About this event
The Pendleton Surf Club’s 2026 All Military Surf Contest is a four-day surf-and-service gathering at Church Beach (Churches), inside Camp Pendleton’s San Onofre Beach area, October 8–11. Active-duty service members, reservists and veterans race through double-elimination shortboard and longboard brackets; every entered surfer is guaranteed at least two heats per division. Thirteen live divisions are listed in STACT, including age-split active-duty and veteran fields plus four women’s divisions, two of which also name military spouses. Entry is currently $100 per active-duty division or $140 per veteran/spouse division, plus the live STACT service fee ($6 or $8.40), and includes the competitor shirt, swag bag and contest-weekend meals. Eight divisions were already full at the September 10 verification; five still showed room, so riders should use the live registration page rather than assume availability. Optional three-night beachfront group camping runs Thursday through Sunday morning: $100 per competitor or $150 per non-competitor, with children under 16 and competitors E-5 and below camping free. The event page requires every rider to complete its separate liability release. Anyone without existing Camp Pendleton access must also submit the club visitor-roster form and bring the same valid identification used in that request; the club asks for access data by September 8, which has passed, so late applicants should contact the organizer before paying or traveling. The organizer lists registration closing Tuesday, September 29, but does not publish a clock time. Exact heat draws and the daily competitive timetable are released to registered riders through STACT. The event is regionally relevant to Los Angeles because it is a distinctive military surf-community contest at one of Southern California’s purpose-built coastal installations, about 75 miles south of downtown LA.
At a glance
Competitive entry is primarily for active-duty military, active or inactive reservists, and veterans with proof of service verified at check-in. The live registration also lists Women’s Veteran/Spouse shortboard and longboard divisions. Civilian club heats were only a possible mid-September addition if space remained and were not live as of September 10, so general civilian competition is not represented as open.
open
Church Beach (Churches), San Onofre Beach — Camp Pendleton
In person
Event links
Official 2026 Annual Surf Contest page
Live STACT competitor registration and camping inventory
Required Pendleton Surf Club liability release
Organizer Camp Pendleton visitor-roster form
Official MCB Camp Pendleton base-access requirements
STACT event and heat-schedule app
Official MCCS San Onofre Beach and campground information
Pendleton Surf Club guide to Church surf break
Veteran Surf Alliance partner calendar
Contest volunteer information
Church Beach / San Onofre at Camp Pendleton map
Keep progressing after the event
Your surfing progression belongs in TrickBook
Track your surf progression and the skills you are building.
Keep exploring
