The sun was shining, surfers were shredding and spring breakers were enjoying the Southern California beach vibes on the sand in Huntington Beach.
The Vans Jack Surfboards Pro kicked off on Thursday, April 3, and runs through Sunday on the south side of the pier, a chance for beachgoers to get an up-close look at pro surfing action — and possibly score some free swag.
Vendors bring their wares to the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Taro Watanabe tries to make something happen of a small wave during the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Taro Watanabe makes a splash while his way to winning his heat during the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Oscar Urbina tries to maneuver in the whitewater during the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of Huntington Beach pier Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Max Beach shouts to some fans on the pier as he heads out for his heat during the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) David Okeefe gets airborne during the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Grant Greyson gets some air on this wave during the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Spectators capture the action on their phones during the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Eeli Timperi shows off a tail of water on this wave during the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Surfer Santos Wesley defies gravity during the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Will Deane eyes his next move on this wave during the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of Huntington Beach Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Show Caption1 of 11Vendors bring their wares to the Vans Jacks Surfboards Pro on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier Friday April 4th. The contest runs through April 6th and is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) ExpandEvent director Scott Waring said there is an estimated 60 brands with booths at the event, as well as a small beer garden on the sand by sponsor 805 Beer.
There are a total 144 surfers from around the world competing, 104 men and 40 women, vying for $66,000 in prize money.
“The waves are super good,” Waring said Friday. He started the event eight years ago. “It’s just an amazing event and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger.”
The surf contest has been upgraded to a World Surf League Regional Qualifying Series event, as a QS 4,000, meaning a win or strong result here could get the athlete bumped up into Challenger Series events, including the following year’s US Open of Surfing, also held in Huntington Beach.
Doing well at those Challenger Series events could then mean a spot on the World Tour, the major leagues of the sport.
The Jack Surfboard Pro is the first event in the 2025-26 WSL North America season.
North Carolina surfer Owen Moss scored $75 from sponsor Got Milk, who was dishing out cold hard cash for winners of each heat as a fun incentive, along with a small carton of chocolate milk.
“I’m stoked to be back in Huntington, it’s always fun to come back here. It’s one of the first big contests I ever did when I was 10 years old,” said Moss, now 21. “So it always feels good to come back. It’s good vibes.”
The contest started on Thursday with some action in the water, not just from the surfers. Two breaching sharks were spotted jumping near the competition area.
“Where I live, there’s a lot of sharks, so it was kind of normal,” Moss said.
Utah visitor Rachel Miner, 25, was enjoying a family vacation in nearby Newport Beach when they drove by the beach and saw the action, deciding to spend a few hours hanging out on the sand.
“We’re getting so much stuff,” she said just after winning a T-shirt at the Lost Surfboards booth by throwing a plastic ax and making it stick three times. “It’s fun to play all the games and it’s been fun to watch all the surfers, too.”
It was a welcome change from the snowy weather at home in Salt Lake City, she added. “It’s so nice, we love the sun.”
Cousin Marli Fairbanks, 23, was enjoying the people watching.
“Dude, I just like seeing people, it’s fun,” she said. “I love the weather, just the vibe. Everyone is pumped to be here.”
The contest weekend is a chance for brands to connect with consumers on the sand, with many booths setting up fun games or giving away samples or stickers.
Dan McGranahan, “marketing mastermind” for Cobian sandals, said he expected it to be a wild, fun weekend.
“The vibe is just fun. It’s not going to be mellow, it’s going to be packed. But it’s just a cool, friendly vibe,” he said.
Just in front of the Cobian booth was “sandal pong,” where players use flip flops instead of ping pong paddles on a mini table.
“It’s a great way for us to get people to get their hands on our sandals and just feel them,” he said.
He, also, was enjoying just sitting back and people watching.
“They are loving life, I’m happy to see people come on vacation here and have a great experience. They are just in the best mood and we love that,” he said. “Of course, the locals are coming out in droves too. All the surf community is here.”
It’s an important event that brings the surf community together, said Brett Simpson, North American marketing director for Hurley and once a regular competitor at the competition.
“It kind of brings the community in and that culture – the surf culture we know and love. We’ve been missing it a little bit. It’s nice to have that,” he said. “The industry needs that right now, it’s good to all come together. Sometimes, we all want to do our own thing and we all want to be bigger and better, but sometimes we are better together.”
Simpson said he’s had his time out in the water wearing the jersey, now it’s time for the next group of surfers to make waves.
“Any event you can win out here in Surf City, it’s an important one,” said Simpson, who will also be commentating during the event. “A lot of people who win this go on to have a great career.”
The surf forecast is calling for 3- to 4-foot surf through the weekend. The event is being broadcast live on Youtube.
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