How does priority work in a heat?

All SSA events use a priority system (2, 3, 4 or 5-surfer, chosen by the Contest Director and Head Judge). Under the SSA Rulebook 2025:

• The surfer with priority has unconditional right of way and can paddle for and ride any wave. Others may ride the same wave and be scored, as long as they don't hinder the priority surfer's scoring potential or cross in front of or bottom-turn around them. Doing so is Interference Penalty 2.
• The Priority Judge shows priority with a coloured display matching the vest colours (top to bottom if vertical, left to right if horizontal). Once priority is set, it's your job to keep checking it.
• Before priority is established, the non-priority (inside position) rules apply.

How it's set at the start of a heat

• Two surfers: once the first wave is ridden, the other surfer gets priority.
• Three to five surfers: each surfer who rides a wave drops below those yet to ride. Once all but one have caught a wave, the surfer yet to catch one gets first priority, and the rest follow in the order they get back to the primary take-off zone.
• If two surfers seem to reach the take-off zone at the same time, priority goes to the one who didn't have the last priority.
• A surfer who arrives late gets a priority position decided by the Priority Judge.

Use arms raised vertically to ask the beach for your priority.