USA Bodysurfing Kicks Off 2026 Bodysurfing World Tour Qualifying Series for North America at Salt Creek with the "Mark Drewelow Remembrance Event"

Elite bodysurfers from across North America gathered on April 10 at the renowned Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point for the 2026 Salt Creek Bodysurfing Contest. Organized by USA Bodysurfing, this competition serves as the premier opening stop of the IBSA 2026 Bodysurfing World Tour Qualifying Series (BWT QS) for the North America region.

This year’s contest holds special significance as it is designated as the Mark Drewelow Remembrance Event, honoring the late, legendary Dana Point bodysurfer and esteemed coach who was a pillar in the local and national bodysurfing community.

Contest Highlights

The competition featured fierce, high-performance action, with divisions including Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Boys U18, and Girls U18. Athletes competed for vital Qualifying Points to improve their World Tour rankings and secure spots in the BWT Finals in 2027. 

Elite Competition: The Men's & Women's Open divisions were packed with top-tier talent, featuring a sold-out field of challengers eager to earn early season points.

Youth Development: The competition continues to highlight the growing sport of bodysurfing with dedicated under-18 divisions.  The winner of Women Open was Coral McIntyre who recently turned 18 years-old.  Georgia Murray (16) also placed 4th in the Women's Open division, while placing 2nd in Girls U18.

Ideal Conditions: Contestants enjoyed favorable conditions at Salt Creek, known for its high-performance, consistent waves.

"Salt Creek is one of the premier bodysurfing waves in California," said Vince Askey, USA Bodysurfing President. "Following the legacy of Mark Drewelow, we are proud to foster a competitive environment that brings together both seasoned professionals and the next generation of athletes to start the 2026 world tour journey."

Results and Rankings

Finalists and winners in each division have been added to the IBSA 2026 BWT North America rankings. For full, up-to-the-minute heat results and photos, please visit the USA Bodysurfing website, and social media pages on Facebook and Instagram, or check the Stact App.

(Photos below by Jean Cazares)

MEN FINALISTS. L-R:

1st. Greg Wilkinson

2nd. Shayne McIntyre

3rd. Bart Templeman

4th. Ed Sweeney

WOMEN FINALISTS. L-R

1st. Coral McIntyre

2nd. Christina Gasparich

3rd. Calla Allison

4th. Georgia Murray

BOYS U18. L-R

1st. Brayden Brisbois

2nd. Rossi Gaona

3rd. Chuy Castro

GIRLS U18. L-R

1st. Izzy Castro

2nd. Georgia Murray

3rd. Katie Murray

U18 top wave score awards sponsored by the family of Mark Drewelow, who was dedicated to youth development. L-R

Boys U18. Brayden Brisbois (16)

Girls U18. Georgia Murray (16)

About USA Bodysurfing

USA Bodysurfing is a non-profit organization dedicated to growing and advancing the sport of bodysurfing in the United States, facilitating competition, and organizing local talent for the International Bodysurfing Association (IBSA) World Tour.

Media Contact:

Vince Askey, Competition Director

USA Bodysurfing

Email: vince@usabodysurfing.org

Website: usabodysurfing.org