Judging Explained: Stab High Japan Presented By Monster Energy - Stab Mag

Live Now — New Episode Of How Surfers Get Paid — Agents & Managers

808 Views
Chippa Wilson, Ian Crane, and Kaito Ohashi deliberating something important last month during a reconnaissance trip to PerfectSwell Shizunami last month.

Judging Explained: Stab High Japan Presented By Monster Energy

Who will be judging and how will they judge? Allow us to explain.

features // Jun 10, 2024
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Watch Stab High Japan, presented by Monster Energy here.

How will the gavel fall from Stab High’s supreme court?

That’s up to our panel of wisemen — some of the most well-known and respected aerial tastemakers in our culture, including Nathan Fletcher, Eric Geiselman, Masatoshi Ohno, Lee Wilson, Kolohe Andino, and more.

Surfing is inherently subjective, and we intentionally selected a panel with different tastes to parse through the variety of air approaches. We want that to be reflected in the scores to ensure good surfing is rewarded in all its forms.

How will Stab High Japan be judged?

There will be five judges on the panel at any given time.

Each judge will score every wave out of 10 points — whole numbers only. Incomplete airs will receive a 0. Partially-complete airs will receive a partial score.

Airs will be judged relative to every other air completed in the same round, regardless of direction (hence the leaderboard format).

There’s no firm scoring criteria, but judges will take into account an air’s height, style, creativity, degree & angle of rotation, grabs, and landing when making their decision.

Once all five judges have scored an air, their numbers will be added up for a total wave score out of 50.

If a surfer performs a specific type of air to advance through one round (ex: slob grab air rev), and then they proceed to use that same air in a future round, it will be docked points. One trick ponies can head straight back to the farm.

What’s the prize Money for Stab High Japan?

Pros: $15,000 USD
Monster Air: $10,000 USD
Ladybirds: $5,000 USD
Bottle Rockets: $5,000 USD

For all the information on Stab High Japan (including the fine print), click here to be sent to the official landing page.

You’ll need a Stab Premium account to watch Stab High Presented by Monster Energy. It will be broadcast live on-site and on the Stab Premium app at 5 pm on June 21st and June 22nd (PDT). Sign up for Stab Premium here.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Who’ll Win In Fiji, By The Numbers

Surf nerds, indulge.

Aug 31, 2025

Where The Hell Did Gabriela Bryan Come From?

Stab Interview: the 23-year-old Kauaian who grabbed the tour and shook it.

Aug 30, 2025

One Shaper Is Responsible For 50% Of The WSL Finalists

"This isn't where I was supposed to be in life, but I did it anyways."…

Aug 29, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 7

Two waves decide our $100K finalists

Aug 28, 2025

Jack And Griffin Are Holding The Launch Codes To A Final 5 Super-Weapon

Welcome to the island of uncluttered minds.

Aug 28, 2025

Introducing Your Second Surf100 Finalist: 5 X CT Winner, Julian Wilson

We dug up the 5 best moments of our next $100K contender's career.

Aug 27, 2025

Jack Lost His Coach, Molly’s Bagged A New One

Meet the coaches and crews of the Final 5.

Aug 27, 2025

There’s A Real Chance This Thing Runs At Restaurants

Whispers around Tavarua point to a WSL Finals location change.

Aug 26, 2025

We’re Giving Away $100K In Oceanside… And You’re Invited.

Join us for the Surf100 Finale: Live voting, drinks & food on us — September…

Aug 26, 2025

The Italo Has Landed

And Cloudbreak got its tour card punched through 2029.

Aug 25, 2025

Surfing In The Age Of The Climate Collapse

Dave Rastovich and Pacha Light reckon with the hypocrisy at the heart of surfing.

Aug 25, 2025

We Asked Five Experts Who Will Win The WSL Finals 

Doug Silva, CJ Hobgood, Dooma Fahrenfort, Mateus Herdy, Parker Coffin — all gave different answers. 

Aug 23, 2025

Stab Interview: Who The Fuck Is Sebastian Williams?

Our first Surf100 finalist is a surf prodigy with one hell of a story.

Aug 22, 2025

Cheat Codes: How To Love A Board That Hates You With Mason Ho

An expanded guide to surfboard fun, physics, and a little self-sabotage.

Aug 21, 2025

John Florence’s Preferred Foam Manufacturer Halted Production — Is A Buyout In The Works? 

Rumor: Arctic to be bought by Cobra.

Aug 21, 2025

Take Stab’s 2025 Audience Survey, Win A New Surfboard + Kit

Fins, boardshorts, and Premium subscriptions also up for grabs.

Aug 21, 2025

Puerto vs. Barra: The Price of Development

A tale of two Mexican surf towns.

Aug 19, 2025

Come Party With Us And 100+ E.A.S.T. Boards In The Desert

Secure your tickets for an electric vision quest at Palm Springs Surf Club.

Aug 18, 2025
Advertisement