Skill Definitions
Scroll down to explore the definitions of every skill we’re looking for while issuing a rating.
Beginner
Points Awards: 0 or 45
Rating Rationale:
0 = Unable to complete, 45 = Able to complete
Skill definitions
Beginner
Click on each skill below to see full definition.
The surfer must be able to successfully walk their board out to waist-chest depth. They should be able to get past the oncoming breaking waves using the safe techniques outlined in the Continuum. Once there they should be able to turn their board around safely.
Implied proficiency:
- Straight takeoff
- Angled Take-Off in White Water
The surfer, on a given day, should be able to correctly avoid waves that are most unsuitable for white water surfing and choose the ones that are.
The surfer should be able to surf, in the white water, on their belly in prone position showing good control.
Implied proficiency:
- White water trimming
The surfer should be able to demonstrate the skills of accelerating, braking, trimming and carving from a prone position.
Implied proficiency:
- White water carving
Improver
Points Awards: 0 OR 45
Rating Rationale:
0 = Unable to complete, 45 = Able to complete
Skill definitions
Improver
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Skill definition: The surfer should be able to correctly surf in a straight line towards the beach whilst exhibiting the 4 good foundational components of their surf stance.
- Feet: Front foot in the middle of the board and feet shoulder-width apart. Ensuring toes are not pointed toward the nose of the board (front foot) nor toward the tail (back foot).
- Hips: Forward with weight in front foot
- Arms: Left arm over the left rail of the surfboard and right arm over the right rail of the surfboard.
- Head: Surfer looking up in the direction they are going in and not down toward the board nor the water directly in front of them.
Skill definition: The surfer should be comfortable adopting the solid stance in the event that they lose balance and need to regain it.
This is essentially the Foundational stance but lower (more bend in the knees) and with a wider separation of the surfer’s feet.
The surfer should be able to get to their feet and adjust to a Functional stance.
The surfer should look comfortable surfing white water waves. A Functional stance will enable this.
Implied proficiency:
- White water trimming
The surfer should be able to traverse BOTH right and left along white water waves.
Implied proficiency:
- White water carving
- Skill definition: The surfer should be able to turn from straight to both left and right using the tail of their board. This is visible when the nose comes up and out of the water and then drops when the surfer goes back into trim in the chosen direction.
- The surfer could also demonstrate turning from left to right or vice versa but completing the manoeuvre is not essential. Especially if the waves lack the sufficient power to complete this next step.
Implied proficiency:
- Carve to beach (C2B)
The surfer should be able to paddle themselves into an unbroken wave and drop down the face in control. This could be in prone, on their knees, or on their feet.
A Surfer is able to catch their own wave and drop down the face of the wave on their feet in a straight line towards the beach.
Implied proficiency:
- ATO to bottom/mid
- ATO to 30 degrees
- Straight takeoff/baby bottom turn
The surfer should be able to demonstrate both good position on the board as well as good paddle strokes.
Intermediate
Points Awards: 0 OR 45
Rating Rationale:
0 = Unable to complete, 45 = Able to complete
Skill definitions
Intermediate
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Skill definition: The surfer should be able to angle their board, to an appropriate angle, with their paddles after the white water has connected with the tail of their board. From here they must be able to keep that angle by effectively looking and leaning in the desired direction (laying down)
Skill definition: The surfer should be able to angle their board, to an appropriate angle, with their paddles after the white water has connected with the tail of their board. From here they must be able to keep that angle by effectively looking and leaning in the desired direction. The final part of this is to then keep the angle by continuing to look and lean throughout their pop-up.
The goal is to take off and keep the board at an angle.
Implied proficiency:
- ATO to bottom of wave
- ATO to middle of wave
- ATO to highline
Perform an Angled Take Off in the white water followed by a carving turn into the opposite direction.
Skill definition: A surfer must be able to catch their own wave and take off at an angle albeit ending up low on the wave. They will avoid nosediving and they can either slide down the face on their feet or slide down the wave on their belly and stand up at the bottom.
A Surfer is able to catch their own wave and angle their board with their paddles. They can maintain an angle throughout their take off and avoid dropping to the bottom of the wave and having to try and climb back up the face.
A surfer is able to catch their own wave, angle with their paddles, and keep the angle set by keeping rail engagement throughout the pop-up. They will not drop down the wave face.
Skill definition: A surfer is able to demonstrate two key stances. A trim stance that is around the midpoint of the surfboard and is effective for intricate adjustments of rail pressure. This stance will be narrower and taller, usually with relaxed arms.
They must also show evidence of a good carve stance. This stance will be behind the midpoint of the surfboard, as well as a wider stance. Arms are usually held out over their respective rails for balance and guidance as the surfer compresses through their carve.
Skill definition: A surfer can show evidence of avoiding coming off of the back of the wave or the wave ending because of oncoming white water by stepping back and changing direction from trimming to straight to the beach.
If both feet are moved, ideally the front foot will move back first.
Skill definition: The surfer can now perform a carve to the beach either higher up the wave face or by going past 6 o’clock.
This will need to be performed with the front foot behind the midpoint of the surfboard.
Implied proficiency:
- Cutbacks: Forehand
- Cutbacks: Backhand
Proficient
Points Awards: 0/15/30/45
Rating Rationale:
0 = Not commenced, 15 = Started learning yet incomplete, 30 = Completing manoeuvre with reduced control, 45 = Completing manoeuvre with control.
Skill definitions
Proficient
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Skill definition: The surfer can demonstrate the ability to adapt their pop-up so that they land with their front foot behind the midpoint of the surfboard instead of in the middle.
This could be straight, at an angle, or in a fade.
Implied proficiency:
- Faded take-off
Skill definition: A surfer is able to demonstrate that they can take off straight and then perform a bottom turn.
This could be from a tail pop or by popping up in the middle of the board, before stepping back to perform the carve.
This bottom turn doesn’t need to draw off of the bottom of the wave but it must be an obvious carve from straight to side as oppossed to trimming from the bottom or middle of the wave in order climb up the face.
Implied proficiency:
- Faded take-off
Skill definition: A surfer must be able to exhibit skills in changing their speed.
This could be by changing the trim line on the wave face (lower for slower or higher for faster), by moving their feet forward to go faster, or backwards to go slower, or by demonstrating the skill set of pumping.
Skill definition: A surfer must be able to take off on their feet, on the tail of the board, with the board pointing the opposite direction intended to surf.
They should then be able to carve towards the intended surfing direction comfortably and then settle the board into trim by moving forward on the board.
If the surfer goes fade to cutback then this is also accepted
Skill definition: The surfer should be able to perform the two carving turns necessary to do a cutback in the right place on the wave. First a heelside turn and then followed by a toeside turn. Whilst this doesn’t have to be a roundhouse, connecting with the top of the white water after the first turn, there should be evidence that the surfer can bring themselves back towards the pocket before returning to surf in the original surfing direction.
Implied proficiency:
- Roundhouse cutback with rebound - forehand variation
- Drop knee cutback
- Layback cutback
Skill definition: The surfer should be able to perform the two carving turns necessary to do a cutback in the right place on the wave. First a toeside turn and then followed by a heelside turn. Whilst this doesn’t have to be a roundhouse, connecting with the top of the white water after the first turn, there should be evidence that the surfer is able to bring themselves back towards the pocket before returning to surf in the original surfing direction.
Implied proficiency:
- Roundhouse cutback with rebound - backhand variation
Skill definition: The surfer should be able to perform a cutback and they should be able to finish their first turn by connecting (the bottom) of their board with the whitewater that was initially behind them before then going back in the original direction.
The goal here is to avoid outrunning the wave and/or bring the surfer closer to the pocket (the steepest part of the unbroken wave)
Skill definition: The surfer should show good evidence of being able to have their board land on top of white water before coming back down the face.
This doesn’t necessarily need to involve a bottom turn but the white water does need to connect with the bottom of the surfboard and not the top.
This could be a re-entry or a floater.
Implied proficiency:
- Advanced off the lip
Skill definition: The surfer can read the wave and perform the skills learnt, to this point in the framework or beyond, applicably.
When a slow section of a wave is ahead they should be able to slow down accordingly. This could be a change of trim or, even better, a cutback or check turn.
When the wave is moving faster the surfer should be able to increase their speed, with line changes and/or footwork
When the wave is ending they should be able to finish the wave with either a re-entry, carve to the beach, or kick-out (carve off the top of the wave in control)
This is the gateway to the next level so wave reading should be very evident.
Advanced
Points Awards: 0/15/30/45
Rating Rationale:
0 = Not commenced, 15 = Started learning yet incomplete, 30 = Completing manoeuvre with reduced control, 45 = Completing manoeuvre with control.
Skill definitions
Advanced
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The surfer must be able to, whilst riding forehand, commit a minimum of 2 complete cross steps forwards on the board up towards the nose, completing the minimum of 2 steps with control by continuing to ride the wave or enter a noseride with control. The surfer will acquire more points by demonstrating control of their board, no loss of balance and smooth, soft steps which don’t interrupt the boards trim across the wave.
The surfer must be able to, whilst riding backhand, commit a minimum of 2 complete cross steps forwards on the board up towards the nose, completing the minimum of 2 steps with control by continuing to ride the wave or enter a noseride with control. The surfer will acquire more points by demonstrating control of their board, no loss of balance and smooth, soft steps which don’t interrupt the boards trim across the wave.
The surfer must complete the mid-point noseride setup, starting from the tail and completing two cross steps to the mid-point or just beyond the mid-point of the board. From here the surfer must clearly stabilise and assist the correct line of the board across the wave by engaging the inside rail into the wave from the mid-point of the board. If this skill is demonstrated leading into a noseride with control of their board, no loss of balance and smooth, soft steps which don’t interrupt the boards trim across the wave, full points may be awarded. Points will be deducted if it is deemed the noseride is incomplete due to error in board positioning from the setup.
The surfer must complete the bottom turn noseride setup, starting from the tail and engaging either a baby bottom turn or advanced bottom turn, at the lower 3rd of the wave. As the board takes a positive angle heading up the wave face, the first 2 steps are to be taken from the tail to the middle of the wave and the proceeding steps are to be taken in the top half of the wave to reach the nose either with a hang 5 or hang 10. If this skill is demonstrated leading into a noseride with control of their board, no loss of balance and smooth, soft steps which don’t interrupt the boards trim across the wave, full points may be awarded. Points will be deducted if it is deemed the noseride is incomplete due to error in board positioning from the setup.
Implied proficiency:
- Setup: Faded takeoff
- Setup: Cutback
The surfer must complete the stall noseride setup, starting from the tail of the board and applying pressure to the tail using the back foot to slow the board down across the wave face and pull the surfer closer into the pocket of the wave. The surfer must then successfully cross step to the nose. If this skill is demonstrated leading into a noseride with control of their board, no loss of balance and smooth, soft steps which don’t interrupt the boards trim across the wave, full points may be awarded. Points will be deducted if it is deemed the noseride is incomplete due to error in board positioning from the setup.
The surfer must complete the angled takeoff noseride setup, starting from the prone position on the board upon takeoff for the wave, angling a minimum of 45 degrees across the wave aiming away from the pocket/white water before popping up. From the pop-up, no large manoeuvres or corrections in board position on the wave are to be completed between the pop-up and the noseride, however subtle corrections of inside and outside rail pressure to optimise trim will be allowed. The surfer must then successfully cross step to the nose. If this skill is demonstrated leading into a noseride with control of their board, no loss of balance and smooth, soft steps which don’t interrupt the boards trim across the wave, full points may be awarded. Points will be deducted if it is deemed the noseride is incomplete due to error in board positioning from the setup.
The surfer must complete the faded takeoff noseride setup, starting from the prone position on the board upon takeoff for the wave, angling a minimum of 45 degrees across the wave aiming towards the pocket/white water before popping up. From the pop-up and starting at the tail, the surfer must engage either a baby bottom turn (shallow fade) at the mid to top 3rd of the wave, or advanced bottom turn (deep fade) at the lower 3rd of the wave. As the board takes a positive angle heading up the wave face, the first 2 steps are to be taken from the tail to the middle of the wave and the proceeding steps are to be taken in the top half of the wave to reach the nose either with a hang 5 or hang 10. If this skill is demonstrated leading into a noseride with control of their board, no loss of balance and smooth, soft steps which don’t interrupt the boards trim across the wave, full points may be awarded. Points will be deducted if it is deemed the noseride is incomplete due to error in board positioning from the setup.
- The surfer must complete the cutback noseride setup, correctly recognising they are too far out on the shoulder and utilising any cutback variation (carve to the beach, carve into white water, roundhouse cutback) to pull their board into a more critical placement on the wave, from which they can approach the nose for a noseride either as they exit or shortly after exiting their cutback. If this skill is demonstrated leading into a noseride with control of their board, no loss of balance and smooth, soft steps which don’t interrupt the boards trim across the wave, full points may be awarded. Points will be deducted if it is deemed the noseride is incomplete due to error in board positioning from the setup.
*Note: Once the cutback has been performed, techniques from other noseride setups such as the stall, mid-point setup or bottom turn setup may be utilised to approach the nose.
The surfer must complete the hang 5, with 5 toes hanging over the nose of the board for a minimum of one second in order to demonstrate commitment to the noseride. The noseride will only be deemed complete if the surfer manages to establish control after completing 2 steps backwards from the nose, by either continued trim from around the mid-point of the board, or riding the wave further back on the board. The hang 5 will not be deemed complete/successful if the toes are behind the nose of the board. A stretch/cheater 5 position will not receive points in this category.
The surfer must complete the hang 10, with 10 toes hanging over the nose of the board from a minimum of one second in order to demonstrate commitment to the noseride. The hang 10 will on be deemed complete if the surfer manages establish control after completing 2 steps backwards from the nose, by either continued trim from around the mid-point of the board, or riding the wave further back on the board. The hang 10 will not be deemed complete/successful if the toes are behind the nose of the board.
- The surfer must complete an advanced bottom turn and demonstrate the functional use of this turn into the proceeding manoeuvre, which may be a continuation of trim or entry into a cutback, off the lip, aerial or bottom turn setup for the noseride. The bottom turn must engage the bottom 3rd of the wave, and must achieve a minimum of a 45 degree angle down the wave face. The bottom turn must also be completed in one smooth, continuous line. Where the surfer breaks/interrupts the line of the bottom turn, this may indicate a loss of control or flow and will therefore receive less points.
*An advanced bottom turn to exit the wave (kicking out) will not demonstrate completion of the bottom turn and therefore will not be counted.
The surfer must complete an advanced off the lip manoeuvre (re-entry, floater) and demonstrate control in finishing the manoeuvre, either by riding out of the turn with clear control following its completion, or by continuing to ride the wave. The surfer must utilise an advanced bottom turn into the manoeuvre (see criteria above) and the surfer must engage with the top of a vertical wave face or a breaking section with the underside of their board.
Competitive
Points Awards: 0 - 50 (Increments of 5)
Rating Rationale:
(0-50 scale in 5 point increments): All skills in competitive are just that = ‘competitive’. As such, each manoeuvre will be closely analysed and personally judged using a professional criteria which entails performing each skill with control, in the critical section of the wave. The surfer who performs this to the highest degree of difficulty with the most style, flow and grace, will receive the highest rating for each given skill. Just like in a surfing contest, the ratings system will be an adjustable scale, and as such, if someone blows us out of the water with a manoeuvre performed to the criteria above, the scale will be reset with this manoeuvre taking the highest rating of 50, which then may impact other ratings which must be adjusted.
See below the points breakdown that will be utilised to judge the competitive manouvres:
0 = Unable/incomplete
5 – 15 = Developing
20 – 25 = Fair
30 – 35 = Good
40 – 45 = Very good
50 = Excellent
Skill definitions
Competitive
Click on each skill below to see full definition.
The surfer must engage a forehand drop-knee cutback or backhand drop-knee bottom turn to the criteria outlined in the rating rationale. Body positioning, precisely adequate rotation of the hips and back foot will be important in achieving a high rating for this skill. The surfer must complete the turn and continue riding the wave for this skill to be deemed complete.
The surfer must engage a forehand turn and engage their rear hand with the wall of the wave without disrupting the speed, flow or control of the turn. A higher degree of difficulty with this skill will be demonstrated where the surfers lower body is further extended and the proximity of the surfers trunk to the wave is increased, whilst maintaining speed and control. The surfer must complete the turn and continue riding the wave for this skill to be deemed complete.
The surfer must functionally utilise the grab rail position with the correct hand as outlined below. Functionality in this context entails utilising the grab rail to enhance the tilt and engagement of the opposing rail and as such improve the speed, line and control of the turn. Where the grab rail pressure decreases the speed, flow or interrupts the line of the turn, this will affect the rating for this skill. The surfer must complete the turn and continue riding the wave for this skill to be deemed complete.
Hand use:
- Forehand: cutbacks = rear hand, bottom turns = lead hand
- Backhand: cutbacks = lead hand, bottom turns = rear hand
The surfer must perform a regular kick behind, immediately followed by a backwards kick of the opposite leg. The surfer must then successfully complete a runback as described in the runback skill definition. Where the surfer does not commit a complete kick with the second leg, this will affect the rating for this skill.
The surfer must commit to standing in a backwards hang 10 position, with their heels over the nose of the board, before successfully completing a runback as described in the runback skill definition. Where the surfers heels are positioned further back from the nose of the board, this will affect the rating for this skill.
The surfer must walk backwards a minimum of 3 completed steps whilst walking towards the tail, completing the runback in switch, and then adjust their stance to their regular stance to continue riding. The ‘circle stomp’ where only 2 steps back are taken before the stance correction phase will not be considered a completion of this manouvre.
Whilst noseriding (either hanging 5 or hanging 10) the surfer must functionally move the rear foot further back on the board to decrease nose pressure and further up the board to increase the degree of difficulty of the noseride. Functionality in this context entails using this skill to extend out the duration of the noseride, especially when holding a noseride that will lead into a more critical section offering a noseride of a higher degree of difficulty to be performed. The surfer must then resume the normal noseride position and complete the noseride successfully to deem this skill complete.
Whilst hanging 5, the surfer must functionally apply pressure onto the inside and/or outside rail. Functionality in this context entails using this skill to optimise the position of the board on the wave whilst noseriding to increase the duration of the noseride or improve the critical nature of the noseride. The surfer must then resume the normal noseride position and complete the noseride successfully to deem this skill complete.
The surfer must, whilst on the nose (in a hang 5 or hang 10 position), apply pressure onto the outside and/or inside rail to functionally manoeuvre themselves on the wave whilst noseriding. Functionality in this context entails using this skill to extend the duration of a noseride in the critical pocket of the wave or avoid sections which will disrupt the speed and flow of the noseride. The surfer must then resume the normal noseride position and complete the noseride successfully to deem this skill complete. A surfer performing steering from the hang 10 position will be considered a higher degree of difficulty which will be reflected in the rating provided.
Implied proficiency:
- Noseride: Lateral pressures
The surfer must, whilst on the nose (hang 5 or hang 10 position), engage their hand in the wall of the wave to functionally stall/slow themselves down on the wave to prolong their time on the nose. This manoeuvre is considered functional where it pulls the surfer back into the critical pocket and/or prevents them from noseriding too far out on the shoulder. The surfer must then resume the normal noseride position and complete the noseride successfully to deem this skill complete.
Starting from the regular noseride position (hang 5 or hang 10), the surfer must then, whilst keeping the lead noseriding foot in place, kick the rear foot in front of the nose of the board. The surfer must then resume the normal noseride position and complete the noseride successfully to deem this skill complete.
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The surfer must rotate the body and foot in contact with the nose into a reverse hang 5 position, whilst simultaneously kicking the elevated foot behind them in front of the nose of the board. The surfer must then successfully complete a runback as described in the runback skill definition.
The surfer must read the wave correctly and with control enter the barrel from behind the peak. This skill may be rewarded full points if the barrel ride is not complete, however speed, control and optimal positioning within the barrel is clearly demonstrated.
The surfer must read the wave correctly and engage the correct arm into the wave (rear arm when forehand, lead arm when backhand) which successfully slows their board down in the pocket and allow them to enter the barrel. This skill may be rewarded full points if the barrel ride is not complete, however speed, control and optimal positioning within the barrel is clearly demonstrated.
The surfer must read the wave correctly, and engage a bottom turn to check turn to prepare for the barrel, which successfully acts to slow their board down in the pocket and allow them to enter the barrel. This skill may be rewarded full points if the barrel ride is not complete, however speed, control and optimal positioning within the barrel is clearly demonstrated.
From within the barrel, the surfer must opt for the ideal line and exit of their barrel ride. With the doggie door exit, a solid stance should be performed to demonstrate control. The surfer should resume their wave demonstrating completion, either on the face of the wave or in the white water.
From within the barrel, the surfer must opt for the ideal line and exit of their barrel ride utilising the top 2/3rds of the wave. The surfer should resume their wave demonstrating completion, either on the face of the wave or in the white water. Where the surfer is clipped by the lip due to running their line too high, this will affect the rating for this skill.
The surfer must engage with the lip to release the fins out of the wave and land back into the white water or wave face and continue riding.