The Athlete Classification System (ACS) is a key component of the USA COR National Development Program. Similar to National Ranking Points, ACA competition members earn Athlete Classifications by placing well in competitions. However, unlike National Ranking Points, which reset annually, Athlete Classifications degrade gradually over the course of multiple years. Classifications can be refreshed or advanced by placing well at subsequent competitions, which makes them a valuable long-cycle development tool.
Current athlete classifications can be found in the Members Cup category of the USA Surfski National Series standings.
All registered USA COR athletes begin their developmental journey in an unclassified state, represented by the letter "U". Athletes then progress through five classification levels, represented by the five letters E, D, C, B, and A. Athletes generally earn "E", "D", and "C" classifications by placing well at local and smaller regional competitions, with "B" and "A" classifications generally earned by placing well at larger regional and national competitions. Classifications include the year in which they were earned along with their letter designation, for example "E23", "B24", "D25", etc.
As an added bonus, classifications earned in December of the current calendar year fast-forward to the following calendar year. For example, a "C" classification earned by an athlete in December 2024 will be recorded as a "C25" instead of a "C24". Keep on paddling!
The ACA Ocean Racing Committee maintains the rubric for the Athlete Classification System. The ACS rubric determines the types and amounts of classifications available for athletes to earn at a given competition based on the following factors:
Field Size: The number of finishing USA COR athletes in a given race.
Field Strength: The current classifications of finishing USA COR athletes in a given race.
View the current version of the ACS rubric. Rubric revisions are considered by the Ocean Racing Committee on a quarterly basis.
If an athlete does not refresh or advance their current classification by December 31st of the following calendar year, the classification degrades one level, ultimately returning to "Unclassified", as follows:
E24 > U26
D24 > E26 > U28
C24 > D26 > E28 > U30
B24 > C26 > D28 > E30 > U32
A24 > B26 > C28 > D30 > E32 > U34
An Athlete Classification is a valuable performance-based tool for athletes. It provides perspective on your developmental journey, as well as your relative orientation within the broader competitive landscape. Your classification can help you design effective training programs, and plan your competitive season. Athlete Classifications also enable coaches, clubs, and competition organizers to offer programs and events geared toward particular developmental stages. Finally, Athlete Classifications factor into the calculation of National Ranking Points -- the more classified athletes participating in a competition, and the stronger the classifications of those athletes, the greater the number of points available for all athletes to earn.
Competition results must be submitted to the ACA Ocean Racing Committee in order for classifications to be officially-recognized.
Athletes who do not start, do not finish, or are disqualified from a competition for any reason are not factored into the final determination of earnable athlete classifications or national ranking points.
The initial version of the ACS was back-tested in late 2023 against a number of popular domestic competitions including flatwater races, swiftwater races, open water races, and downwind races.
The initial version of the ACS was deployed as an internal pilot in 2024-Q1, and has now progressed to the external pilot stage, with the intention of attaining official status for the 2025 season.
ACS rubric revisions may occur at any time throughout the 2024 pilot period. Earned classifications will only change if an ACS rubric revision results in a classification advance.
Will we experience inflated athlete classifications within communities? It's a good question, and part of what this experiment will hopefully uncover. At this time the Ocean Racing Committee is not concerned about the "Fishbowl Effect", with respect to inflated athlete classifications.