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Surfing Maths

Maths in surfing: scores

Add points and compare leads.

Quick answer

Maths in surfing: scores helps you add up points and compare who’s winning. You can use simple addition to find totals, and subtraction to see who’s ahead.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to:
  • Add up points from surfing competitions
  • Compare scores to see who is winning
  • Use subtraction to find how many points ahead one surfer is
  • Understand how points work in real surfing

Why this matters

Surfing competitions use maths to decide who wins. Every time a surfer does a trick or rides a good wave, they get points. You need to add those points up to see who’s winning. This is just like counting your pocket money, or adding up your points in a game. Understanding how scores work helps you enjoy surfing more, and it’s useful in many other situations like games, sports, and even cooking!

How it works

Surfing competitions give points for each ride. A surfer can get points for:
  • How well they ride the wave
  • How long they stay on the wave
  • How many cool tricks they do
Each judge gives a score from 0 to 10. Then, all the points are added up to see who has the highest total. If you’re playing a game and get 5 points for one round, and 3 points for another, you add them together to see your total. That’s exactly how surfing works!

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine a fun surfing competition with two surfers: Surfer A:
  • First wave: 7 points
  • Second wave: 9 points
  • Third wave: 6 points
Surfer B:
  • First wave: 8 points
  • Second wave: 7 points
  • Third wave: 8 points
Now, let’s add up their points: Surfer A: 7 + 9 + 6 = 22 points Surfer B: 8 + 7 + 8 = 23 points So, Surfer B is winning with 23 points compared to Surfer A’s 22 points. You can also see how many points ahead one surfer is: 23 – 22 = 1 point Surfer B is 1 point ahead of Surfer A.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Surfing Score Challenge! You are the judge of a mini surfing competition! You have 3 surfers: Sam, Lily, and Max. Each surfer rides 3 waves. You give points for each wave. Here’s your challenge:
  • Sam: 5, 8, 7
  • Lily: 6, 9, 6
  • Max: 4, 7, 9
First, add up each surfer’s points. Then, find out who is winning. Finally, find out how many points the winner is ahead of the others. How to do it:
  1. Sam’s total: 5 + 8 + 7 = ?
  2. Lily’s total: 6 + 9 + 6 = ?
  3. Max’s total: 4 + 7 + 9 = ?
  4. Who is winning?
  5. How many points ahead is the winner?
Answer:
  • Sam: 20 points
  • Lily: 21 points
  • Max: 20 points
  • Lily is winning with 21 points
  • Lily is 1 point ahead of Sam and Max

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Adding up the points wrong.
    Why it happens: Sometimes children count too fast or skip a number.
    Fix: Count slowly and write down each number to make sure you don’t miss any.
  • Mistake: Not knowing who is winning.
    Why it happens: It’s easy to get confused when comparing numbers.
    Fix: Use a number line or count out loud to see which number is bigger.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to subtract to find the difference.
    Why it happens: Subtraction can be tricky, especially if you're not used to it.
    Fix: Use counters or draw pictures to help you see how much more one number is than another.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help children understand surfing scores by:
  • Playing a simple game at home where you give points for different activities, like jumping or reading
  • Using a whiteboard or paper to write out the scores and add them together
  • Practising subtraction by asking “How many more points does the winner have?”
  • Using real-world examples like counting points in a board game or a sports match
  • Encouraging children to explain how they added the points
It’s okay if children make mistakes – they’re learning! You can help by:
  • Checking the addition step-by-step
  • Using physical objects like counters or toys to show the numbers
  • Repeating the process to build confidence

Practice questions

  1. Surfer C gets 8, 6, 9 points. What is their total?
  2. Surfer D gets 7, 8, 7 points. What is their total?
  3. Who is winning between C and D?
  4. How many points ahead is the winner?
  5. Surfer E gets 9, 5, 8 points. What is their total?
  6. Surfer F gets 7, 9, 6 points. What is their total?
  7. Who is winning between E and F?
  8. How many points ahead is the winner?
  9. Surfer G gets 6, 7, 8 points. What is their total?
  10. Surfer H gets 5, 8, 9 points. What is their total?
Answers:
  1. 23 points
  2. 22 points
  3. Surfer C is winning
  4. 1 point
  5. 22 points
  6. 22 points
  7. They are tied
  8. 0 points
  9. 21 points
  10. 22 points

FAQ

What is a surfing score?

A surfing score is the total points a surfer gets from judges for their performance in a competition.

How do you add up surfing scores?

You add up the points from each wave the surfer rides to get their total score.

How do you find out who is winning?

You compare the totals of all surfers. The one with the highest total is winning.

Why do surfers get points for tricks?

Tricks show skill and creativity, so judges give more points for them.

Can you have the same score?

Yes, sometimes surfers can get the same score, and it’s called a tie!