For the weekend surfer, the kiter chasing the breeze, the family looking for exercise, the urban coastline offers that hard-to-find combination: easy access, warm community, real progress. And when you catch a day when the waves are low, the skyline with ships on the horizon tells a story you won't find anywhere else.
SurFest, 5th edition: wave, foam, applause. This is what a surfing competition looks like on the Black Sea
The first horn sounds briefly. Twenty minutes seem like an instant when you get the rhythm. A rider enters decisively on the left, turns decisively, keeps his weight on his back foot. The audience reacts. "Bravo!" can be heard from the beach, and the judges note in silence. Another wave rises perfectly, with a clean face. A longboard catches the glide, the curve is drawn in the air, then melts into foam. The atmosphere is like a festival: music, friends, children asking "when can I do it too?", instructors nodding approvingly. Two things remain after each heat: excitement and order. The excitement of the wave, the order of the rules. Because surfing, to be beautiful, must also be correct.
SurFest uses a regulation aligned with international practices (ISA), with adaptations to the conditions on the day of the competition
Heat structure
2–4 riders/heat, 15–20 minutes (duration can be adjusted by the organizer).
Start/Finish signaled acoustically and visually.
Multiple waves can be caught, but the best 2 scores count (maximum score: 20 points).
How to score
The jury (two international judges) evaluates each wave on a scale of 0.0–10.0, according to:
Wave selection (timing, positioning)
Maneuvers (variety, difficulty, execution)
Speed, power, flow (continuity, connections)
Control (clean finishes, standing up)
priority
"Whoever is closer to the peak and gets hired first has priority."
Interference (cutting another rider's wave) leads to a penalty: low score or cancellation of the best wave (depending on severity, at the jury's decision).
In SUP Surfing, the paddle must be actively used during maneuvers.
Safety & equipment
Leash required; neoprene recommended according to the season.
The competition area is signposted; entry/exit into/out of the water is next to the flags.
Obeying the instructions of lifeguards and officials.
Why do rules matter when you want to experience? Because they protect emotion. Rules let talent come to the surface and make room for passion without injuries or frustrations. Every rider knows what they have to do, every spectator understands what they are applauding. That's where that beautiful feeling comes from: that it wasn't just a coincidence with a good wave, but a sport that is being built correctly, here, at home.
It's a sign that water sports are not a fad, but an identity that is being built in Constanța
At the 5th edition of SurFest, organized by Sup Academy, the level of technique, flow, and adaptation to the Black Sea conditions was clearly felt. And the podiums show that the local scene produces real talent.
Boys' shortboard
- 1st place: Bernie
- 2nd place: Julius
- 3rd place: Goran
Boys' longboard
- 1st place: Dragoș (Sup Academy; instructor in Tenerife)
- 2nd place: Goran (WEGO Sports; surf & kiteboarding instructor)
- 3rd place: Radu (Sup Academy; instructor in Morocco, Tenerife and at Black Sea)
Boys' soft top
- Christopher • 2) Razvan • 3) Cristi
Party
- Athena • 2) Nicole • 3) Cristina
SUP Surf
- Andrei • 2) Bogdan • 3) Florin
More important than the medals? The fact that the beach was filled with onlookers, applause and a festival vibe. It's a sign that water sports are not a fad, but an identity that is being built in Constanța.
