Rules
The K38 Baja Challenge is a gentleman's event; however, even gentlemen need a bit of guidance when it comes to engaging in friendly competition. The following is a replica of the first known written rules sheet of the Challenge, which was recently found in an abandoned '78 AMC Javelin in Eldridge, Iowa. Extensive carbon dating identifies the document's origins to date somewhere between the mesozoic era and the advent of the quad fin.
There are three main regulatory statutes that constitute the Challenge: Governance, Competition and Logistics.
1. GOVERNANCE
1.1 Commissioner. A commissioner is to be appointed to govern over every Challenge and is to be chosen by the current Challenge champion. The commissioner chosen must either be a) a past Challenge champion, b) a new candidate invited into the event to fulfill this specific role, or c) the current Challenge champion, who can either compete with the Commissioner title or refrain from competition altogether. New candidates must fulfill this role for at least one event before declaring their candidacy for competition.
1.2 Roles. The commissioner will act as the sole arbiter of the Challenge event. He will dictate the length of the Trials period, location of the Trials rounds, timing of the main event, judging criteria, heat pairings and facilitation of the final awards ceremony. He also has the ability to turn any ad-hoc rule making into an actual rule by virtue of holding a competitor's vote; majority in favor will then move the rule into being.
1.3 Arbitration. The commissioner will reside over all final decisions associated with the Challenge event - the most important of which is the final vote for event champion. In the case of a tie, the commissioner reserves the right to make a final call as to who claims the Monkey, or can also call a tie-breaking final heat into the water at any given time.
1.4 Breach. A commissioner is considered in breach and will be removed from his post if a) he accepts a bribe of cold Pacificos, Kettle chips or Chips Ahoy cookies from any competitor; b) if he knowingly snakes the last of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal; c) if he repeatedly drops in on Challenge competitors in the contest area and then later claims "event quality control"; or d) if he is caught anywhere near the hot tub, talking to any sort of female with lines like "yeah, I'm here for an international surfing competition."
2. COMPETITION
2.1 Rankings. Heading into each Challenge event, competitor rankings will take place based upon a loosely-defined handicapping system that rates each surfer in categories such as athleticism, wave knowledge, paddling power and the Pacifico factor. As in any handicapping system, the more a surfer's talent increases, the less chance there is for error in competition; for that reason, a category called "X factor" has been added to help even the score. the X factor is inherently lower for more talented surfers and subsequently higher for more intermediate surfers, which factors into each competitor's overall event rank. As a result, expert surfers are forced to surf consistently to their ability and intermediate surfers are forced to surf with increasing skill throughout the event, with the end result being better surfing out of the entire competitor's group.
2.2 Administration. Rankings will be compiled by the current Challenge champion and the commissioner of the upcoming event. This is done by reviewing all photo and video footage as well as through memory and recollection. Although other competitors can be solicited for their advice and viewpoint, the ultimate rankings are to be confidentially compiled solely by the champion and acting commissioner. If footage of a previous event is for some reason held hostage for 9 months while the captor claims "killer editing and stuff", the Challenge champion has a right to rank the captor at the bottom of the competitor's list, regarless of their actual chances.
2.3 Format. Competition has three main components: Qualifiers, Trials and Main Event. Qualifiers are held twice a year in preparation for the Challenge. They are held any time a competitor will host them, and any time the competitor's spouse says that it's alright to clear out the garage so that the competitors will have some place to sleep and eat chips. Qualifiers help in establishing accurate rankings for the next Challenge, since data from the previous Challenge event may not be enough to accurately gauge a surfer's ranking for the next event. Trials are held during a Challenge event and are precursory sessions to the Main Event. Trials help the commissioner determine the Main Event timing, location and heat pairings, and also help to determine what matchups and rivalries will add drama to the intensity of competition. The Main Event is a minimum of two heats per surfer and is the primary evaluator in the race for the Challenge championship.
3. LOGISTICS
3.1 Reigning Champion. The reigning champion gets first dibs on sleeping arrangements and also has the pleasure of hosting the Trials dinner at the venue of his choice.
3.2 Quiver. A maximum of two (2) surfboards only can be ridden by a single competitor in the main event.
3.3 Bartering. A competitor can only borrow equipment from another competitor if something offered - and accepted - in return.
3.4 Heat Lengths. Trials heats have no time limits. Main Event heat lengths are 90 minutes - this is known as the "Dubs Rule".
3.5 Chips/Salsa. Must be kept from Story's reach at all times. Failure to do so results in having to bunk with him.
3.6 LaFonda. As of C2, LaFonda can be considered as a location for one of the Main Event rounds if the commissioner so approves.
3.7 80's Rock. Can only be played between the hours of 5pm and 8pm.
3.8 Footage. When at all possible, competitors not in the water will make an attempt to document those who are.
3.9 Switcheroo. The commissioner reserves the right to rework the Main Event heat pairings at any time.
3.10 Bro Brah. Any excessive overt references to 'buddy pro surfers', past or present, will result in point deductions.
3.11 Interference. Dropping in on fellow competitors will be ruled as interference, resulting in point deductions. This is also known as the "Dubs Rule".
3.12 Pro Jock. Anyone taking any of this too seriously will be beaten about the head and shoulders with a Tillamook cheese block.
There are three main regulatory statutes that constitute the Challenge: Governance, Competition and Logistics.
1. GOVERNANCE
1.1 Commissioner. A commissioner is to be appointed to govern over every Challenge and is to be chosen by the current Challenge champion. The commissioner chosen must either be a) a past Challenge champion, b) a new candidate invited into the event to fulfill this specific role, or c) the current Challenge champion, who can either compete with the Commissioner title or refrain from competition altogether. New candidates must fulfill this role for at least one event before declaring their candidacy for competition.
1.2 Roles. The commissioner will act as the sole arbiter of the Challenge event. He will dictate the length of the Trials period, location of the Trials rounds, timing of the main event, judging criteria, heat pairings and facilitation of the final awards ceremony. He also has the ability to turn any ad-hoc rule making into an actual rule by virtue of holding a competitor's vote; majority in favor will then move the rule into being.
1.3 Arbitration. The commissioner will reside over all final decisions associated with the Challenge event - the most important of which is the final vote for event champion. In the case of a tie, the commissioner reserves the right to make a final call as to who claims the Monkey, or can also call a tie-breaking final heat into the water at any given time.
1.4 Breach. A commissioner is considered in breach and will be removed from his post if a) he accepts a bribe of cold Pacificos, Kettle chips or Chips Ahoy cookies from any competitor; b) if he knowingly snakes the last of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal; c) if he repeatedly drops in on Challenge competitors in the contest area and then later claims "event quality control"; or d) if he is caught anywhere near the hot tub, talking to any sort of female with lines like "yeah, I'm here for an international surfing competition."
2. COMPETITION
2.1 Rankings. Heading into each Challenge event, competitor rankings will take place based upon a loosely-defined handicapping system that rates each surfer in categories such as athleticism, wave knowledge, paddling power and the Pacifico factor. As in any handicapping system, the more a surfer's talent increases, the less chance there is for error in competition; for that reason, a category called "X factor" has been added to help even the score. the X factor is inherently lower for more talented surfers and subsequently higher for more intermediate surfers, which factors into each competitor's overall event rank. As a result, expert surfers are forced to surf consistently to their ability and intermediate surfers are forced to surf with increasing skill throughout the event, with the end result being better surfing out of the entire competitor's group.
2.2 Administration. Rankings will be compiled by the current Challenge champion and the commissioner of the upcoming event. This is done by reviewing all photo and video footage as well as through memory and recollection. Although other competitors can be solicited for their advice and viewpoint, the ultimate rankings are to be confidentially compiled solely by the champion and acting commissioner. If footage of a previous event is for some reason held hostage for 9 months while the captor claims "killer editing and stuff", the Challenge champion has a right to rank the captor at the bottom of the competitor's list, regarless of their actual chances.
2.3 Format. Competition has three main components: Qualifiers, Trials and Main Event. Qualifiers are held twice a year in preparation for the Challenge. They are held any time a competitor will host them, and any time the competitor's spouse says that it's alright to clear out the garage so that the competitors will have some place to sleep and eat chips. Qualifiers help in establishing accurate rankings for the next Challenge, since data from the previous Challenge event may not be enough to accurately gauge a surfer's ranking for the next event. Trials are held during a Challenge event and are precursory sessions to the Main Event. Trials help the commissioner determine the Main Event timing, location and heat pairings, and also help to determine what matchups and rivalries will add drama to the intensity of competition. The Main Event is a minimum of two heats per surfer and is the primary evaluator in the race for the Challenge championship.
3. LOGISTICS
3.1 Reigning Champion. The reigning champion gets first dibs on sleeping arrangements and also has the pleasure of hosting the Trials dinner at the venue of his choice.
3.2 Quiver. A maximum of two (2) surfboards only can be ridden by a single competitor in the main event.
3.3 Bartering. A competitor can only borrow equipment from another competitor if something offered - and accepted - in return.
3.4 Heat Lengths. Trials heats have no time limits. Main Event heat lengths are 90 minutes - this is known as the "Dubs Rule".
3.5 Chips/Salsa. Must be kept from Story's reach at all times. Failure to do so results in having to bunk with him.
3.6 LaFonda. As of C2, LaFonda can be considered as a location for one of the Main Event rounds if the commissioner so approves.
3.7 80's Rock. Can only be played between the hours of 5pm and 8pm.
3.8 Footage. When at all possible, competitors not in the water will make an attempt to document those who are.
3.9 Switcheroo. The commissioner reserves the right to rework the Main Event heat pairings at any time.
3.10 Bro Brah. Any excessive overt references to 'buddy pro surfers', past or present, will result in point deductions.
3.11 Interference. Dropping in on fellow competitors will be ruled as interference, resulting in point deductions. This is also known as the "Dubs Rule".
3.12 Pro Jock. Anyone taking any of this too seriously will be beaten about the head and shoulders with a Tillamook cheese block.
