The National Scholastic Surfing Association's Southwest Conference reaches the midpoint of its 2026–27 Explorer season with a back-to-back Saturday–Sunday contest at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point on January 2 and 3, 2027 — Events #3 and #4 of the six-event Southwest regular season. Salt Creek is a premier Orange County point-and-beach break below the bluffs at Salt Creek Beach Park (beneath the Ritz-Carlton), a long-standing NSSA venue that also hosts the association's June National Interscholastic Championships. 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. 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 (for example $630 for the Men's division, covering all six events); the entry deadline is 5:00 PM Pacific on the Tuesday before the contest — Tuesday, December 29, 2026 for this weekend — after which late entry costs more and is accepted only if space remains. A competitor must physically surf at least four of the six Southwest Explorer events (which run from Huntington Beach down to San Diego) to qualify for the 2027 NSSA West Coast Championships (May 19–23, 2027, Cardiff by the Sea), which in turn feed the National Championships held each June at the Huntington Beach Pier. The contest is free to watch from the public sand at Salt Creek Beach Park, a paid OC Parks beach. 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.

NSSA Southwest Conference (National Scholastic Surfing Association)

Open to any surfer who holds a current annual NSSA membership and enters a listed Explorer division — it is not invitation-only. Divisions are age-bracketed; NSSA's scholastic program requires student members to maintain academic standards. The Southwest Explorer conference runs from Huntington Beach to San Diego, and a competitor must physically surf at least four of the six regular-season events to qualify for the 2027 West Coast Championships.

This is an upcoming event; results are not yet available. As Events #3 and #4 of the six-event 2026–27 Southwest Explorer regular season, per-division outcomes count toward each surfer’s Southwest Explorer ranking and the four-of-six participation requirement to qualify for the 2027 NSSA West Coast Championships (Cardiff by the Sea, May 19–23, 2027). NSSA posts heat results and standings on nssa.org.

National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA)

Upcoming 2026–27 NSSA Southwest Conference Explorer Season — Events #3 & #4 of 6 Events

NSSA Southwest Conference Explorer #3 & #4 — Salt Creek, Dana Point 2027