OCEANSIDE — More than 140 surfers are expected to participate in this year’s Surf for the Sea event at the Oceanside Harbor North Jetty Sept. 8 and Sept. 9.
The annual surf contest and memorial paddle out honors past local surfers.
Contest director Carolyn Krammer said the event began as a small local gathering and originally honored surfers who lived in Oceanside.
Over the years the event has grown. It now honors all surfers who regularly surfed in Oceanside including some well-known professional surfers.
The atmosphere of the event can be described as an upbeat family reunion.
“It’s a very good positive vibe,” Krammer said.
The surf contest runs two days. Surfers compete in men and women age group divisions.
There is also a grom and grommet division for boys and girls age 12 and under.
Surfing conditions are expected to be good for the contest.
“The north jetty in Oceanside Harbor, that is the spot in summertime,” Krammer said. “It gets a perfect south swell in September. Hopefully we’re going to have some waves.”
Contest winners are awarded plaques and bragging rights. Division finalists receive trophies.
On Sept. 9, surfers will also participate in a memorial paddle out at noon to remember local surfers.
“For all surfers who want to remember a past friend or acquaintance we provide leis,” Krammer said. “They form a big circle outside the surf break and are invited to speak about passed loved ones.”
The paddle out ceremony ends with festive splashing. Then surfers ride in a wave in honor of their loved one.
The event honors surfers and the beach they loved.
During the two-day event children are encouraged to grab plastic bags and clean up the beach.
They earn a raffle ticket for each bag of trash they collect and can win beach gear and surfboards.
“We provide all the plastic bags for kids to do a beach cleanup,” Krammer said.
The event is sponsored by Surf for the Sea and the Surfrider Foundation.
