Surfing
Surfing is judged riding of waves in heats: a small group of surfers, usually two to four, share the waves for a set time; only each surfer's two highest-scoring rides count. Five judges mark each ride out of 10; the highest and lowest marks are dropped and the other three averaged. A surfer's two best waves make a heat total out of 20. The surfer with priority has the right to choose a wave, and nobody may get in their way.
New to surfing? Start here
How long
Heats in which each surfer's best waves are scored
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Olympic Games (surfing)Held since 2021.Every 4 years · Holder: Paris 2024, at Teahupo'o
- 2World Surf League Championship TourThe professional tour; its winners are the world champions most fans follow.Yearly · Holder: Men's: Yago Dora · Women's: Molly Picklum
India
India has not competed in Olympic surfing; it is not among the participating nations of 2020 or 2024. No Indian has won the Championship Tour [the two pages].
- Surfing at the Olympic Games: No medal; not among the participating nations of 2020 or 2024
- World Surf League Championship Tour: No champion
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- BrazilSurfing at the Olympic Games: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze (latest 2024); World Surf League Championship Tour: 5 titles (latest 2025)
- United StatesSurfing at the Olympic Games: 2 golds (latest 2024); World Surf League Championship Tour: 2 titles (latest 2024)
- AustraliaSurfing at the Olympic Games: 1 silver, 1 bronze (latest 2024); World Surf League Championship Tour: 2 titles (latest 2025)
- FranceSurfing at the Olympic Games: 1 gold, 1 bronze (latest 2024)
- JapanSurfing at the Olympic Games: 1 silver, 1 bronze (latest 2020); Surfing at the Asian Games: 2 golds, 1 bronze (latest 2026)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | International Surfing Association (ISA), Rulebook and Contest Administration Manual, version of 30 July 2026; the professional tour is run by the World Surf League |
| International federation | International Surfing Association (ISA) |
| In India | Surfing Federation of India: recognised, on the MYAS list for 2026 |
Where and when it is played
In heats on the waves; a heat runs between 15 and 45 minutes, started by one horn blast and ended by two. The big events: the Olympic Games every four years (shortboard) and the World Surf League Championship Tour every year.