“ Hobie Alter is credited with starting the contest . … It ’ s a rite of passage for the younger local surfers , it brings the community together and is a great storytelling platform of and for Laguna ’ s history .”
— BRANDY FABER
COURTESY OF SURFING HERITAGE AND CULTURE CENTER / DICK METZ COLLECTION / SHACC . ORG
The first Brooks Street Surfing Classic in 1955 with Red Guyer ( wearing a hat ) out front to start the contest with surfers ( from left to right ) Bing Boka ( yellow shorts ), Tom Morey , Hobie Alter , Renny Yater and others .
A Swell Event
BROOKS STREET SURFING CLASSIC IS A LONGSTANDING TRADITION THAT BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER .
Started in 1955 and only open to Laguna Beach residents , the beloved annual Brooks Street Surfing Classic will mark its 58th edition this year . The competition always takes place on a different weekend , based on optimal surf conditions . The window starts the first weekend of June and runs until the end of the south swell season , typically the end of October .
Once June hits , the waiting begins , with surfers anxiously checking for updates . Last year ’ s event didn ’ t happen until September . Organizers look for two full days of “ clean and consistent surf ,” including good weather conditions with no wind that would degrade the quality of the waves .
The city-sponsored event usually draws about 150 surfers and there are a variety of age divisions for competing in short- and longboard surfing as well as paddleboarding and bodyboarding .
Previously organized by city Recreation Supervisor Ron Lutz , local Brandy Faber took on an official role as contest director in 1993 to help gather prizes when it was decided that city officials weren ’ t allowed to do this anymore . Faber ’ s happy to help support this special event .
“ Hobie Alter is credited with starting the contest ,” Faber says . “… It ’ s a rite of passage for the younger local surfers , it brings the community together and is a great storytelling platform of and for Laguna ’ s history . We support and get support from local businesses and artists , who design the contest T-shirt and trophies while highlighting some of the uniqueness and character of Laguna .”
Faber explains that , in the 1950s , surfers weren ’ t cast in a positive light and coastal homeowners tried to take ownership of the sand in front of their properties to stop surfers from having beach access .
“ Alter , who started shaping surfboards on the beach at his parents ’ house on Oak Street , met with Red Guyer , who was the city ’ s Recreation Department supervisor , and laid out the idea for the Brooks Street Surfing Classic to cast local surfers in a positive light as athletes ,” Faber says .
In addition to bragging rights , winners get custom-made trophies and tons of other prizes , from GoPro cameras to swim fins , T-shirts , sunglasses , hats and backpacks from local surf brands . Both the Men ’ s and Women ’ s Pro / Am winners also receive cash prizes .
Faber notes that “ the contest ebbs and flows with the population and surfing habits of the community .” In the beginning , there was the Skid Board Division — aka skimboarding — and a Kneeboarding Division , but those shrank in popularity while others expanded .
“ People are surfing in their later years more now , so we added the Legends Division a few years ago for 60-and-over competitors . New for the 58th annual Classic will be the Women ’ s Pro / Am Division with equal prize money as the Men ’ s Pro / Am Division ,” he says , explaining that , in the past , women have competed against the guys in the Pro / Am , but have requested their own category , so the 16-and-up Women ’ s Division will now be the Women ’ s Pro / Am Division . Faber says as the conditions are monitored through the season , alerts are sent out to emails on file and posted on the event ’ s Facebook page when there is a potential swell on the way , which can be unpredictable . People also hear updates by word of mouth and “ good old telephone calls to Laguna Surf & Sport for information ,” Faber says .
“ We don ’ t make the final call till the morning of the event ,” he says . “ Most people who participate in the event are there bright and early and ready to go once the call is made . If the call is made to not run the event , then most people are stoked to get a surf in anyways .”
LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 51