How Does a WSL Surfing Heat Work?

A WSL Championship Tour heat pits two surfers head-to-head in a 30-minute window (35 minutes for the Final). Each surfer paddles out, catches as many waves as the ocean offers, and only their two highest-scoring waves count toward their heat total. There is no limit on how many waves a surfer may attempt — every wave beyond the best two is either a score improvement or discarded.

The heat total is expressed out of 20.00 points — the theoretical maximum achieved by scoring a perfect 10.00 on two consecutive waves. In practice, heat totals between 12.00 and 16.00 are considered competitive at Championship Tour level, while totals above 17.00 are exceptional.

The surfer with the higher heat total at the sound of the horn advances to the next round. If one surfer holds a lead the other cannot mathematically beat with their remaining waves — known as a combination situation — commentators will say the trailing surfer is "in a combination" or "needing a combination," meaning they must replace both their current scores to win.

At certain events such as Teahupo'o and Pipeline, where powerful but infrequent waves define the session, 30 minutes can mean as few as 6–8 catchable waves per surfer. Managing time and wave selection under that pressure is a critical tactical skill.

WSL judges do not score subjectively. They evaluate every ride against five official criteria, all carrying equal weight in the final assessment. A ride must score highly across multiple criteria to reach the 8.0+ range — no single element, however spectacular, can carry a wave to an excellent score on its own.

1. Commitment and degree of difficulty — How technically demanding were the maneuvers attempted? Judges reward surfers who take critical positions on the wave rather than playing it safe on the shoulder. A deep barrel or a full-rotation air scores more than a safe cutback on the same section of wave.

2. Innovative and progressive maneuvers — Surfing evolves constantly. Judges reward moves that push the sport's boundaries — a new aerial variation, a deeper tube position, or a combination never executed at that venue before.

3. Combination of major maneuvers — A single impressive trick does not equal an excellent wave. Judges look for surfers who link multiple high-quality maneuvers from the take-off to the closeout section, demonstrating complete wave utilization.

4. Variety of maneuvers — Repeating the same move reduces a score. Judges reward surfers who use multiple different maneuver types — airs, barrel rides, powerful carves, snaps — showing full range.

5. Speed, power, and flow — The foundational quality criterion. A surfer generating maximum speed, hitting turns with explosive power, and transitioning between maneuvers without interruption scores higher than one who is technically impressive but labored or mechanical.

Judges apply all five criteria simultaneously and arrive at a holistic score. Learn how this compares to other judged sports on JudgeMate.

An interference is called when a surfer without priority catches a wave that the priority holder was actively paddling for. It is the most penalized — and most debated — call in professional surfing.

The mechanics are precise: if the P1 (priority) surfer is visibly paddling for a wave and the P2 (non-priority) surfer takes that same wave, the head judge calls an interference. The WSL rulebook defines two levels of penalty depending on the severity:

Priority interference (the most common call): the penalized surfer's heat total is calculated using only their single best wave — their second-best wave is effectively zeroed out. In a close heat where both scores are strong, losing that second wave is nearly always decisive.

Lesser interference: the penalized surfer's second-best wave score is halved rather than removed entirely, making it a less catastrophic but still significant penalty.

Where interference calls generate controversy is in the judgment of intent and paddle direction. Did the P1 surfer genuinely commit to the wave, or were they merely drifting in that direction? Was the P2 surfer's take-off on a different section of the same wave, or an entirely separate wave? These edge cases are ruled by the head judge in real time with no instant-replay review during the heat.

Accidental interference — where a surfer realizes mid-paddle that their opponent has priority and kicks out before standing — is not penalized. The interference only stands if the non-priority surfer actually rides the wave.

Interference calls can swing the result of an entire heat and have decided world title races. At the 2019 Margaret River Pro, multiple interference calls in a single heat demonstrated how priority management — not just surfing ability — separates elite competitors from the rest.

Judges and competitors train specifically to manage priority situations under pressure. See how competition officiating works across action sports on JudgeMate.