Pacific City’s 27th Annual Longboard Classic

For many of us on the Oregon Coast, September usually means calmer vibes as everyone starts changing gears from summer to fall. Not for the surfers, though!

Every September in Pacific City, the community and people from all over come together for the Annual Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic. Hosted by Moment Surf Company and Pelican Brewing, this event brings surfers, families, locals, and visitors together for a laid-back celebration of longboarding culture. Every year, more people show up to compete, spectate, support the surfers, and simply have a blast.

This is one event I never miss.

Not only is this one of the longest-running surf competitions on the Oregon Coast, but it’s also one of the most popular. This year’s Classic was expected to bring more than 240 surfers out to compete.

Pacific City is a hotspot for surfers from all over, and it’s easy to see why.

Let me set the scene for you.

Your backdrop is beautiful Haystack Rock, the tallest of Oregon’s famous rocks bearing the Haystack name. Off to your right is Cape Kiwanda. Together, they create this super-sweet cove and an all-around magnificent location for surfing. Whether you’re standing on the shoreline or sitting on your board looking back toward the beach, the views really couldn’t get much better.

And then, of course, you have Pelican Brewing practically right on the beach. You can head inside for a burger and a cold one or grab a few appetizers after spending some time in the sand.

During the Classic, you’ve got announcers, food vendors, usually some art vendors, live music, and a huge part of the community coming together. It’s just a super-rad time.

The event seems to get bigger every year, which means the local surfing community is growing—and I especially love seeing that growth among the younger generation.

Speaking of the kids, not only is there a great kids division, but this year’s Kids with Parent division was insane, with 31 different competitors! What an incredible turnout for them.

With 15 divisions altogether, the competition stretches across three tubular, fun-filled days.

The Art Behind the Classic

Another huge part of Cape Kiwanda’s Longboard Classic has always been the art.

Before there’s even too much hype surrounding the upcoming competition, some of the first things I usually hear are, “Have you seen the art?” or “Is the art out yet for the Classic?”

I even know a few locals who buy a sweatshirt every single year.

Todd Fischer has created incredible artwork for the event over the years and has obviously picked up plenty of fans along the way. But something about this year was especially cool. Not only was there a new artist behind the design, but the cover featured something different from any previous year.

A female surfer.

Taylor Blackman is a local Pacific City artist and surfer. This year, she was honored with creating the artwork for the 27th Annual Longboard Classic, and it’s safe to say she nailed it.

Incorporating her killer style, wonderfully bright colors, and UV-reactive elements that bring her pieces even more to life, Taylor created the first Longboard Classic cover to feature a female surfer.

Lucky for me, I had the opportunity and privilege of meeting the artist herself.

“I wanted to show some love and represent all of the lady surfers out there giving it their all,” Blackman said during day two of this year’s Longboard Classic.

Shout-out to Taylor for bringing her own style to the event while representing what the Longboard Classic means to the community and its surfers.

And if you plan on getting a sweatshirt in the future, make sure you grab one early because they seem to disappear faster every year! Not only are you getting a sweet piece of wearable art, but money raised from the merchandise also goes toward surf rescue programs.

More Than a Surf Competition

Overall, the Longboard Classic feels like one big party and celebration.

Every year, I can almost feel the energy building in the air—and you can definitely notice it by the traffic.

By Monday, everyone is gearing up. By Tuesday, surfers from all corners start trickling into town. By Friday, Pacific City is poppin’.

Even if you don’t attend any of the parties, it’s always one of those weekends where anything can happen if you simply get outside, wander around town, hit the beach, and meet some people.

If you have anything to do with the Longboard Classic, Friday night is check-in night. That’s when everyone starts gathering, going over the weekend’s events, eating some good food, celebrating, and soaking up the atmosphere at Pelican Brewing in Pacific City.

The following morning is when things really kick off.

That’s when these awesome athletes hit the water to compete, show off their skills, and have a blast doing it. Then comes Sunday—the finals, awards, and, of course, even more celebration.

If you’ve never checked out this event, I highly recommend it.

Over the years, it has been awesome watching friends of mine—and now even my friends’ kids—compete in the Longboard Classic. It really shows just how big, welcoming, and supportive the surfing community on the Oregon Coast can be.

So, if you happen to be on the coast during September, make a stop in Pacific City and check it out.

Longboarding is an insanely cool sport, but the Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic is about much more than competition. It’s about surfing, art, families, friends, local businesses, and a community coming together for one seriously unforgettable weekend on the Oregon Coast.

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