Surfing at Tokyo Olympics 2021: rules, format and score system
For the first time in the Olympic's history, surfing will be making its debut. The competitors will surf at the Tsurigasaki Beach in Chiba, Japan.
In 2016 the International Olympic Committee unanimously decided to include surfing in the Olympic Games for the first time.
How surfing takes place in the Olympics?
The sport is made up principally of two disciplines. Short-board and long-board. In the games, the athletes will compete with a short-board. A short-board features boards that are less than seven feet in length. They are light in weight and have a pointed nose. These type boards are quicker and more accurate, better for faster and powerful waves.
Athletes at the games will be judged on the types of maneuvers they make and their difficulties. Some of the moves to watch out for are the Bottom Turn, Carve, Cutback, Snap, Off-the-lip, Roundhouse Cutback, Foam Climb, Tub Ride, Rodea Flip, and the Arial/Air.
Like other sports at the games, surfers will be judged from 1-10 with the usual two decimals, accounting for flow, speed, and power.
The rules to surf the wave are simple. Only one surfer is allowed to ride the wave, and he or she may lose points if they fall from the board or fail to use common surfer etiquette.
Who qualifies for the Tokyo games?
For the games, a total number of 40 athletes, 20 men and 20 women have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. In addition, the countries can have a maximum of four surfers, two men and two women representing them.
When will surf begin? And where?
The sport of surfing at Tokyo 2020 will take place at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach in Chiba, Japan, from July 25 to Aug. 1, 2021.