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Lakers That Rip Surf Jam :: A South End Surf Contest

"The Great Lakes surfing community has a long, rich history of running surf contests that date back to the 1960s. From Marquette to Sheboygan, St. Joseph to Grand Haven, Toronto to Buffalo - and many places in between - Stoked-filled gatherings of the tribe are something freshwater sliders have long enjoyed. At Third Coast, we're proud to have hosted, helped, and participated in many of them since 2005.
Now, our latest: The Lakers That Rip Surf Jam, to be held on a Saturday or Sunday in prime fall conditions on the South End of Lake Michigan. Read on for more info; we can't wait to see you there."
Ryan Gerard
TCSS Owner
WHAT: Lakers That Rip Surf Jam
WHERE: Whiting Lakefront Park in Whiting, Indiana (map)
WHEN: October 15, 2023

 * CONTEST IS ON FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15*

After weeks of waiting for a proper swell, the contest is officially on for Sunday, October 15 at Whiting Lakefront Park in Whiting, Indiana. A heavy area of low pressure is moving into the region and setting us up for plenty of fun surf on the South End this weekend. Sunday is the call for the contest, as northerly fetch grows into the weekend and longer period swell fills in at Whiting. The wind will have an onshore component to it, but hey, it's a lake and we have a banger swell on tap. Let's do it.

COMPETITOR DETAILS

  • Know your heat and it's starting time (given to you at check-in)
  • Get your contest jersey 15 minutes before your heat starts - make sure you have the jersey color that matches your bracket color
  • Return jersey to the judging table immediately after your heat for the next heat's competitors
  • Competitors CANNOT paddle out for their heat until the horn ends the previous heat - you then have 2 minutes to paddle out before your heat begins
  • One horn will signal the start of the heat, then one horn will signal the end of the heat
  • Heat priority goes to the surfer closest to the breaking part of the wave.  If one wave has 2 different breaking peaks and the 2 surfers are headed towards each other, the first surfer to their feet has priority.  Breaking priority will result in a loss of one full scoring wave.

TIMELINE
(all times are CST)

8-8:30am: Required check-in for Shortboard and Longboard competitors at the TCSS van. No exceptions, don’t be late!

8:31-8:40am: Alternates added to missing spots

8:40-8:45am: Decision made on which division surfs first - longboard or shortboard. This will be based on surf conditions. Divisions will alternate after each round (not heats)

8:45-8:55am: Judges/Timer/Bracket & Jersey Assigner meeting and prep

QUARTERFINAL ROUND 1

9:00-9:25am: Quarterfinal Heat 1

9:27-9:52am: Quarterfinal Heat 2

9:54-10:19am: Quarterfinal Heat 3

10:21-10:46am: Quarterfinal Heat 4

QUARTERFINAL ROUND 2

11:00-11:25am: Quarterfinal Heat 1

11:27-11:52am: Quarterfinal Heat 2

11:54-12:19pm: Quarterfinal Heat 3

12:21-12:46pm: Quarterfinal Heat 4

SEMIFINAL ROUND 1

1:00-1:25pm: Semifinal Heat 1

1:27-1:52pm: Semifinal Heat 2

SEMIFINAL ROUND 2

2:00-2:25pm: Semifinal Heat 1

2:27-2:52pm: Semifinal Heat 2

EXPRESSION SESSION

2:30-2:50pm: Check-in at TCSS van for Surf Jam Expression Session (those who already checked in for shortboard and/or longboard don't need to check in again if already competing in the Expression Session).

3:00-3:25pm: Surf Jam Expression Session

FINALS 1

3:30-3:55pm

FINALS 2

4:00-4:25pm

AWARDS & RAFFLE & PARTY

5:00pm: Hang and Jam with South End's very own Captain Jack Flynn until…?

OVERVIEW

The contest will be held at the classic South End Lake Michigan surf spot of Whiting, Indiana, and take place on a Saturday or Sunday starting September 16, 2023. The first good weekend swell after this date will take the contest. We have 3 divisions outlined below with a total of 72 competitor spots available - be sure to secure your slot early for a chance to compete!

Paid registration includes a Lakers That Rip Surf Jam poster, sticker, and raffle ticket (you'll receive them at the contest)!  Additional Lakers That Rip Surf Jam gear will be available through Third Coast Surf Shop (online and in-store) as the contest gets closer.

Alternate Waitlist: Tried to register but all of the slots in that division are full? We will have a waitlist registration on the day of the contest for those that didn't make the 24 available slots in each division. To join the alternate waitlist, be there by 8:30am CST the morning of the contest. We will register people to the waitlist on a first come basis. If a pre-registered contestant in that division does not attend, the first alternate will take their place, and so on.

Contest tees, posters, and stickers created by local surfer/artist Nate Knoth. Yeeww!!

Surf Jam posters, stickers, and t-shirts are all limited runs - when they're gone, they're gone. Get it while you can!

Shop Now

3 DIVISIONS

SHORTBOARD
(DIVISION IS FULL)

  • 24 slots available
  • $25 cost includes contest poster, sticker, and raffle ticket
  • Any board no longer than 6" taller than you
  • 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finishers take home prizes

Heat Breakdown

    • Quarterfinals: four (6-person) heats with 3 people from each heat advancing to the next round
    • Semifinals: two (6-person) heats with 3 people from each heat advancing to the next round
    • Finals: top 6 finishers from semifinals

Judging Criteria

  • Commitment and degree of difficulty
  • Innovative and progressive maneuvers
  • Combination of major maneuvers
  • Variety of maneuvers
  • Speed, power, and flow
  • Completion of wave by riding out of whitewater with control
  • No score for attempts
  • Surfer's total score will be their best 2 scoring waves

Priority

  • Surfer closest to the breaking peak of the wave
  • If 2 breaking peaks on the same wave, the first surfer to their feet has priority
  • An Interference will result in a full loss of 1 scoring wave

LONGBOARD 
(DIVISION IS FULL)

  • 24 slots available
  • $25 cost includes contest poster, sticker, and raffle ticket
  • Any board 9'0 or longer
  • 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finishers take home prizes

Heat Breakdown

    • Quarterfinals: four (6-person) heats with 3 people from each heat advancing to the next round
    • Semifinals: two (6-person) heats with 3 people from each heat advancing to the next round
    • Finals: top 6 finishers from semifinals

Judging Criteria

  • Commitment and degree of difficulty
  • Innovative/classic/progressive maneuvers
  • Combination of major maneuvers
  • Variety of maneuvers
  • Style and flow
  • Completion of wave by riding out of whitewater with control
  • No score for attempts
  • Surfer's total score will be their best 2 scoring waves

Priority

  • Surfer closest to the breaking peak of the wave
  • If 2 breaking peaks on the same wave, the first surfer to their feet has priority
  • An Interference will result in a full loss of 1 scoring wave

      EXPRESSION SESSION
      (DIVISION IS FULL)

      Anything goes! One 25-minute heat where all shortboards, midlengths, logs, paipos, alaias, bodyboards, swim fins, and any other surfcraft are all fair game. The most creative, stylish, and entertaining wave riding wins!

      • 24 slots available (party waves highly encouraged)
      • One 25-minute final with all 24 surfers!
      • $25 cost includes contest poster, sticker, and raffle ticket
      • 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finishers take home prizes

      AWARDS CEREMONY

      Plan to stay after the competition for the awards ceremony, raffle prizes (for paid contestants only) and post-contest party, too!

      Stay tuned for updates on forecast and competition date on the TCSS and LakersThatRip social media accounts.

      Contest tees, posters, and stickers created by local surfer/artist Nate Knoth. Yeeww!!

      Surf Jam posters, stickers, and t-shirts are all limited runs - when they're gone, they're gone. Get it while you can!

      Shop Now

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