OCEAN DECK CHALLENGE 2026
Friday, June 19, 2026 1:00PM - 6:30 PM
The Ocean Deck Restaurant & Beach Club: 127 S Ocean Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
1:00 pm- Event Registration Opens
1:30 pm- Captains Meeting
2:00 pm- Competition Start
Events
Taplin Relay
Board race
Rescue Tube Rescue Race
Ski race
Beach race
Rescue Board Rescue Relay
Beach Flags
Cost
The cost for each team is $120. ($20 per competitor)
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A Referee shall be in charge of starting each race.
The Referee will explain each event to the competitors before that event.
A Finishing Judge shall be responsible for the end of each race.
This judgment will be final and cannot be protested.
A Head Official will oversee the whole competition while accepting protests and substitutions.
The Head Official will assist the other judges.
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Protests will be reviewed by a judges’ meeting only if such argument is presented to the Head Official before the start of the next event.
The judges’ decision to a protest will be communicated to the captains of each team.
Each team will be permitted two protests.
No protest shall be accepted which is a direct challenge to a Finishing Judges decision.
Any protest against the conditions under which an event is to be conducted must be made verbally to the Referee prior to the event. The Referee shall then inform the competitors in that event prior to its start.
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Only rescue tubes that are standard beach equipment may be used during the Rescue Tube Rescue Race.
Any type of swim fins may be used during the Rescue Tube Rescue Race.
Standard USLA paddle boards will be used during the board races.
Standard USLA surf skis will be used during the ski races, however kayaks can be used in lieu of skis if preferred. Non-spec skis are prohibited.
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Lanes will be drawn prior to each event.
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1. The scoring shall be as follows:
1st place - 12 points
2nd place - 10 points
3rd place - 8 points
4th place - 7 points
5th place - 6 points
6th place - 5 points
7th place - 4 points
8th place - 3 point
9th place - 2 points
10th place - 1 point
For Beach Flags:
1st place - 6.5 points
2nd place - 5.5 points
3rd place - 4.5 points
4th place - 3.5 points
5th place - 3 points
6th place - 2.5 points
7th place - 2 points
8th place - 1.5 point
9th place - 1 points
10th place - 0.5 point
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General Conditions:
Each team shall be composed of the whole team (2 swimmers, 2 paddlers, and 2 surf skiers).
The order will be: swim, paddle, ski, swim, paddle, ski.
The course will be detailed on race day.
All transitions will be designated by a “hand tag” between the transition flags.
The swimmer will tag the paddler with board already in hand at waters edge.
The paddler will tag the skier in knee-deep water with ski in hand.
The paddler and skier can abandon their craft at any time after rounding the last water marker.
The skier crossing the start/finish beach transition flag will designate the finish.
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Each team shall be composed of 4 competitors.
All transitions will be designated by a “hand tag” between the ocean transition flags.
The first 3 racers may drop their boards in shallow water to make a transition.
Each team must have a designated board spotter in shallow water. The spotter may only turn the board around and keep the board in a set position.
Paddler #1 will start between the ocean transition flags and race around all designated buoys. Paddler #1 will return to shore and tag paddler #2 between the ocean transition flags.
Paddler 2, 3, and 4 will continue in the same manner as paddler #1. The finish will consist of paddler #4 crossing the transition flags having contact with their board. The person, not the board will determine the finish of the race.
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Procedures:
The victims will already be at their assigned lanes before the race starts.
The rescue swimmer will proceed out to their designated buoy. Upon reaching the buoy, the rescue swimmer will hand the rescue tube to the victim behind the transition buoys just to the south of their designated lane.
The rescue swimmer will then proceed towards the shore. The victim may assist in returning to shore by kicking only. The victim must maintain two hands on the rescue tube at all times. Disqualification will result if the victim looses contact with the rescue tube at any point during the race. After returning to shore, a hand tag behind the beach flags will designate the start of the 2nd rescue swimmer. The 2nd rescue swimmer will proceed in the same manner as did the 1st rescue swimmer.
The finish is judged when the victim crosses the finish line.
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Procedures:
The ski race will consist of a water start and a water finish.
The skiers will follow the apex course.
The 1st skier will hand tag the second skier behind the transition line near waters edge. This will also apply to the 2nd and 3rd skiers.
The 1st and 2nd skiers can abandon their ski anytime after turning the last marker.
The 3rd skier must be in contact with the ski when crossing the finish line.
The finish is judged by the crossing of the torso of the 3rd skier.
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General Conditions:
Each team shall be composed of 4 competitors.
All transitions will be designated by a baton hand off between the beach transition flags.
Each team will have their own lane.
Procedures:
Runner #1 will start at the north end of the course and run to the south in their designated lane. Runner #1 will hand off to runner #2 behind the beach transition flags.
Runner #2 will run to the north and hand off to runner # 3.
Runner 3 and 4 will continue in the same manner as runner 1 and 2. The finish will consist of runner #4 crossing the beach transition flags.
Disqualification will result if runners run out of their lanes. The baton may be dropped as long as it is not advanced or interferes with another team and/or lane.
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Procedures:
Victim #1 will start to the south of their designated lane and race out to their buoy. Once the victim reached the buoy and gives a signal, the 1st rescue paddler may enter the water. The rescue paddler must pick up the victim behind the transition buoy and must make a right hand turn around their designated flag/buoy. The victim may assist in any way on the return to shore.
The 1st rescue paddler and victim will return to the beach and tag the 2nd victim at their designated lane in between the transition flags. Victim #2 and rescue paddler #2 will continue in the same manner as victim #1 and rescue paddler #1.
The finish will consist of the victim #2 and rescue paddler #2 crossing on either side of their assigned lane having contact with the board. The person, not the board will determine the finish of the race.
Both victim and paddler must be in contact with the board when crossing the transition and finish line.
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We will use the general USLA rules for this event.
There will be 2 male competitors and 1 female competitor selected from each team to compete. The females and males will be run separately.
2 heats will be run for the males, and there will be a straight final for the females. The number of competitors in each heat will be determined the day of the race depending upon the number of teams that register.
The finishing judges decision is final, no protests are allowed.
More specific rules will be announced the day of the race.
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Beanies are encouraged but not required.
EVENT REGISTER
Teams will consist of no more than 6 members including at least one female.
Each team shall designate one team captain.
Each event will have at least one leg completed by both genders.
Paying for your whole Team. Ocean Deck is Friday, June 26th @1:00PM
Paying for your portion of your Team’s registration. Ocean Deck is Friday, June 26th @1:00PM
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