NSSA Southwest Conference Explorer — Season Opener at Huntington Beach 9th Street 2026

About this event

The National Scholastic Surfing Association's Southwest Conference opens its 2026–27 Explorer season with a back-to-back Saturday–Sunday contest on the beach at 9th Street in downtown Huntington Beach, just north of the Huntington Beach Pier. The NSSA is the foremost amateur scholastic surfing organization in the United States and, since 1978, a primary competitive pathway for American youth surfers — many of today's pros came up through its ranks. The Explorer season is the NSSA's all-around competition tier, with divisions for advanced, intermediate, beginner, and recreational surfers of every age. This opening weekend is Events #1 and #2 of the six-event Southwest regular season, which runs from Huntington Beach down to San Diego; a competitor must physically surf at least four of the six events to qualify for the 2027 NSSA West Coast Championships, which in turn feed the National Championships held each June. Entry is open now through the NSSA Southwest conference payment site and is open to anyone holding a current annual NSSA membership — it is not invitation-only. Per-event entry is about $105 per division ($95 for the youngest Super Groms and Super Girls divisions), with a discounted full-season bulk option; the entry deadline is 5:00 PM Pacific on the Tuesday before each contest (Tuesday, September 15, 2026 for this weekend), after which late entry costs more and is accepted only if space remains. The contest is free to watch from the public sand at 9th Street. Exact daily heat draws and start times are posted on nssa.org in the days before the event, so competitors should check the posted schedule and be on the beach well before their heat. Dates are subject to surf and weather conditions.

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