The "6th Annual 'KEEP THE OCEAN BLUE' North Shore Tow-In Surf Championship 2009/2010"

North Shore Tow-In 2009/2010
Contestant Safety Rules
1) All contestants shall be expected to compete with a tow-in partner that they have practiced with for AT LEAST a full winter surf season. Contestants, if not competing with their main tow-in partner, should only compete with a substitute partner that they have practiced tow-in surfing with several times before in surf in excess of 20 feet or more. All main list competing teams and alternate teams in attendance need to have BOTH tow-in partners be registered, signed up, checked in by 7PM on the day prior to the event AND all entry fees paid by 7PM on the day prior to the Event in order to compete in the Event. No Exceptions!
"Tow-In Surfers, LLC", the "6th Annual KEEP THE OCEAN BLUE
North Shore Tow-In 2009/2010" Event Comittee and the "ALOHA SURF-LIFESAVING
WATER PATROL" reserve the right to remove any contestants or tow-in teams
from the list of competitors for the following reasons. If they feel they
are not physically, mentally and/or mechanically qualified for the event and
it's unique BIG WAVE conditions on event day. If they do not have the Hawaii
Tow-In Surf License rules required Tow-In Surfing safety equipment. If one
or both tow-partners don't have evidence of having a Hawaii State tow-in surfing
cetification. If the Tow-In Team is not operating a current Hawaii registerd
PWC with a current Hawaii Tow-In Surf Decal. Competing Tow-In PWC must submit
to a safety inspection which will be scheduled within 48 hours of the potential
start of the "6th Annual KEEP THE OCEAN BLUE North Shore Tow-In Surfing
Championship 2009/2010" Event. If for any other reason the event comittee
deems a competitor or team unsafe, illegal or inadequate to compete in the
"6th Annual KEEP THE OCEAN BLUE North Shore Tow-In Surf Championship
2009/2010", the Event committe may abort their partipation in event.
Such aborted entrants will receive a full refund for their entry fees upon
completion of the event. Any such team MAY still be invited back in a subsequent
year as long as they provide the event officials full proof of compliance
with all of these requirements by one month's time before the beginning of
that subsequent year's event holding period.
2) All competing tow-in teams must submit to an inspection of their Hawaii
State Tow-In License certification, current Hawaii State PWC registration
and applicable sticker along with corresponding Hawaii State Tow-In Surf Decals
on the PWC they will be competing on. The competing PWC must also be submitted
to an inspection including a mechanical check and inspection of the PWC's
sled, tow-rope and all other Hawaii State Tow-In Licensing required safety
equipment at least one day prior to the start of a potential "GO"
status event day. At the very latest they will be required to submit to such
inspection before the start of the 1st heat on the day of the competition.
All competing teams must pass their PWC EVENT MECHANICAL INSPECTION. If a
competing team does not pass such inspection, they will not be allowed to
compete in the event unless they immediately and adequately fix the problem.
It is also suggested that all potential competitors acquire a copy of the
"Hawaiian Water Patrol's Rescue Handbook" which was compiled by Terry Ahue
of the "Hawaiian Water Patrol" and is and that they read and understand the
book. Competitors also need to be completely clear about all of the latest
safety and equipment requirements of the DLNR Hawaii Tow-In Surfing License
and amended Hawaii laws for tow-in surfing. To print and study these rules
according to "Amendments to Chapters 13-250 and 13-256 Hawaii Administrative
Rules of Tow-In Surfing" go to http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dbor/rules/amendment13250_13256.htm
3) All competing tow-in surfers and tow-in PWC drivers shall be
required to wear a flotation jacket at all times during the competition. According
to the Hawaii State Rules of Tow-In Surfing, towsurfers "shall not be 'required'
to wear a life-saving device" while they are actually riding waves in free
surfing situations.However, we ARE requiring that all competitors wear a flotation
jacket while surfing in their heats in this event, while towing in their partner
in their heats and at all times in event venue waters. Both competing team-mates
MUST wear a flotation jacket while waiting for their heats… and at any time
while they are out at the contest site or going in and out of the harbor. Leashes
are optional for tow-in surfers competing in the event, however they are VERY
MUCH suggested for use as a way to keep the tow-in surfer and his tow-board
in relatively the same place in case of a wipe-out, upon being closed out on
the inside or in case of other possible scenarios. When boarding the rescue
sled, make sure your board is under your body and held tightly on the sled by
your body and a firm grip on the sled handles! Leashes will make for much more
efficient retrieval of the surfer and his surfboard and hence will make for
more efficient running of the heats during the event, as well as keeping surfers
and/or surfboards from washing too far inside of the 3000 foot from shore ORMA
line (Ocean Recreation Management Area), or worse yet ... washing into shore,
onto the rocks or even out to sea. Also, loose surfboards can become an obstacle
to the other team in your heat and if they get directly in the way of the other
team, it could cause your team to receive an interference call. If you lose
your board, you could also lose precious competition time. Have a spare board
on hand in case you break or lose your board. Competing Tow-In Team's Spare
Boards may be stowed on the support boat only while that team's heat is going
on. Remember, the ALOHA SURF-LIFESAVING Water Patrol will mainly be concentrating
on the rescue of Human Bodies. It is not their duty to chase loose surfboards,
or even to rescue downed PWC's. The driver and/or surfer will be rescued before
the PWC. So be prepared! All competing drivers are required to have a pair of
swim fins strapped to their bodies at all times. A good sharp knife within reach
on the PWC is also reccomended! These are also two of the most important Hawaii
Tow-In Surf License Safety Rules!
4) All competing tow-in surfers and competing tow-in PWC drivers in the competition
shall have and be familiar with the latest version of the Amended Draft of DLNR
Tow-In Surfing rules which pertains to safety rules and regulations while tow-in
surfing. (Download from the web address in paragraph #2 above). Competitors
shall be expected to know and abide by these rules at all times during the competition.
A two-way communications radio shall not be required, however at least a cell-phone
carried in a water proof container carried on board of competing jet-skis is
required by State Tow-In Law. It is also a good idea so that competitors can
stay in touch with persons shoreside without having to go in and out of the
harbor unless absolutely necessary. Competing tow teams will be expected to
show up at the support boat out near the contest surf break at least 30minutes
before the start of their heat, and they need to return to the harbor within
30 minutes after the end of their heat. Colored Competition Jerseys will be
picked up by each team at the Main Support Boat just before the start of their
heats and returned immediately to the same boat at the end of their heat. The
same four colors will be used for each heat. So we want only one set of those
4 colors anywhere near the designated contest break or support area at any time
during the event.
Our aim is to attempt to not impede the normal ebb and flow of water traffic in and out of Haleiwa Harbor, and to keep most of the event's support and infrastructure vehicles out in the water and away from the DLNR boat ramps between 8AM and 5PM on the day of the event. Competitors should plan on returning to the harbor immediately after their preliminary heats to find out their status. If they have advanced, they need to be on hand and to remain there "at the ready" as soon as they know if they have made it into the next round. Competing teams need to check in at the Administration Tent in the harbor at least an hour before their heat, and they need to check-in with event officials on the Support Boat at the start of the heat (30 minutes) prior to their own. They will also need to return to the Harbor by the end of the heat following their own (30 minutes), at that time they will find out if they have advanced to the next round. If they have advanced, they should stick close to the Administration Tent in case of announcements regarding who will be surfing and in what order and to be available to hear of possible order changes and to do possible interviews and promotions as well as show support for the ongoing event competition.We need you close-by!
1) Our North Shore Tow-In 2009/2010 contest format consists of 32 tow-in surf teams, with 64 tow-in surfers in all (4 PWC per 30 minute heat of 2-man tow-in teams per each of 8 preliminary heats). 1st and 2nd team from each heat advances to Round 2. The overall contest format will consist of approximately 480 minutes (8 hours) of elapsed time from start to finish. There will be 8 preliminary heats, each 30 minutes in duration, with a 5 minute break in between each round and a 10 minute break after the last heat before the finals. The 16 highest scoring scoring teams overall in the preliminary eight heats will go thru making 4 quarterfinal heats of 4 tow-in teams each. Two teams will go thru from each heat. The remaining 8 teams will become four teams in the next round with 2 semifinal heats of 4 teams each. There will be a 5 minute break. Two team will go through from each semifinal heat to the finals. There will be a 10 minute break before the finals. Then there will be one final 40 minute heat of 4 teams which will decide the winning tow-in team of the event. The event should last exactly 8 hours (480 minutes). Realistically, from 8AM-4PM. With a little under an hour of extra time to spare for a 50 minute paddle-in exhibition.. If the day calls for Big Avalanche, we will have a 50 minute or more paddle-in exhibition heat between the semifinals and the finals of the tow-in division, or we may run 3 -4 or more paddle-in heats at Avalanche concurrently with the tow-in at Puaena Point. Many surfers have eexpressed an interest in competing in the paddle-in exhibition. "If you tow it, you should be able to paddle it too!" ( The concept worked and was a hardcore addition to the Nelscott Reef Tow-In Classic in Oregon on Nov, 29th of 2008 and in the follwing year's Nelscott Reef Classic in October of 2009). Ten Big Wave Paddle surfers from the field of 32 invited tow-in surfers and elsewhwere paddled in for 50 minutes. Their tow partners or other PWC were their jet-ski assists. In our event, if the tow-in division is held at Puaena Point, we would not have a paddle-in exhibition at Puaena for obvious safety reasons. If there is also Big Avalanche Surf that dat the Paddle -In Exhibition will be at Avalanche. We have 7 paddlers from the Nelscott Reef Tow-In Classic 2008 and 2009 in Oregon and 7 paddlers from Hawaii and Beyond and four Wildcards making three heats of six paddlers so far. Do I hear anybody else saying "I WANT TO PADDLE-IN"? Better let us know real soon! Cowabunga!
In the possibility that certain tow-in teams do not show up for
the event...we do have a list of now up to 32 alternate invited teams to fill
in the empty slots. So sign up well in advance, check in by phone 48 hours in
advance and show up early on pre-event day (5PM) and really early on Event Day
(6AM)! Alternate teams will fill in empty slots in order of where they are on
the alternate list AND/OR also in order of when they signed up, when they paid
and when they checked in, particularly during the 48 hours before dawn on the
day of the event. Alternates will have their entry fees refunded at the completion
of the event if they do not get to surf. Alternates must be available on the
morning of the event and be signed up, paid up, Hawaii State Tow-In Licensed
Up and ready to launch at a moment's notice. We at "Tow-In Surfers, LLC"
have agreed with promoters of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing to not begin
our waiting period until after the Pipeline Masters is finished in mid-December.
We have also agreed with Quiksilver and the promoters of the "Quiksilver
Eddie Aikau Memorial Big Wave Invitational Event" to not run our event
on the same day as "The Eddie". That is not a factor this year. We
MAY run the same day as the "Mormaii Peahi Event" on Maui. Many of
our competitors are seeded or alternates in both events. We will try to coordinate
the 2009/2010 North Shore Tow-In Event with the 2009/2010 Peahi Event so as
not to have both Big Wave Hawaiian Tow-In Competitons run the same day! However,
there are no guarantees. If you're in both Events you may have to choose between
Maui and Oahu!
2) Safety and fairness are our ultimate concerns in this Event. Team #1
(BRITE RED) will catch the first wave of the heat and Team #2 (NAVY BLUE)
will catch the second wave and Team #3 (NEON ORANGE) will catch the 3rd wave
in the prelims and team #4 (LIME GREEN) will catch the 4th wave… and so on.
RED, BLUE, ORANGE, GREEN and then again Red, Blue Orange, Green will repeat
in priority throughout the heat unless a team "goes down" or "wipes
out" and loses their place in line! That team will have to go around the
priority buoy and await to take their place in line again according to the color
order. If, upon rounding the priority buoy and returning to the line-up it turns
out that no-one has caught a wave yet, they are still last up. This continues
ntil their color order priority comes around again. (No cherry picking, don't
be too choosy with wave choice or you won't make your wave count! ) You are
judged on performance as well as wave size and criticalness. So grab the in-between
sets! There should be no jostling for priority. If a surfer goes down on a wave,
that team's driver must retrieve the surfer, and if that surfer is injured,
that team must return to the committee boat briefly and check in with the Event
Doctor just to make sure that the surfer is O.K. In that case, the downed team
has lost priority and they must wait for the other teams to catch waves first.
In some cases, because of positioning or other factors, the team with priority
may wave to the next team in line to go, giving the other team priority and
giving up their priority to next iin line! There must be a clear and obvious
over head hand-raise with both hands held high in the air for several seconds
by the driver of the team and one hand by the surfer of that team for a several
seconds count so that all may see the priority switch. It must be a very obvious
and final decision by the 1st up team. No last minute snaking, no dropping in
and no jockeying for position! Interference calls will cause the interfering
team to have the total of their best scoring wave dropped in half. Each team
must attempt to have at least one wave scored per team-mate. Your heat total
is your highest scoring three waves with at least one wave scored by eacy team-mate.
This REQUIRES "a switch" betwen driver and surfer at least once during
the heat! No exceptions. InterferenceiInfractions will cause the best wave of
the three wave team score to be cut in half and minused off the three wave total.
You MUST switch surfers and drivers at least once, and you really should NOT
interfere if you hope to advance into the next round. At no time whatsoever
may two teams attempt to catch the same wave. The team with priority must always
go first. If they miss a wave and get caught inside and get out of position
long enough to miss their turn in line, they must relinquish their priority
to the other teams in the color order. The most important point here is the
"one jet-ski per wave rule"! If a 2nd (unprioritized) team "races" the 1st team
(that has priority) for a wave, and both surfers actually release the rope and
ride the wave, the team "without priority" that has "interfered" could
be disqualified and eliminated from the contest entirely if it is TRULY BLATANT
interference, but they will SURELY have their best wave score cut in half (even
if it apparently is "unintended interference"). The "Event Security
Patrol" (NOT the Water Patrol) will be informed that the offending team has
had their best wave score of the heat cut in half. If the interference is blatant
and/or dangerous it could be grounds for DISQUALIFICATION from the event entirely.
So be careful! There will be spotters on the committee boat to make sure these
rules of fairness and safety are upheld. There will also be spotters to make
sure which "colored" team is riding and to aid the judges in things they might
not see, like the at least one-time per heat required team driver/surfer "switch"
(each tow-in team-mate must attempt to ride at least one wave each). Best three
waves will be scored per team per heat. Spotters will also be watching out in
case of a lost surfer, surfboard and/or even jet-ski or driver or some other
similar situation which might occur in a big wave event of this nature. All
support boats and support PWC are to assist the Water Patrol in keeping the
event safe and organized. Photographer skis, boats and other vehicles must remain
well away from the line-up or even the "shoulder" of waves in the
Event Competition Area. Infracting Photographer Craft will be barred fom the
Contest Surf Break Area by several hundred yards or more! STAY OUT OF THE LINE-UP.
If you are a photogra[pher and you infract the line-up, you will be REMOVED.
If you are a competitor and you get in the way of the team with priority by
blocking their way in the line-up you may get an interference call and possible
DISQUALIFICATION for blatant, dangerous interference!
3) There will be one horn blown to start each heat and a GREEN flag will be
raised on the Support Boat. The heats will be run back-to-back in each round.There
will be one horn blown when the heat starts and two horns will blow and a YELLOW
flag will be raised when 5 minutes remain in the heat. A RED flag will be raised
on the Support boat and three horns will blow when the heat is over. The red
flag will remain flying until the start of the next heat. All heats will be
run essentially back to back in each round. Within 10 seconds after the Red
Flag is raised, one horn will blow and the GREEN Flag will be raised again.
There will be 5 minutes in between the prelims, quarters and semis. There will
be a 10 minute break before the finals, whether we run the paddle-in exhibition
or not. One long horn blast and a green flag signifies the start of the next
heat. Two horns signifies a yellow flag and 5 minutes remaining in the heat.
Three horn blasts and a red flag will signify the end of each heat. The red
flag will remain up until the start of the next heat. There will be a 5 minute
break between the prelims and the quarters, and a 5 minute break between the
quarters and the semis.There will be a 10 minute break before the final heat
and the final heat shall be 40 minutes in length. Total competition time = 480
minutes or 8 hours. If the Event is at Avalanche we will have a 50 minute paddle-in
exhibition between the semis and the finals. If the tow-in is at Puaena Point,
we may be able to run several heats of paddle-in surfing at Avalanche throughout
the day! No team shall catch any waves before the start of each heat or after
the end of any heat. Those waves will not be counted. If a team is "committed"
to a wave and already "on the face" of that wave at the final horn, but the
rider has not yet released the rope, that wave will be counted if it is ridden.
There is no maximum # of waves per heat, but only the best 3 waves for each
team will count toward that team's final heat score. One wave must be ridden
by each team-mate. If there is a tie, the judges will factor in the 4th best
scoring wave per team. Each tow-in team member must try to catch "at least"
one wave per heat. Tow-In team-mates MUST switch positions between driver and
surfer at least one time during each heat, and each team-mate must try to ride
at least one wave each. The switch is required! As long as it is a "quick
switch". If the switching team does it quickly, their priority remains the same.
If they lollygag during the switch and the next in line of priority by color
ordr snags a wave, the switching team assumes the next place in the line of
priority by color order. In case of wipe-outs or other "downed" situations,
it will be at the judges' discretion to judge all the waves that are caught
by each team and tally the scores of the best 3 waves for each team, which must
include the best single ride per team-mate. Interference will cost a team half
of the score of their best of three waves. Interference will cost you half the
score of your best of three waves, or even worse penalties all the way to DISQUALIFICATION.
Do not interfere in this competition. It could cost you a ZERO for your best
wave score. It's also very dangerous to yourselves, your tow partners, your
fellow competitors, the water patrol, the security patrol and ultimately your
PWC, towboards and equipment as well as those of your fellow competitors that
you interfered on!
3) The "Aloha Surf-Lifesaving Water Patrol" has the ultimate authority
regarding emergency safety situations in this event! Any and all "First Aid",
"EMS", "CPR" or other life-saving techniques will ONLY be performed by the "Water
Patrol". There will be at least five "Aloha Surf-Lifesaving Water Patrol" Jet-Ski
Teams on hand at all times during the event. Each "Aloha Surf-Lifesaving Water
Patrol" Jet-Ski Team will have two expert "Water Patrol" persons on each jet-ski
at all times. There will also be a number of EVENT Jet-Ski "Security Patrol"
PWC in addition to the "Aloha Surf Life-Saving Water Patrol" which
will be posted at the edge of the surfing area to make sure that ONLY the 4
competing teams in each of the heats in the 1st round and subsequent rounds
GET ANYWHERE NEAR THE LINE-UP! The "SECURITY PATROL"will make sure
to seperate competitors from the contest area and keep them side-lined near
the Committee Boat and Support Boat at all times during the event. Even more
important than that is that all photographers, spectators and Event staff stay
WELL AWAY from the Event Venue Surf Line-Up! All watercraft operators (PWC,
Jet boats, Jet-skis, etc) must register and sign a waiver and a photographer's
agreement provided by an official positioned on land at the Administration Tent
near the boat ramps before even thinking about launching if they are planning
to approach anywhere near the contest site. In order to avoid having a large
number of watercraft lingering near the contest area, spectator and/or freelance
photographer watercraft may be limited to a certain time period at or near the
contest site, and they will be REQUIRED to stay far away from the Event's chosen
Surf Break or Breaks. Any unregistered watercraft whose driver has not signed
both an event waiver and a photographer's agreement that approaches the contest
zone from elsewhere (for instance, having launched off the beach at Backyards
or somewhere besides Haleiwa Harbor) will be required by the "Tow-In Surfers
Event Security Patrol" to go into the harbor and register by signing a waiver
and a photographer's agreement with the event officials at the Administration
Tent before being allowed back out to the venue at the chosen Outside Haleiwa
Harbor Event Surf Break Area! If unregistered watercraft operators refuse to
comply with "Event Water Security" they will be escorted several hundred
yards from the event area! Similar compliance will be required by "Land
Security" of any watercraft operators who attempt to launch without registering
with Event Officials at the Administration Tent. All Media will be required
to wear a certain colored wrist band, Staff will wear another and Competitors
wil wear a third colored wrist-band. All watercraft riders launching into the
designated Event Surf Break Area will bw REQUIRED to have the appropriate colored
wrist bands on and maintain themselves the required distance from the line-up
of the chosen Event Surf Breaks. Photographers, staff, water patrol, security
patrol and any one else who will be approaching the event competition area must
sign a participant/photographer waiver (see Event waiver on sign-up page) and
a Photographer's Agreement. Whether they they are planning to do any kind of
photography of the eventor not! Anybody can pull a camera out of their bag and
get the best shot of the day. Therefore, the waiver and photo agreement applies
to everyone in the water near the competition venue! This rule will be strictly
enforced at all times throughout the day of the event. Everyone who signs the
waiver and photo agreement must be briefed and must read all of these rules
as well as the the waiver and photo agreement themselves! The Event Officials
and Event Land and Water Security reserve the right to refuse anyone admittance
to the harbor contest staging area and particularly to anywhere near the contest
waters and event surfing area even if they sign a waiver and a photographer's
agreement. Event Security may also require individuals to be removed from the
Event Land and/or Water Areas if they feel it is warranted or necessary for
the overall safety of the event and it's participants, officials, media, spectators,
security and crew. Mahalo For Your Kokua! Let's all Play Fair and Be Careful.
Water Safety, Communication, Cooperation and completely professional and sportsnman-like
Big Wave Water-Man conduct are of primary importance during the running of this
Extreme Big Wave Tow-In Surfing Event. The Annual North Shore Tow-In sets the
bar on safety and puts the spotlight on the competitors, staff, media, water
and security patrols and other participants in this event under the watchful
eyes of DLNR/DOBOR, the HarborMaster, the Lifeguards, the Coast Guard, the Fire
Department, Civil Defense, the City and County of Honolulu, the State of Hawaii,
the world-wide media audience, the community at large and most importantly of
all the tow-in surfers themselves including ourselves, our team-mates and our
fellow competitors. PLEASE BE SAFE! MAHALO!