Three 45-minute board-type heats. Riders pledge to catch waves and raise funds rather than receiving conventional surf scores. Water-safety staff monitor conditions and stage transitions. The only named award is Top Fundraiser; other sustainable-prize categories are not yet specified.

Surfrider Foundation San Diego County is bringing its first Surf-a-Thon to the north grassy area of La Jolla Shores Park on Sunday, October 11, 2026. This is a public surf fundraiser rather than a scored conventional contest: registered participants pledge to catch waves, build personal fundraising pages for local ocean protection, and ride one of three 45-minute groups for longboards, shortboards, or boogie boards. The $40 registration includes an event shirt and one-year Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter membership; register by September 13 to guarantee the shirt. After paying, riders must complete the linked event-platform waiver, set up a fundraising page, and bring their own board because no boards will be supplied. Participant check-in runs 8:00-8:30 AM, followed by opening remarks and a mandatory safety briefing from 8:30-9:00. Longboards surf 9:00-9:45, shortboards 9:50-10:35, and boogie boards 10:40-11:25, with water-safety staff managing boundaries and transitions. A public yoga session overlaps from 9:00-9:30, awards and closing run 11:45 AM-noon, and volunteer cleanup continues until 1:00 PM. Families and spectators are welcome for free, with a separate free RSVP link. Sustainable prizes will recognize the top fundraiser and other categories, but exact award categories and prizes are not yet published. The organizer has not posted a final registration cutoff, participant cap, minimum age, minor/guardian procedure, refund terms, fundraising minimum, detailed waiver timing, yoga host, weather/cancellation policy, or livestream. La Jolla is outside the core Los Angeles counties but is an appropriate regional inclusion roughly 120 miles south of downtown LA because surfing requires a coastal venue and the event offers open participation, three ride formats, current registration, and community programming.

Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter

All surfing skill levels are welcome, from first-time wave riders to experienced surfers. Participants select Longboard, Shortboard or Boogie Board. The organizer does not publish qualification, club-membership, geographic, gender or invitation requirements.

Upcoming inaugural fundraiser; no results, heat draw, livestream or replay is available yet.

Upcoming Surfrider San Diego Surf-a-Thon — Inaugural 2026 Events

2026 Surfrider San Diego Surf-a-Thon