As the brutal header suggests the ten-year tenor of ASP judge Perry Hatchett is over. Pez (as he is affectionately known), is no longer contracted to oversee the judging of ASP world tour events

Perry and the judging booths he oversaw.

As the brutal header suggests the ten-year tenor of ASP judge Perry Hatchet is over. Pez (as he is affectionately known), is no longer contracted to oversee the judging of ASP world tour events. Something he has done for ten years (a record number). The news of Perry’s cutting has been a shock to many, but a felling that many also felt was a long time coming. The ASP has declined to be interviewed but offered media this comment. “ASP International, after consultation with stakeholders, has decided not to renew Perry Hatchet’s contract as ASP World Tour Head Judge. In the interim, ASP International Judge Richie Porta will be serving as ASP World Tour Head Judge.”

On the surface a short and clinical statement from the ASP with no mention of Perry’s dedication and passion and to a post. A post that by its nature can be very unforgiving. World titles, qualifications and professional careers can come and go with the result of one heat. Blow-ups are inevitable. But Perry took the good with the bad and was an integral part of the leaps the ASP judging criteria has made in the last three years. But has those leaps gone far enough?

Perry has always had a good affinity with most surfers on the world tour and quailfying circuits.

There are surfers (fans, sponsors and media types) who feel it hasn’t come far enough and judging on tour often still falls back to hat old chestnut of rewarding mediocre surfing on quality waves. Since Perry’s sacking last week we wanted to try and get some background information before posting this story. However, countless phone calls, much dirt digging and multiple emails later we were none the wiser. At no time has there been such a blanket “no comment” from our go to people in the surfing industry. From world tour surfers to ASP employees, past world champions to event sponsors.

One person who wasn’t afraid to say his piece was Phil Macdonald. Macca retired from the world tour last year after a stellar career that boasted a host of WT event runner up finishers (including one contentious loss to Kelly Slater at Trestles). Speaking via a blog on the insurfnews website Macca had this to say… “Like most surfers, I have had my far share of run-ins with Pez. Sometimes, I really felt like he sat on the fence, and always told you what you wanted to hear, knowing full well the heat decision couldn’t be changed. Other times he was honest and didn’t agree with my thoughts. The last few years, I did feel that the judging had become very inconsistent. I had a talk with Pez, and thought they could reward attacking, progressive surfing a little more. I felt they had gone back to judging the wave itself too high and too many eights and nines were being scored for average surfing. I think judging should progress like surfing – but I don’t think this has been happening.”

Being clear of the tour now Macca’s comments appear vivid and clear of contamination. Interestingly (and perhaps poignant to the sacking), he continues, “…sometimes, I feel that to understand how hard a turn is, you should be able to surf and feel that yourself. Some turns are technically much more difficult than other turns and never get rewarded. I’ve seen Kelly a few times this last year get beaten when there was no way he lost. Sure, the other guy might have thrown more spray, but the turns were nowhere near Kelly’s level of surfing!”

Very interesting. This could be the key to what the ASP are looking for and quite possibly a driving force in their decision. A new head judge who not only has the head smarts and demeanour to deal with the pressure of such a job, but also the uncanny ability to execute the very high risk moves he’s judging. But like Perry, whoever eventually takes the role in a permanent capacity, one thing won’t change – the human element. Something Macca again explains beautifully. “Do I think judging is rigged some times? No, but sometimes I do believe that subconsciously they are influenced by what’s going on at the time! Examples, knowing the scores needed to advance, world title heats, flavour of the month, etc… The judging criteria and environment breeds human error in the form of bad judging and this needs to be addressed.”

Certainly does. I’ve said it before here at Tracksmag.com, “why on earth are judges able to hear on-beach commentary?” Being privy to what score a certain surfer needs, or what level of crowd response a move receives must unsettle the judge in some way or another. Isolate them in a soundless both or, as my video game playing IT assistant suggested, have some robotic eye on a boom scanning rides and judging accordingly – no thanks.

By Col B