While the legal dispute over the “Surf City” nickname continues, the real battle for surfing supremacy is unfolding in the waves of Lower Trestles over the next three days. The Wheat Cup specialty event, followed by the U.S. Boardriders National Championship, promises intense competition among elite surf clubs vying for regional pride and national titles.
The two events are hosted at Lower Trestles, a world-class surf break set to showcase the 2028 Summer Olympics surfing competition. Nine clubs are competing in the Wheat Cup on Thursday and Friday, with the top four teams advancing to Saturday’s national championship.
Representing Santa Cruz Boardriders, World Surf League professional Nat Young expressed enthusiasm for the team-oriented format. “It’s going to be a fun week competing with the Santa Cruz Boardriders Club at Lower Trestles,” Young said. “I’m excited for the team concept, which is different from a regular surf contest, and to represent Santa Cruz on a national level, aiming for our first national title.”
Young competes in the 30-39 age division alongside teammates Shaun Burns, Austin Smith Ford, and Matt Myers. College student Autumn Hayes will also compete for Santa Cruz, alongside a roster of 28 surfers spanning various age groups and skill levels.
Joining Santa Cruz are defending champions San Clemente Boardriders and clubs from Huntington Beach, Encinitas, Newport Beach, South Bay, Dana Point, La Jolla, and the Central Coast, all eager to secure their spot in the championship.
Local surfing legend Peter Mel, a 2022 Surfers’ Hall of Fame inductee, emphasized the camaraderie these events foster. “Always stoked to pull on the jersey and paddle out with the crew,” Mel said. “These events are such a blast, especially sharing the lineup with so many legends of the sport. This is what surf culture is all about: camaraderie, commitment, and competition.”
The Wheat Cup honors Casey Wheat, a Huntington Beach High alumnus and West Coast Boardriders co-founder who passed away in 2020. Competitors must meet residency or schooling requirements within their club’s jurisdiction, underscoring the regional pride at stake.
Competition spans seven divisions, from under-14s to 50-and-over, including a women’s division. Each team fields four surfers per division, but only one surfer competes in the water at a time during the one-hour heats. Surfers tag in teammates in a relay-style format, adding a strategic layer to the contest.
Wave forecasts predict favorable conditions with 3- to 5-foot swells, ideal for aerial maneuvers and power turns.
Max St. Denis, competing in the 15-19 division for Santa Cruz, highlighted the event’s community spirit. “Boardriders events are the best,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to represent Santa Cruz and be part of such a passionate team.”
Judging follows a format similar to the World Surf League, with surfers required to produce three scored waves per heat. Each competitor can select a “whammy” wave, doubling its score to boost their team’s standing.
Alongside Young and Hayes, other notable Santa Cruz competitors include Kaikoura Nauenberg, Isla Hardy, Keanna Miller, Xander Brown, and Bud Freitas, among others. Miller described the competition as “a special event that brings all the clubs together” with an “amazing atmosphere,” expressing hope to qualify for the national championship and potentially bring the title back to Santa Cruz.
Already qualified for the national championship are clubs from North Shore Hawaii, Jacksonville, Wrightsville Beach, Cape May County, and the West Coast.
The top 48 clubs from around the world will eventually advance to the World Club Challenge, set for January 17-19, 2026, at Snapper Rocks near Coolangatta, Australia—one of the sport’s most prestigious team events.