In competitive surfing, interferences are rare.
Unlike other sports – like football or basketball or soccer – an entire surfing competition can go without a single interference, penalty, or proverbial flag on the field.
But on Tuesday, February 20th, during the World Surf League’s stop number two on the Championship Tour, the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach, there was an interference. And in a sport where penalties are relatively uncommon, this one was especially so.
It happened during the Elimination Round of the women’s division, when Californian rookie Sawyer Lindbald was paddling back out into the lineup, and she got in the way of Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan, who was in the middle of riding a wave.
As an unwritten rule, in surfing, always paddle behind the surfer’s path, not in front.
But there is a written rule in professional surfing for this, too. A “paddling interference” or a “non-priority interference.” And Lindblad got one.
Further explaining the interference, here’s the WSL’s Travis Logie:
“Okay, so, that interference was called on Sawyer Lindblad was called because she hindered the potential of Gabriela Bryan. [She] really got right in the way. All five judges called it. They didn’t think it was intentional, otherwise there would’ve been a harsher punishment. So, it’s called an ‘interference penalty one’ and half of her second scoring ride is taken off.”
A similar incident happened back in 2019, also at Sunset Beach, but during the Vans World Cup of Surfing, part of the Triple Crown. Zeke Lau was riding a wave, mid-tube, when Jack Robinson paddled in his path, ditched his board, and forced Zeke to wipeout.
No interference was called.
Jack won the event, and earned a spot on the Championship Tour; Zeke, well, did not.
But now, that incident set a precedent. And sadly, at the expense of Zeke Lau’s career.
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