Here are some thoughts regarding some judging and scoring in a Second Life Contest.

1. Length of ride. This is easy. Take off when the wave starts to bubble and step off as the wave dissolves scores a 3. Anything less is, well, less.
2. Tricks. A 360 or a flip falls in this category. A good bottom turn and carve does too. Basically, mix up your attack and use what the wave throws at you.
3. Style. Tougher to quantify but here goes. If you did flips straight all the way to the beach and never did anything else, you flunk style even if you get some trick points. Like a wave as a canvas, you are painting a line across it, the style is portrayed by how you move across the wave. Generally, I like to start at one end of the wave, surf to the end, turn back, then traverse the other way as far as possible, which maximizes speed. Using the whole wave with a variety of smooth maneuvers is good style. Belly riding backwards is not.
4. Technical Execution. Ok, we all know the wave has a mind of its own. The ability to use that to your advantage goes a long way here. Flips cleanly landed and turns without breaking through the back of the wave are good. Try for a clean no-paddle take off, a variety of big moves and a stylish exit. All three will play a big part to score a 3 here.

As a rule, the first one up gets the wave. Taking off with another on the wave will be marked lower over all for it. Just don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t do it and everyone wins.

I tend to use the mini map at all times. You can see the rocks under the water and find the take off spot easily as well see if someone is already on the wave.

Good Luck!
Surferjoe Wind
Contest Judge for the Namiko Epic Surf Contest at TWC

Moana’Ina Beach at The Weather Channel’s (TWC) recently launched Weather Island will be see surfers from all over Second Life gather on Saturday, April 14th, 2007 at 1 pm SLT (PST) to compete in the first ‘big wave’ SL surf contest. Come see the top surfers in Second Life battle these epic conditions for the top placing!

Surfing in Second Life has been developing and expanding by leaps and bounds over the past few months with the work of Sebastian Saramago and Heather Goodliffe of Surf Systems Inc. They have developed a line of surfboards which are scripted to work with the wave systems they have designed. The surfable waves in SL range from foamy, whitewash to crystal clear pipe waves to the massive, bone-crunching big waves found at Weather Island and Hedonism Isle. Surfboards that function with these waves, including a line of boards featuring artwork by Namiko Surf Co., are sold at beach locations all over the grid.

The first surf contest was organized by Keala Mimistrobell of Namiko Surf Co. recently on March 23rd, 2007 at Chi and saw surfer girl, SamyJo Ah, crowned as Second Life’s first ever surf champion. Over 16 surfers competed in the event which lasted just over two hours and saw the island completely filled to capacity with spectators. A 9-minute machinima video was shot at this first surf contest by surfer, Namiko Team Rider, and film director, Valent1ne Apogee, and is available to view on the Namiko Surf Co. website or Google Video.

The EPIC Surf competition at TWC Island is open to anyone! Prizes range from cash Lindens to points redeemable at Namiko Surf Co. to merchandise (including wetsuits, t-shirts, boards and more) from the contest sponsors ?¬¢‚Äö√ᬮ‚Äö√Ñ√π Reaction Surf, GR Boards, Sport2.de and more. Contest entries have closed now. SamyJo Ah will return to defend her title as SL Surf Champion and will join many new and returning competitors on the big waves. Don’t miss this unique and exciting event and come early to get a good seat!

It’s time!! Here are the heats for the first big wave event, the Namiko Epic Surf Contest at TWC Island:

Heat 1

1. Gypsie Summers (R)
2. AlexSurfer Hirons (G)
3. Valent1ne Apogee (B)
4. Cierra Theriac (O)

Heat 2

1. Aries Ashton (R)
2. Thor Bishop (G)
3. SamyJo Ah (B)
4. Warren Barthelmess (O)

Heat 3

1. Kimmy Leroux (R)
2. Eield Decosta (G)
3. Creed Lisle (B)
4. Tabby Babii (O)

Heat 4

1. Flynn Sheridan (R)
2. JD Snook (G)
3. Gerran Voss (B)
4. Polysilox Apogee (O)
5. Frankie Miles (P)

Heat 5

1. Pablitin Couffer (R)
2. kiddd Ikarus (G)
3. Malcolm Sydney (B)
4. Seano Osumi (O)
5. Vincent Olivier (P)

(R) – Red Rashguard + Surfboard
(G) – Green Rashguard + Surfboard
(B) – Blue Rashguard + Surfboard
(O) – Orange Rashguard + Surfboard
(P) – Purple Rashguard + Surfboard

Competitors, please start by wearing the coloured rashguard for your first heat. We will provide EPIC surfboards for you. For those of you that get to the subsequent rounds, we will re-assign the colours and you might need to change your rashguard and board. Each heat is 10 minutes long.

Good luck to all the competitors!!

For more information or questions contact:
Keala Mimistrobell (IM in-world or keala [dot] mimistrobell [at] gmail [dot] com)