So you wanna be a champion... Competition Strategy in Black and White

Competition Strategy

Doing some reading on the internet can help you fine tune your competition skills. Following what other top athletes are doing might also be a good idea. So, in the next few posts we’ll be speaking to some of the top guys in our sport, identifying their strategies and ways of looking at contest riding.
For now though, this is could be considered the basics for any aspiring contest rider.

Precontest Training

Time your paddle outs - every time
Surf a heat for the first 15 minutes of every free session
Go Big in free surfs! Over emphasize your manoeuvres and length of rides especially during free surfing
Paddle hard, work out, drink lots of water and stay in the shade
It helps to know the place and wave that has been chosen as the competition venue, if you have never been there before you should get there early in the morning to ride before the competition starts
Stretch every day and tune your equipment (Make sure your board is waxed the day before the competition and have a spare leash and fins)

Heat Strategy

1. Watch at least the one heat if not two heats before your own. Study how the waves are breaking; where are the sets coming in and how often; judge a heat in the sand; what does it look like from the beach
2. Check in on time and make sure you put your contest vest on from where you pick it up (this is for the sponsors, but you will be fined if you don’t.)
3. Do not free surf too much prior to your heat
4. Drink lots of water and stay in the shade
5. Use a watch
6. Remember only your best 2 waves will score, so make sure you get 2 scoring waves
7. Try to catch the first quality wave of the heat
8. Manoeuvres in the white water are not scored, so rather get back outside and get another set wave - go for the big manoeuvres outside!
9. Outpaddle your opponent. The option of hassling in the water is up to you, but you should try be out to the peak as fast as possible.
10. Finish each wave cleanly – Show the judges that you are in control
11. Always check your heat sheets. Look at what scores well for the day.
12. Do not catch too many waves - be selective and push into deeper positioning



* ALWAYS BE A GOOD SPORT! IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU! REMAIN POSITIVE, UPBEAT AND WEAR A SMILE AT ALL TIMES - IN THE WATER, ON THE BEACH OR IN THE PARKING LOT! IF YOU LOSE A HEAT LEARN FROM THAT LOSS AND LOOK AT HOW TO IMPROVE. DO NOT COMPLAIN. POSITIVE ATTITUDES HAVE A WAY OF ATTRACTING POSITIVE HAPPENINGS AND PEOPLE. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR NEGATIVE ONES. BE SMART, BE HAPPY! MANY THINGS ARE BEYOND YOUR CONTROL EXCEPT YOUR ATTITUDE WHY NOT MAKE IT A GOOD ONE!