2026 NSSA National Championships — Huntington Beach
About this event
The 2026 NSSA National Championships were the season-crowning finals of the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) — the premier amateur and scholastic competitive surfing organization in the United States and the qualifying pathway that has launched generations of American professionals. The championships ran in two blocks in Southern California: the National Interscholastic Championships (college, high school, and middle school team surfing) at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point on June 12–14, 2026, followed by the National Open, National Explorer, and National Airshow Championships at the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier on June 26–July 2, 2026. The Huntington Beach block is the highest-attended youth surfing championship in the nation, drawing hundreds of the country’s best amateurs (with a strong Hawaiian and Florida contingent) across shortboard and longboard divisions spanning the U10 Mini Groms up through Open Mens and Womens (the Mayor’s Cup), plus Explorer age brackets that reach Seniors (35+), Super Seniors (45+), and the Duke division (55+). Jesse Rapp of Costa Mesa won the Open Mens Mayor’s Cup and Riviera Hunter of Santa Cruz won the Open Womens Mayor’s Cup; Sean MacDonald of Dana Point took the National Airshow crown. At Salt Creek, San Clemente reclaimed the National High School title — its 17th — over rival San Dieguito, Westcliff University captured its first-ever National College Championship, and Shorecliffs won its 21st National Middle School title. NSSA competition is member-based and judged in timed heats (surfers scored on their best waves by a panel of judges), with athletes advancing to Nationals through conference regular seasons and regional championships. Huntington Beach Pier and Salt Creek Beach are free, public Orange County beaches in the core Los Angeles inventory region. The event is completed; this record is preserved for its results and history with no active registration or ticketing call to action.
At a glance
Open to NSSA members who qualified through the 2025–26 season. Divisions span youth (U10 Mini Groms) through Open Mens and Womens, Explorer age brackets up to Seniors (35+), Super Seniors (45+), and Duke (55+), plus scholastic team divisions for colleges, high schools (Varsity and Junior Varsity), and middle schools. Shortboard and longboard divisions were contested.
closed completed
Huntington Beach Pier — Southside (National Open/Explorer/Airshow); Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point (National Interscholastic)
In person
Event links
Official NSSA 2026 National Championships & Interscholastic results
NSSA — National Scholastic Surfing Association (home)
NSSA National Championship dates & schedule
Huntington Beach Pier — NSSA annual surfing championships
Surf City USA — annual events & festivals
Huntington Beach Pier (Southside) on Google Maps
Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point on Google Maps
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