There has been a debate going on in the surfing world about the Taj vs. Kelly final at Lowers, especially with those super competitive Aussies. Well, Lewis Samuels from surfline got to the source, the head ASP judge, Perry Hatchett. Here's the interview:

By: Lewis Samuels

September 16, 2008
In the wake of September 11th's historic Trestles duel between Taj Burrow and Kelly Slater, many internet sites were a twitter with cries of "Taj got robbed!" Of course, this isn't the first time one of Kelly's last-minute victories has been controversial: some pundits felt Kelly's crucial 2005 win over Andy Irons at J-Bay was questionable, in addition to Slater's 2005 clinch over Aussie Phil MacDonald at Trestles. (Kelly himself referred to this heat as "getting juiced by the judges and beating Phil Macca" in an interview with me last week.)

Never one to shy away from controversy, Surfline caught up with ASP Head Judge Perry Hatchett for a quick Q&A regarding Kelly's win over Taj. --LS

SURFLINE: A common fan complaint regarding the judging in the final is "Taj got the best waves and did more turns on them, so he should have won." As I understand it, the judging criteria no longer explicitly states that number of manoeuvres or the size of the wave determines the points awarded. Is that correct?

PERRY HATCHETT: Yes that is correct, at places around the world when the waves are in the two- to four-foot range, the size is not a factor. Length of ride and amount of turns went out eight years ago and the whole emphasis is on the big maneuvers, commitment and the degree of difficulty in the turns executed.

Can you explain how the criteria of "Variety of Repertoire" may have played a role in the judges scoring during the final? For instance, how might variety have played a role in the scoring of Taj's 9.00 vs. Kelly's final 9.27?

The variety played a major part in the outcome of the final. Where Taj was surfing with speed and lots of turns, Kelly was surfing on a wave that did not allow a lot to offer. He turned this wave into exceptional surfing with full rail carving turns in the critical sections with variety on each section of the wave. Over the years it has been the surfers themselves who have stated that ALL guys on tour can surf the perfect set waves but it takes real talent to take off on an average looking wave and destroy the thing for what it's worth. This was one area the judges who were working on the final felt strongly about when I spoke with them at the after-final meeting and wrap up.
[Kelly] turned this wave into exceptional surfing with full rail carving turns in the critical sections with variety on each section of the wave.

The judging criteria also states that points are awarded based on "Degree of Difficulty and Commitment." Can you give some examples of maneuvers in the final that stuck out as being more committed or difficult than others?

The difference you see in the maneuvers is one surfer surfing forward with speed and radical turns where the other was doing moves in the critical sections of the wave with the full commitment. Driving off the bottom into the section of a wave and then carving the board back around and dictating to the wave itself and taking each section as it comes to you is the difference.

Finally, many fans wonder whether judges award scores based on whether they think a certain surfer deserves the win. So, for instance, when Kelly needed an 8.93 at the end of the final, do the judges see this displayed as they come up with their score? (Therefore knowing whether their score gives Kelly a win or not). Also, do the judges discuss a wave before giving it a score?

There is no discussion amongst the judges during or after a ride at all. We have video replay to look at when we have difference of opinions. They gave Kelly an 8.37 earlier and then felt that wave was a lot stronger. On top of this 3 of the 5 judges felt the way Kelly surfed the last wave to the criteria was better than the 9 they had given Taj at the start of the final. Two judges went down for the 9.5 they had given Taj and the other went up which gave the average. The whole basis of scoring is a comparison of rides from the 1st wave of each heat they put down.

From then on the judges determine whether a wave is better or worse from start to finish of the scores they have written down in front of them... After the final ALL the judges and myself had a good discussion about the whole final and they all felt strongly about their individual scoring. After watching all the waves again the next day with a total free space of mind and analyzing all waves we feel the outcome was well deserved. However, the final was that close that, I think which ever way it went, we were always going to get scrutinized."

Kelly Slater's redicoulous ratings lead got another Boost on Thursday when he won the Boost Mobile Pro defeating Taj Burrow in a nail biter. I wasn't there for the final, I was on a plane to Surf Expo, so I don't feel comfortable writing about what happen since I didn't see it with my own eyes.

Here's the official press release from the ASP:

SAN CLEMENTE, California (Thursday, September 11, 2008) - Kelly Slater (USA), 36, defeated Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, 18.97 to 18.63 to win an unprecedented third Boost Mobile Pro title at Lower Trestles today, and a staggering fifth win on the 2008 ASP World Tour.

Burrow blitzed early and with a 9.00 and 9.63 in his scoreline before the halfway mark, had Slater looking for a combination of excellent scoring waves to contend. In sheer Slater fashion, the eight-time ASP World Champion fought his way back to claim victory ? his fifth of the season.

?I was literally out there just trying to save face, I thought Taj had me ? he was on fire,? Slater said. ?I was just trying to get out of combo and put on a good show for everybody. I got a 9.7 on a smaller wave that had a clean face and let me get a lot of speed and some big carves and that let me get back in.?

Even with the 9.7, Slater was still searching for an 8.93. Burrow gave Slater a very average looking wave with less than two minutes to go ? a mistake that cost him the win and a healthy prize purse. Hurley, the presenting sponsor of the event, threw an additional US$45,000 on top of the standard US$30,000 first place prize purse ? the winner of the Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley took home US$75,000 today.

?Taj had priority and he let that wave go because it was the first wave and he probably thought it was going to be bumpy but it let me do a lot on it,? Slater said. ?It was a really good wave, but it was the first wave of the set.?

To add insult to Burrow?s injury, the final was five minutes longer than the standard ASP final which is usually 35-minutes in duration. Slater talked Burrow and the contest director into lengthening the heat before they paddled out and that was the difference today.

?We went over and talked to Snips (contest director Mike Parsons) before the heat,? Slater said. ?Taj wanted to do a 35-minute heat and I said,?Why don?t we do a 40 minute final, we?ve got all the time in the world this afternoon.? If we had done a 35-minute heat I would have lost.?

Burrow wore his disappointment at today?s loss on his sleeve.

?I felt like I won,? Burrow said. ?I don?t think that wave had the scoring potential. I just had a feeling that they were going to give it to him. He had a lot of energy about him. He?s Kelly and he finished it. He got to the end and I knew it was going to be a good score. I don?t know what else I could have done. I picked the best waves and surfed them really well so it?s frustrating. He was really hungry and ended up clinching it.?

Burrow jumped from ASP World No. 4 to World No. 2 with the result but it was of little consolation.

?I don?t really care about the ratings because I know Kelly is so far ahead that it?s almost impossible to catch him,? Burrow said. ?I just wanted to win the event and I thought I did and now I didn?t, so I?m frustrated.?

Slater has to win the event at the next tour stop in France to seal the deal on title No. 9 there. And even if he does win, should Burrow finish 3rd or ASP World No. 3 Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, or ASP World No. 5 Mick Fanning (AUS), 27, make the final, the race will continue until the following stop in Mundaka, Spain. ASP World No. 4 Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, only stays in World Title contention if Slater finishes second or lower in France. Had Burrow won today, Slater would not have been mathematically capable of clinching the title at the next event.

Slater beat 2006 Boost Mobile Pro Champion Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, in the semifinal round. The heat was a flashback to the 2006 Lower Trestles final the two shared ? but with a different outcome.

?I had the opportunity to make the final on the last wave and my front foot slipped and I got caught behind the section,? Durbidge said. ?We didn?t get the best waves in that heat and there weren?t many opportunities. The heat came down to the wire and I tried my hardest and that?s all you can do.?

Durbidge maintains his ASP World No. 3 rating with the result.

?I definitely had a good event,? Durbidge said. "I felt really good. I have a good board and I?ll take that to Europe and try to keep the ball rolling.?

Burrow had to get past France?s Jeremy Flores, 20, to make today?s Final. Like nearly all of the heats held today, the competition was close.

?I think these are the conditions that Taj (Burrow) surfs the best in ?the little rights with the onshore winds,? Flores said. ?I tried my best and it?s okay. I gave him a go. I came here with no goal at all. I came here to get just a few waves as a warm up for France and it ended up good.?

Flores, who was ASP Rookie of the Year in 2007, made it to the Semifinals of the Boost Mobile Pro last year too. He is back in the Top 10 after today?s equal third finish.

?I think I had harder heats this year,? Flores said. ?So I?m happier with the result this year compared to last year.?

California?s Bobby Martinez, 26, and Dane Reynolds, 23, made the quarterfinals, as did Fanning and Brazilian rookie Heitor Alves, 26.

Since the Surfer Poll Awards were last night, today was a long one for many at Lowers, including me. I don't know who's been planning things lately in the surf industry, but one things for sure they want to keep us busy. ASR was last week, the Boost kicked off on Monday, the Surfer Poll was last night, and Surf Expo starts Friday in Orlando. Although, come think of it, it has been like this for the past few years.

Back to the contest. Do I even have to tell you who the standout was. Slates was #1 in the Surfer Poll, as usual, he threw down some of the highest scores today including a 10, as usual, and he was the center of attention, as usual.

Other standouts from day besides "The Bald Wonder" include: Mick Fanning, Dane Reynolds, Bobby Martinez (and that Rincon Backhand) and Jordy Smith.

Click here for the press release from the ASP.