Cliff Masters Playbook
Creativity & style meet performance
Rooted in freestyle, Cliff Masters uses an open judging system where all forms of movement are evaluated. From classic on-axis flips to innovative variations, spinning tricks, grabs, diferent take-offs, athletes are given complete freedom to express their movement.
How It’s Scored
The judging process is based on three elements: difficulty, execution, and style, and is carried out as follows:
1. Athletes privately announce their trick to the judges, who then assign it a base value from 1 to 10.
2. Trick is performed. Judges rate and may deduct up to 2 points based on execution. Rather than strict form, the focus is on control in the air, orientation spotting the water, and a straight entry.
3. Style score of up to 1 point is awarded, reflecting creativity, originality, and overall steeze in the air (overly traditional tricks are less likely to stand out).
Each athlete performs two jumps, the median score used as the final result.
Qualifiers
Qualifier competitions take place around the world, with a strong focus on local talent. Each event offers a cash prize, as well as a direct qualification spot for the winner to advance to the finals, including a travel budget.
For new athletes applying to compete, judges require proof of recent training and review applications to ensure they are currently active.
Finale
The top spots in the final are secured by the winners of the three preliminary events, alongside the highest-ranked athletes from the previous season.
Additionally, one wildcard spot is awarded online, voted by the public through the @cliffmastersworldseries Instagram account.
This brings together a field of 10 to 12 elite athletes, all ready to go all in.
The winner is crowned the Cliff Masters Athlete of the Year.