Whether one likes to surf or just watch those out catching a wave, Tourmaline Surf Park will be the place to do all that when the 25th annual Summer Longboard Classic returns on June 14.
Hosted by the Pacific Beach Surf Club, the event will feature a day of surfing, music, a raffle and food.
“I love this event because it’s like the beach day that kicks off summertime,” said Kay Saffe, a PB Surf Club member.
The Florida native moved to San Diego 10 years ago for graduate school at the University of San Diego.
“My dad always had me around the ocean, for fishing and swimming and whatnot,” Saffe said. “But I just really love the beach, and I eventually got into surfing on my own and then met friends doing that.”
Saffe has been in the club since 2020 and competes every year.
“I just really love surfing and love building community,” Saffe said. “I just feel like surf contests bring a lot of different kinds of surfers together.”
The Summer Longboard Classic was started in 2020 by Debbie Gordon of Gordon and Smith, a family-owned surfboard and skateboard manufacturing business in San Diego.
In addition to surfing, competitors can enjoy music from Bus Brothers DJs and burritos from Taco Surf, a local restaurant on PB’s boardwalk who is one of the sponsors.
The club also partners with sponsors for surfboard, skateboard and wetsuit giveaways. Some include Sun Bum, Boxed Water, Drone Dude ED and Pacific Beach Surf Shop. This year, every “grom” under 18 that signs up will get the chance to win a custom-shaped Josh Hall surfboard, Saffe said.
“For the competition, we have age groups from kids all the way to the grandpa and grandma divisions,” Saffe said. “Everybody is welcome.”
Registration will close once it reaches capacity at 132 participants.
Money raised will go toward covering the costs for club events so it can pay for food and sponsors. The club also donates around 10% of the proceeds to a beneficiary. In the past, Saffe said the beneficiary has been a local school or nonprofit feel are a worthy cause. This year, proceeds will be donated to the Smith family.
“Pablo Smith, who is the dad of one of my friends, is a former PB (Surf) Club president,” Saffe said. “He is currently suffering from Parkinson’s disease, and this money will be given to them to help with medical expenses.”
Smith competed in surf competitions for decades and Saffe said he is a club legend.
“Now, the family needs help with medical expenses, because he has an around-the-clock caretaker,” Saffe said.
For more information about the event and competition rules, visit the club’s website, pacificbeachsurfclub.com.
“Anybody can enter – you don’t have to be a part of our club,” Saffe said. “It’s all about a fun beach day with friends and families in PB.”
Want to enter?
Summer Longboard Classic
When: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 14
Where: Tourmaline Surf Park, 600 Tourmaline Street, Pacific Beach
Cost: $40 for youths (under age 18), $75 for adults. at pacificbeachsurfclub.com.
Good to know: The minimum board length is 9-feet or at least 3 feet over the competitor’s head. There is no limit on the number of fins and leashes are optional.
Corrected date in lede.
