INTERFERENCE RULES
Although two surfers may each have inside position on those respective peaks, the
surfer who is first to their feet shall be deemed to have entire wave possession and the
second surfer must give way by cutting back or kicking out before hindering the rightof-way surfer.
b. If two surfers stand at the same time on two separate peaks that eventually meet, then:
1. If they both give way by cutting back or kicking out, so that neither is hindered,
there will be no penalty.
2. If they cross paths and collide or hinder one another, the judges will penalise the
surfer who has been the aggressor at the point of contact.
3. If neither surfer gives way, by cutting back or kicking out, and both share
responsibility for the confrontation, then a double interference will be called.
3. THE RIGHT-OF-WAY CRITERIA
The choice of right-of-way criteria for each of the above possible situations is the
responsibility of the Head Judge or the senior available judge in that order.
4. SNAKING
a. The surfer who is farthest inside at the initial point of takeoff and has established wave
possession is entitled to that wave for the duration of their ride, even though another
surfer may subsequently takeoff behind them. The judges will not penalise the surfer
because they have right-of-way even though they are in front.
b. If the second surfer has not hindered the original surfer with right-of-way, then the
judges may choose not to penalise them and will score both surfers’ rides.
c. If in the opinion of the judges, the second surfer has interfered with (snaked) the
original surfer with right-of- way, by causing them to pull out or lose the wave, then
interference may be called on the second surfer, even though they are behind the first
when the penalty was called.
d. A surfer may not takeoff on the other side of a fully broken wave peak to gain
possession of the opposite wave face when a surfer has already established
possession of the opposite wave face.
An interference will be called if the majority of the judges feel that the surfer riding
from behind the broken peak has hindered the scoring potential of the surfer who has
already established possession/right-of-way in that direction.
e. The above situations apply only to multiple surfer heats or one-on-one in non priority
situations.
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