this is where your talent will be put to the test.

How Does Competition Work?

For most contests, each heat will run for fifteen to twenty minutes and have about six people surfing at once. From those six the top three will advance on to the next round in a bracket style of elimination leading up to the final.

About fifteen to twenty minutes prior to your heat, make sure to visit the check-in-tent that is usually located right next to the judges scaffolding. There, competitors are each given a different jersey color which will be used to distinguish themselves to the judges during the heat.

When in Heats

No matter the level of competition, it’s best to be relaxed and loose in the water. In a way, you should treat the heat like a free surf. Judges tend to have a criteria for scoring that is defined by:

- Speed, power, and flow

- Innovation and progression

- Commitment and degree of difficulty

- Variety of maneuvers

- Combination of major maneuvers

Essentially, you should aim to be on the biggest waves and doing a series of critical maneuvers close to the pocket. That being said, take note of what the waves are offering prior to your heat. It’s rare to score perfect waves in competition, and more often than not you’ll be forced to make due with a walled, windy, beachbreak.

Surfing, like life itself, is unpredictable.

Each wave is scored on a zero to ten scale. Scores are as follows:

- 0 – 1.9 = poor

- 2 – 4.9 = fair

- 5 – 7.9 = good

- 8 – 10 = Excellent

Almost all contests score your top two waves. In fifteen minute heats it can be challenging to ride more than 4 waves, so be selective. Only take off on waves you see potential to increase your score, and be prepared to paddle back to the lineup as quickly as possible.

In select events, your scores will also be announced. This makes it much easier to tell where you stand in the heat you are involved in (if you’re lucky enough to hear the scores out amidst the waves in the line-up).

Following the conclusion of your heat, return the jersey and take note of the results. If you find yourself moving on, celebrate with friends, see when your next heat is, and get ready to go.

If you’re subjected to a loss, keep your head up and make note of things you could do next time to improve your scores.

It is in times like these that one should remember what the great film director, George Lucas, once said: “It’s okay to lose; just don’t lose the lesson.”