The 11th annual Kahuna Kupuna Classic (KKC) benefit surf contest will take place on Saturday, Aug. 7 at Linda Mar Beach from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Kahuna, in Hawaiian, means “big chief” and kupuna means “grandparent” or, more accurately, “older member of the community to whom others turn for advice and counsel.”
Developed with the idea of putting a spotlight on the ever growing numbers of local avid surfers moving into their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond while also raising some much needed funds for local environmental groups, the Kahuna Kupuna is the only amateur surf contest in the world that offers surfers who are 50 years of age and over competitive divisions that are set up in five-year increments as well as offering a “Junior Kupuna” division for surfers 40 — 49 years of age.
As a way to also include younger surfers without taking the spotlight away from the “kupuna surfers”, the contest offers an Intergenerational team competition in which teams comprised of six surfers ranging in age from their teens to the late 50s/early 60s (thus representing three generations) compete for a team title.
The volunteer-run and -coordinated surf contest will be a fundraiser for Pacifica’s Environmental Family, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides fiscal sponsorship services to local Pacifica environmental groups such as the Pacifica Beach Coalition, Pacifica Gardens and Vallemar Conservators.
For surfers 40 years of age and over, the suggested donation to enter as a contestant is $65 and is good for participation in both the Kahuna Kupuna divisions (shortboard or longboard or both) as well as the Intergenerational Team Division. For surfers under 40 years of age who surf on an Intergenerational Team, the suggested donation is $35. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, Aug. 3. A limited number of beach entries will be accepted depending on space available in each sub-division.
All contestants are invited at no extra charge to the post-contest festivities beginning at 6 p.m at the Pedro Point Firehouse, and their friends and family members are welcome to join the event for a donation of $15.
The following sub-divisions for kupunas as well as “kupunas-in-training” near and far have been set up for contestants:
40 — 49 Junior Kupuna (Men and Women; SB*/LB*),
50 — 54 Master Kupuna (Men and Women; SB/LB),
55 — 59 Grand Master Kupuna (Men and Women; SB/LB),
60 — 64 Super Master Kupuna (Men and Women; SB/LB),
65 — 69 Legend Kupuna (Men and Women; SB/LB),
70 — 74 Grand Legend Kupuna (Men and and Women; SB/LB),
All Ages Intergenerational Team Division (Men and Women; six surfers per team representing three generations).
*SB = Shortboard
*LB = Longboard
Due to popular demand, hand crafted driftwood trophies will once again be given to the top six surfers in each division.
Additional information and entry forms are available at local Pacifica surf shops, or online at www .kahunakupunasurf.org, or email kahunakupuna@comcast.net or by calling Roy Earnest at 438-6378.
