On Saturday October 30, 2010, the Rip Curl 2010 competition will continue.  Renowned surfers from across the world will rip the tides for a chance to be the next Rip Curl 2010 World Champion. How has surfing revolutionized from a fun in the sun activity to a professional game? Who will win the Rip Curl 2010 contest? 

Surfing was once a beach boy past-time. Now, it’s a full fledged professional sport. Since its inception in the 1960’s and 1970’s, surfing games have garnered attention from amateurs, professionals, and fans world-wide.

Major competitions such as the Smirnoff Pro, The Duke Kahanamohu Class and the Pipeline Masters have existed since the early days of the sports contests.

In 1969 at Bells Beach in Australia, the Rip Curl Pro Search hit the sands and is unlike the aforementioned classic contests. The Rip Curl Pro Search hosts an annual world tournament where surfer dudes and dudettes battle on the world’s beaches with nothing but their boards.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons Mavericks Surf Competition 2010

 As surfing has developed, the rules and judging criteria have as well. This year, the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) modified the judging criteria to ensure that the sport maintains integrity through steady progress.

Scoring waves is judged with respect to commitment and a wave’s degree of difficulty. Top scores are earned by the use of innovative and progressive body moves. Final assessments are based upon these standards along with the combination and variety of maneuvers that a surfer exhibits.

But, a surfer is only as good as the next wave. So, speed, power, and flow factor into the final tallied score of all participants. Points are awarded to the surfer and the sum total is an average of rating based upon the above criteria.

On a scale of 0-10, with zero being very poor and 10 being exceptional, the sum score of each competitor determines whether he or she will continue to the next competition.

This year’s competition includes 32 top male surfers and 17 top female surfers.  A gender disparity remains within the sport. However, the accomplishments of the female competitors certainly speak volumes about the talent and dedication of the women on the waves.

At the top of the women’s roster is Stephanie Gilmore (AU) who hit the surfer scene in 2005 at the age of 17. Since then, Gilmore has gone on to win two consecutive Women’s World Titles, the Vans Hawaiian Triple Crown Title, five ASP Women’s World Tour victories and the accolades continue.

Kelly Slater

 Thus far, surfer Kelly Slater (US) has dominated the male division of the RipCurl 2010 Pro Search. Slater is a nine time ASP World Champion. He celebrated an early victory at the first Bells Beach, Australia competition and, he beat his opponent Jordy Smith (SA) by a 1.9 score on the sandy shores of Supertubos, Portugal on October 14, 2010.

Watch the video of Kelly Slater and Jordy Smith in Supertubos, Portugal here

Slater is an outstanding athlete and a charitable giver. He donates to charities such as Life Rolls On, SurfAid, and Space Coast Early Intervention Center.

The Rip Curl 2010 contest is an exciting event that gathers large amounts of people to the world’s beaches. The Rip Curl Planet Initiative is an endeavor to ensure that the Rip Curl Event is environmentally friendly despite the number of people, parties and pollution that can result from the festivities.

Proper waste management and recycling bins will be strategically placed around the area and frequently discarded where the Rip Curl event will take places. Beach clean-ups will happen daily to remove all garbage and refuse left behind by patrons.  Fences will be erected and special security will ensure that patrons do not walk on the sand dunes around the event site.

The Surfrider Foundation Chapter will assist with planting native trees as part of the Rip Curl Planet Initiative. The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources will donate “non-invasive and erosion-control species” in accordance with the coastal and reforestation program of the organization.  The initiative will also provide eco education in local schools and environmental organizations will provide materials on-site at the event.

While watching the Alley Oop twists and twirls can be entertaining, attendees and participants must surf responsibly, which means respecting the oceanic environment. The days leading up to the final competition mount anticipation as fans hold out to see which surfer will expertly ride out the waves.  And for the winner? Stay tuned….