Surfing Guides
Practical guides for surf coaches and surfers: how competition heats are scored and won, and how to read a surf forecast to choose the right session.
Missing a topic or have a question? Email [email protected] or join our Discord server.
Competition
How Are Surf Heats Scored?CompetitionThe 0–10 wave scale, judging criteria, two-wave totals, tiebreakers and the "needs" calculation.
Priority Rules in Surfing, ExplainedCompetitionHow the right-of-way queue works, interference penalties, and priority strategy for 2–4 surfer heats.
Surf Training Drills for CompetitionCompetitionSix drills coaches use to train heat craft: simulated heats, needs-chasing, priority battles and pressure finishes.
Surf forecasting
How to Read a Surf ForecastForecastSwell height, period, direction, wind, tide and wave energy: what each number means and how to put them together.
Swell Period ExplainedForecastWhy a 14-second swell surfs bigger and cleaner than a 7-second one, and how to tell groundswell from windswell.
Offshore, Onshore and Cross-shore WindForecastHow wind direction shapes the wave face, why offshore is prized, why onshore blows it out, and what cross-shore does.
Wave Energy in Surf ForecastsForecastWhat the kJ figure means, why it beats wave height alone, and the energy ranges that suit each level of surfer.
How Tides WorkForecastAn interactive 3D model of the Earth, Moon and Sun: why most coasts get two tides a day, and what springs and neaps are.