About this event
The National Scholastic Surfing Association's 2026-27 Southwest Conference Explorer season continues with Events #3 and #4 at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point on Saturday and Sunday, January 2-3, 2027. This Orange County doubleheader is the midpoint of the six-event Southwest Explorer regular season. Entry is currently available for all 12 published divisions: most cost $105 per contest, while Super Groms and Super Girls cost $95. A current annual NSSA membership is required separately. The regular deadline is 5:00 PM Pacific on Tuesday, December 29; after that, the organizer says late entry costs more and is accepted only if space remains, so a missing regular checkout must not be treated automatically as closed registration. Three live shop labels conflict with the official schedule or contain defects: Juniors Event #4 says January 3, 2025 instead of 2027, Menehuene Event #4 omits the first letter of Event, and Super Girls Event #4 omits the closing parenthesis after the date. The official live schedule controls, and affected entrants should confirm the correct option with NSSA before payment. A surfer must physically compete in four of the six Southwest Explorer events to qualify for the 2027 West Coast Championships; published make-up options use Gold Coast Explorer events. Spectating from the public beach is free, with paid OC Parks parking. Exact check-in, heat draws, contest-bank placement, daily start and finish times, and awards timing are not yet published. NSSA may move dates or locations for surf and weather, so recheck the live schedule and organizer social before travel.
At a glance
Open to current NSSA members in a listed Explorer division; the organizer does not describe the event as invitation-only. Seasonal age is determined as of January 1, 2027. A competitor must physically surf four of the six Southwest Explorer events to qualify for the 2027 West Coast Championships; the live schedule describes limited make-up options through Gold Coast Explorer events.
open
Salt Creek Beach (Salt Creek Beach Park)
In person
Event links
NSSA 2026–27 Southwest Explorer live schedule
NSSA Southwest Explorer schedule page
NSSA Southwest Explorer entry shop
Southwest Explorer Men’s entry and Event #3/#4 variants
NSSA — How to Compete
NSSA membership
NSSA 2026–27 Rule Book
Salt Creek Beach — OC Parks
Current 2026–27 Southwest Explorer Event #1 results post
Directions to Salt Creek Beach
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