South Bay Legends 5th Annual Memorial Free Surf Contest 2026
About this event
The South Bay Legends 5th Annual Memorial Free Surf Contest returns Sunday, September 27, 2026, at El Porto near 42nd Street in Manhattan Beach. This is a free, all-ages, all-boards community contest and beach gathering held in memory of local friends who died too young. The organizer emphasizes that there is no entry fee and no prize money: the purpose is to surf together, honor the South Bay community and raise money so people without the means can access treatment for sobriety and recovery. Current free registration is live through September 26 at 11:59 PM PDT. The field includes Push In for ages 1-8; Super Grom 10 and under; Grom 13 and under; Juniors 17 and under; all-ages Open Shortboard; and a combined all-ages Funboards, Foamies and Longboards division. Separate free sign-ups are also live for a surf lesson, relief judges and event volunteers. The organizer says all ages, all boards and everybody are welcome, and specifically invites families to bring a chair and spend the day on the sand. The current announcement does not publish check-in, first-heat, finals or awards times, so the event is stored as an all-day date with time TBA rather than borrowing hours from older editions. Spectators do not need a ticket. El Porto is an exposed ocean venue staffed by Los Angeles County lifeguards, with restrooms, showers, a bike path and a large metered parking lot entered from 45th Street; arrive early and follow organizer and lifeguard directions. This is a core Los Angeles inventory event in Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles County.
At a glance
The organizer says all ages, all boards and everybody are welcome. Current contest choices cover push-in ages 1-8, Super Grom 10 and under, Grom 13 and under, Juniors 17 and under, Open Shortboard all ages, and Funboards/Foamies/Longboards all ages. No residency, membership, qualification or invitation requirement is published.
open
El Porto Beach - 42nd Street
In person
Event links
Official free registration and current division inventory
South Bay Legends official site
Official September 11 event announcement and poster
Los Angeles County Beaches: Manhattan Beach and El Porto access
City of Manhattan Beach beach parking information
City of Manhattan Beach maps and transit options
El Porto 42nd Street map
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