Mar 18, 2024

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

LATEST UPDATE (as of 4/9/24)

We're in the holding period! That's surf-speak for "we're ready to run the contest - just need waves". We will run the contest the first weekend day with good surf, between now and May 12, in St. Joseph. See below for details, and keep an eye on our Instagram posts & stories!

"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 spring conditions on the South End of Lake Michigan (see below for details). Read on for more info; we can't wait to see you there."

Ryan Gerard
TCSS Owner

OVERVIEW

WHAT: Lakers That Rip Spring Surf Jam
WHERE: Silver Beach County Park, St. Joseph, Michigan
WINDOW: April to Mid-May 2024
The contest will be held at Third Coast Surf Shop's home break: Silver Beach County Park in St. Joseph, Michigan. The window is the first weekend day (Saturday or Sunday) with a strong North/Northeast swell between April 6 - May 12th.

Paid registration includes a Lakers That Rip Spring Surf Jam sticker* & raffle ticket.

TIMELINE
(All times are EST)

7:30-8:15 am: Required onsite registration ($10 - cash only) for shortboard and longboard competitors at the TCSS van. Max 24 competitors per heat - first come, first serve. No exceptions. Don't be late!

8:15-8:25 am: 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.

8:30am -12:45pm: Quarterfinal, Semifinal, and Final heats

COMPETITOR DETAILS

Onsite registration ONLY on day of contest // NO ONLINE REGISTRATION
After registering the morning of the contest, make sure you know your heat and its starting time

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. 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.

2 DIVISIONS

SHORTBOARD

$10 onsite registration cost includes contest sticker & raffle ticket
24 participants max
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

$10 onsite registration cost includes contest sticker & raffle ticket
24 participants max
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

HEAT TIMELINE

QUARTERFINAL ROUND 1

8:30-8:45 am: Quarterfinal Heat 1

8:47-9:02 am: Quarterfinal Heat 2

9:04-9:19 am: Quarterfinal Heat 3

9:21-9:36 am: Quarterfinal Heat 4

QUARTERFINAL ROUND 2

9:38-9:53 am: Quarterfinal Heat 1

9:55-10:10 am: Quarterfinal Heat 2

10:12-10:27 am: Quarterfinal Heat 3

10:29-10:44 am: Quarterfinal Heat 4

SEMIFINAL ROUND 1

11:01-11:16 am: Semifinal Heat 1

11:18-11:33 am: Semifinal Heat 2

SEMIFINAL ROUND 2

11:35-11:50 am: Semifinal Heat 1

11:52-12:07 pm: Semifinal Heat 2

FINALS 1

12:10-12:25 pm

FINALS 2

12:30-12:45 pm

AWARDS, RAFFLE & AFTER PARTY

After Party at Third Coast Surf Shop. BYOB!

Included in the After Party fun: awards, raffle (for contestants only), and a Used Gear Garage Sale at the shop! Swing on in for screaming deals on used wetsuits, booties, mitts and more. Have gear to sell? That's cool, too. There'll be space to sell your gear!

UPDATES

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