The 24th Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon was held on Saturday, once again taking place at the Venice Pier. The contest is a grassroots local tradition that has evolved from a mentorship gathering for youth beset by gang violence to an inter-generational celebration of community.

As usual, the heats are sort of mixed up, they just kind of happen. There's a Groms heat and a Super Groms heat, both of which usually try to go off the earliest. Super Groms had the youngest surfer in the contest's 24 year history. Jacob Packham, being assisted by his dad.


Full gallery filled with high resolution photos of this heat, check out the Super Groms Photo Gallery


Even though they were judged separately, the girls surfed alongside the boys in some mixed Groms and Juniors Heats.










There's a big gallery of full-size high resolution photos from these heats in the Mixed Groms & Juniors Photo Gallery



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A Walk on Water Closes their 2017 Surf Season in Malibu with a Surf Therapy Day Event held on Saturday, November 11. Special Needs Children and their Families experienced an unforgettable day of surf therapy and restoration at Surfrider Beach.
Celebrities including Anthony Kedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), “Below Deck” stars Adam Glick and Sandy Yawn, musician Matt Costa, Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, World Championship Tour top-ranked pro surfer Courtney Conlogue, surf legend Allen Sarlo along with AWOW’s surfing ambassa-dog Haole supported AWOW athletes as surf instructors, meeting and greeting with them, and/or assisted with the day’s festivities. Please note that all kids participating in surf therapy are referred to as athletes they have been called “special needs” all their lives. Over 115+ athletes participated in surf therapy heats, 200 volunteers and 40 experienced instructors who helped them safely navigate the waves and guided them safely in and out of the ocean. Families, supporters, partners and media filled the beach to cheer on these athletes as they rode some of the most ideal waves and experienced the most beautiful weather conditions than we could’ve imagined. . . The athletes along with their families enjoyed a day of positive energy, cheers, some tears of happiness, restoration and experienced the true healing powers of the ocean.





Photos courtesy of A Walk on Water

Check out the full album of photos on the A Walk on Water Facebook Gallery.

ZJ Boarding House held their 10th Annual Haunted Heats Surf Contest this past weekend right down the street from their location in Ocean Park.

Surfers in Haunted Heats are judged on their costume, with the costume performance portion on the beach and then on how they surf as the character they are dressed up as. Many surfers enter as a group with choreographed dance numbers and battle scenes. Some bride the judges with candy or string cheese.

The Cheese Goddess.
Winning Best Grom Surfer with this wave.
The Grom-Zombie, who drove up from Carlsbad for the contest, took Runner-Up in the Groms.

A member of the 3 Pinatas who took Best Runner-Up Costumes.
Best Adult Surfer Winner
One of the North Korean Bombs on one of the bigger waves.
Kim Jong and his Bombs during their costume performance, that combined with their surfing, won them the Best Overall Trophy.
The Bee Gees Staying Alive on a wave.
The Pirates took a trophy for their battles on the sand and sea.






This is just a few of the shots, there are over 100 more photos of the all surfing and costumes.

Check out the huge gallery of all the photos, all full size and in high-resolution: Haunted Heats Photo Gallery

The Surf Relik Championship was the biggest longboard event of the last 10 years in California and featured the elite of the planks on the magic rights of First Point in Malibu near Santa Monica in northern Los Angeles. This was a test event, with WSL level awards, and should be part of the World Circuit next year. This was a test event, with WSL level awards, and should be part of the World Circuit next year. Words By Denis Sarmanho
Photos by Steven Lippman Karina Rozunko for taking home the win in the Women's Pro division!

The Surf Relik Championship was the biggest longboard event of the last 10 years in California, the largest purse in California longboard history ($75k) and featured the elite of the planks on the magic rights of First Point in Malibu near Santa Monica in northern Los Angeles. This was a test event, with WSL level awards, and should be part of the World Circuit next year.


Joe Rickabaugh on his second place finishing in the logger division!

With a window of 15 days, the championship had epic waves on the first day, lowering a little during the finals. Due to a local rule, the event can not occupy the two days of the weekend, so it ended up being held this Sunday and Monday, October 8 and 9.


Tyler Warren took first this past weekend in the Logger division representing the icons of style.

A current leader of the WSL ranking, Chloé Calmon won the quarterfinals Hawaiian Crystal Walsh, her direct competitor in the world title race, which will have its decisive stage in Taiwan at the end of November. Previously, Carioca defeated former world champion Lindsay Steinridee, and in the semi-final was defeated by Malibu and event champion Karina Rosunko.


Ben Skinner gliding through the Surf Relik contest at First Point.

Venice surf legend Solo Scott and and Safe Place for Youth held their 1st annual Surf Camp for Kids on Saturday. The goal was to share the stoke with the youths. Everyone was invited to come down and participate in this free event. AQUA SURF was on hand with boards and wetsuits, along with Solo, they gave the kids full lessons, starting with the basics on the sand, then moving on into the water where the kids were able to start catching their first waves. Check out some of the shots.











More photos in the complete Surfing With Solo Photo Gallery.