Surfers and spectators alike are gearing up for the 25th annual Summer Longboard Classic, hosted by the Pacific Beach Surf Club at Tourmaline Surf Park on May 14. The event marks a celebration of surf culture, community, and the official start of the summer season.
The day-long festival will feature competitive longboard surfing, live music, food vendors, and prize giveaways. “I love this event because it’s like the beach day that kicks off summertime,” said Kay Saffe, a member of the Pacific Beach Surf Club. Originally from Florida, Saffe has been a San Diego resident for the past decade and has competed in the Classic since joining the club in 2020.
“My dad always had me around the ocean for fishing and swimming,” Saffe said. “Eventually, I got into surfing and met friends who share the same passion.” She emphasized the event’s community spirit: “Surf contests like this bring together all kinds of surfers.”
Founded in 2000 by Debbie Gordon of Gordon and Smith—a local family-owned surfboard and skateboard manufacturer—the Summer Longboard Classic has become a staple in the Pacific Beach surfing scene.
This year’s event will feature music from the Bus Brothers DJs and food provided by Taco Surf, a popular restaurant on the Pacific Beach boardwalk and a key sponsor. Additional sponsors include Sun Bum, Boxed Water, Drone Dude ED, and the Pacific Beach Surf Shop, all contributing prizes such as surfboards, skateboards, and wetsuits.
Notably, all competitors under 18—the “groms”—will have a chance to win a custom-shaped Josh Hall surfboard. The competition welcomes participants of all ages, with categories ranging from children to seniors.
Registration is capped at 132 participants and will close once capacity is reached. Proceeds from the event help fund the club’s activities, including food and sponsor costs, with approximately 10% donated to a local beneficiary each year.
This year’s beneficiary is the Smith family. Pablo Smith, a former Pacific Beach Surf Club president and longtime surf competitor, is currently battling Parkinson’s disease. Funds raised will assist with his medical expenses, including around-the-clock care.
“Pablo is a club legend,” Saffe said. “Now his family needs support, and this event is a way for the community to help.”
For more information on registration and competition rules, visit pacificbeachsurfclub.com.
Saffe encourages everyone to participate: “Anybody can enter—you don’t have to be a member of the club. It’s all about having a fun beach day with friends and family in Pacific Beach.”