52nd Annual Ventura Bodysurfing Classic: The World Bodysurfing Family Returns to South Jetty Beach
The countdown is on! In just over a month, the South Jetty Swells Bodysurfing Association will welcome the world bodysurfing community to Ventura, California, for the 52nd Annual Ventura Bodysurfing Classic, November 28–29, 2026, at South Jetty Beach, near the mouth of Ventura Harbor.
For more than five decades, this iconic competition has brought together generations of bodysurfers to celebrate the ocean, test their skills, and strengthen the friendships and traditions that make this sport so special. Formerly known as the Ventura Cold Water Classic, the event adopted its current name approximately ten years ago while continuing its legacy as one of North America’s enduring bodysurfing competitions. This year, the stakes are especially high.
The Final Stop. One Last Shot.
The Ventura Bodysurfing Classic will serve as the third and final North American regional stop on the Bodysurfing World Tour Qualifying Series, sanctioned by the International Bodysurfing Association (IBSA). Past World Tour finalists and some of North America’s most accomplished bodysurfers are expected to converge on South Jetty for a weekend of high-performance surfing, fierce competition, and hard-earned bragging rights. With regional results and opportunities to secure places on the North American and USA teams in the balance, every wave could make the difference.
The field is wide open. Familiar names will be looking to repeat past success, rising competitors will be looking to make their mark, and nobody can afford to count out the next surfer paddling into position.
One beach. One final regional stop. A whole lot on the line.
Fifty-Two Years of South Jetty
South Jetty has seen just about everything over the past 52 years and we’re hoping Mother Ocean delivers another memorable chapter.
An exceptionally active South Pacific hurricane and swell season has brought substantial sand to the South Jetty shoreline, creating an encouraging canvas of shifting sandbars and potential wave setups throughout the competition zone. As always, the ocean will have the final say.
We will prepare for the possibility of wind and rain, but we’re holding out hope for those classic Ventura conditions: clean, offshore winds grooming powerful, hollow waves into long, technical rides.
If the swell and sandbars align, competitors could encounter 6–12-foot surf, heavy sections, and the possibility of unforgettable 10-second tube rides. These are the kinds of conditions that reward ocean knowledge, courage, positioning, and exceptional bodysurfing ability.
Whether the weekend brings challenging surf or all-time perfection, South Jetty is ready.
Competition Divisions
Alongside the BWT Qualifying Series, the Classic welcomes bodysurfers across generations and experience levels. The added divisions are:
Legends: 60 years and older
Open Coed: All ages
Grom Boys: Ages 13–17
Grom Girls: Ages 13–17
Mighty Grom Coed: Ages 12 and under
Mens Open IBSA 48 spots. Top ranked have registration priority until Oct 28
Women Open IBSA 16 spots. Top ranked have registration priority until Oct 28
From seasoned veterans to the next generation of ocean enthusiasts, the Classic is a celebration of the entire bodysurfing family.
Bodysurfing World Tour Competition Format
To ensure a fair, professional, and spectator-friendly competition, the World Tour division will use the following format:
Opening rounds: Four-person heats, single elimination, with 50% advancement.
Semifinals: Three-person heats, with 67% advancement.
Scoring: A 10-point scale, using each competitor’s two highest-scoring rides per heat.
Wave limit: A maximum of 10 waves per competitor per heat.
Interference: The second-highest wave score will be halved.
Heat duration: Planned 15-minute heats, with flexibility to extend semifinal and final heats as conditions require.
Experienced judges will use the LiveHeats platform to deliver live scoring and results. A public-address system will keep competitors and spectators informed throughout the event.
Heats will begin in the water with a horn blast and a green signal. A yellow signal will mark the five-minute warning. Competitors should be prepared to respond promptly to all event signals and instructions.
Our goal is to combine world-class judging with an efficient format that allows the athletes to focus on what matters most: reading the ocean and riding waves.
A Weekend in Ventura
The Ventura Harbor area offers competitors, families, and spectators plenty to enjoy between heats. Restaurants, harbor attractions, and local amenities are all within easy reach of the competition site, while additional lodging options are available throughout Ventura and the surrounding area.
For those looking to make a weekend of it, the Crowne Plaza in Ventura offers a unique convenient coastal stay near the Ventura Point and pier.
Safety remains a priority. The event will have lifeguards on duty, with rescue watercraft potentially available depending on conditions and operational needs.
Competitors will receive an official contest shirt, and a limited supply of drinks and snacks will be available at the event.
Registration Is Open
Bodysurfing World Tour Qualifying Series general registration for Men and Women Open Division is active on November 1, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. and closes November 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Registration for all other divisions is open now.
Register here:
Competitors are encouraged to register early, review the applicable division requirements, and make their travel arrangements well in advance.
More Than a Competition
The Ventura Bodysurfing Classic is about much more than results. It is about the people who return year after year, the friendships forged in the lineup, the veterans who pass down their knowledge, and the young surfers discovering what it means to become part of this community.
For 52 years, South Jetty has provided the setting. The ocean has supplied the challenge. And the bodysurfing family has given this event its soul.
The South Jetty Swells Bodysurfing Association looks forward to welcoming competitors, families, officials, and supporters from across North America and around the world for another unforgettable weekend.
Bring your fins. Bring your best. Respect the ocean. And get ready to make history at South Jetty.
See you in Ventura!
South Jetty Swells Bodysurfing Association
52nd Annual Ventura Bodysurfing Classic
November 28–29, 2026 | South Jetty Beach, Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, California
Website: https://www.ibsabodysurf.com
Registration: https://liveheats.com/events/551510/registration
See you all soon!
South Jetty Crew
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