What happens if two surfers finish a heat on the same total?
A · Advanced · Ties and procedures · 3 of 4The surfer with the higher single best wave is placed ahead. If those are equal too, the best three waves are compared, then the best four and onwards. If the surfers are still level after all their waves, the scores are worked out again using all five judges' marks.
How it works
- Only those tied: the tie-break is "applied only to the surfers directly involved in the tie".
- First: the wave score average for the one best wave alone.
- Then: the total for "the THREE Best Waves".
- Then: the four best waves, continuing "until the tie is broken".
- If still level: the two best waves are averaged again with all five judges' marks, none dropped.
- Then: the one best wave with all five judges, then three, then four.
- Rounding: the computer's figure to two decimal places is the official score, even where more decimals would separate the surfers.
- Without a computer: ties are broken by comparing the judges' placings of the tied surfers, with the majority deciding.
- Unbreakable ties: if every step fails and the tie decides who advances, the tied surfers surf again, in a heat of no more than 15 minutes.
The glossary has the heat tie-break, the score, the judges, the heat, the ride and the re-surf entry.
Tricky cases
Two surfers total 13.50, one with 8.50 and 5.00 and the other with 7.00 and 6.50. Who goes through?
The surfer with the 8.50. The one best wave decides first.
Both surfers have identical best and second-best waves. What next?
Their three best waves are added and compared, then four, until the tie is broken.
One of the tied surfers rode only two waves. How is the three-wave count made?
The rules read do not say. A missing third wave would add nothing to that surfer's total.
Could a final end in a shared title?
Not where advancement is at stake: a completely unbreakable tie is re-surfed between the tied surfers. The rule read is about advancing to the next round, and does not mention a final.
Why the rule exists
Going to the single best wave first rewards the highest peak of surfing in the heat, which fits a sport judged on quality. Counting further back then rewards depth. Bringing in all five judges' marks last is a way of finding a difference that the dropped high and low marks had hidden.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Computer scoring | Best one wave, then three, then four | ISA, tabulation by computer (iii) |
| Still tied | All five judges' marks counted | ISA, tabulation by computer (iv) |
| Manual scoring | Plus and minus comparison of judges' placings | ISA, Tabulator duties viii |
| Unbreakable tie | Re-surf of up to 15 minutes between the tied surfers | ISA, Resurfing Heats 3 |
From the rule book
International Surfing Association, Rulebook and Contest Administration Manual (30 July 2026), the Tabulator's duties and Resurfing Heats 3. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ISA Rule Book, July 2026 (PDF).