ASP Head Judge Perry Hatchett is under more pressure than ever to evolve pro surfing's judging criteria. And thanks to a new breed of performers, younger, more progressive fans, and the looming threat of rebel tours that always promise to be high-flying utopias, finding the proper balance isn't easy. While the New Millennials' progressive onslaught must be absorbed, the underpinnings of solid surfing have to also be kept intact.

Not wanting to appear stuck in the mud after all the year-end closed-door board meetings, the ASP released their new judging criteria for 2010.

"It's paramount that the ASP Judging Criteria evolve to reflect the ever-progressing envelope of high-performance surfing," Hatchett said in an ASP press release. "The revision of the criteria for 2010 is the result of discussions between our respected panel of judges as well as the world's best surfers."

My apologies for being snide, but judges aren't respected. They take more shit than anyone, and only get noticed when they do something wrong. Sadly for them, in a subjective sport like surfing that's multiple times a day.

Nevertheless, according to the release, Judges will analyze the following major concepts when scoring waves this year:

- Commitment and Degree of Difficulty

- Innovative and Progressive Maneuvers

- Combination of Major Maneuvers

- Variety of Maneuvers

- Speed, Power and Flow


By the way, if you're still wondering what's changed you should be. Because the answer is very little. And sadly, the most important measuring stick the judges have in their criteria remains the most overlooked.

Our ancient sultans of speed couldn't have been more clear. In Vol. 1, Ch. 1, Verse 1, of the "Solid Surfing Scrolls" they etched the only universal truth there is in surfing, "A move -- any move -- is better when executed with Speed, Power and Flow."

Sure, these three pillars get their usual lip service way down there at the bottom of the criteria, but during the day-to-day grind of sitting through stiff breezes and afternoon glares they're easily forgotten for the flashier stuff more clearly visible to the naked eye.

But let's be real. There's been no shortage of big scores for "progressive" moves. When Dane Reynolds lands something huge these days he's aptly rewarded. If anything, the pendulum has swung too far that way. Too many moves are being mistaken for radically progressive when they're not.

Not all aerial reverses are equal. The same goes for rodeo flips, blown tails, giant hacks, huge punts and lofty floaters. At the end of the day, the "speed, power and flow" with which those moves were performed are the greatest distillers of what's truly radical.

Sadly, judges are also victims of simple trickery. Even clearly spelled out laws are subject to interpretation, manipulation and ultimately destruction.

Many surfers fake their speed. How you ask? By flapping their arms and hyperventilating down the line, a judges' eyes are diverted to the motion, which they mistake for mph, when in fact, the fastest surfers waist very little energy with unnecessary body movements. A simple stomp of the tail can produce a large plume of spray, which gets mistaken for power. But burying the rail at high speed is the ultimate display of power. And it's just plain difficult to fake flow.

When all three pillars are present, there's an undeniably pleasing aesthetic added. These elements are what separate the real freaks from the rest. It's high time they get more than lip service.