Lakers That Rip Surf Jam :: A South End Surf Contest
TCSS Owner
WHERE: Whiting Lakefront Park in Whiting, Indiana (map)
WHEN: First weekend day with good surf starting September 16, 2023
* LATEST UPDATE *
There is no set date for the contest because we surf in the Great Lakes, and it is impossible to predict exactly which day we will have waves in the future. We are using the concept of a "Contest Window", meaning the contest will be held on the first weekend day (Saturday or Sunday) with proper contestable waves moving forward this fall.
We may send emails leading up to a weekend when it looks possible that we will give the green light, but until we announce that we are officially giving the green light on a certain date, there is no certain date. Stay tuned, amigos!
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
Contest Check-In & Start Time- All pre-registered contestants need to be checked in on site by 8:30am CST (9:30am EST)
- Heats will begin at 9am CST (10 EST). The order of the divisions/heats (which division goes first) will be determined based on the surf conditions, and will be announced on site by 8:30am CST the morning of the contest.
SHORTBOARD
(DIVISION IS NOW 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 NOW 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
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
