- WSL / Andrew Nichols

A monumental opportunity awaits World Surf League (WSL) North America longboard competitors at the inaugural Surfing For Hope Longboard Classic beginning September 30 - October 1 in Pismo Beach, California. This marks the first regional longboard event since 2019 which provides a stepping stone towards the WSL Longboard Tour (LT) where the World Champions are crowned.

Steve McLean, Callie Summerlin Earn 2020 WSL Longboard Tour Seeds
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With wins from McLean, plus runner-ups from Sawyer and Summerlin, North America's Longboard Tour contenders are set for 2020.

The Surfing For Hope Longboard Classic is a joint North American and Hawaii regional qualifier for the WSL Longboard World Tour. This is part of the qualifying process that allows new talent an opportunity to compete on Tour. At the end of the season the surfers with the highest rankings from each of the seven regions will qualify for the Longboard World Tour.

Andy McKay of Surfing For Hope witnessed firsthand the electric atmosphere of the SLO CAL Open Pismo Beach and Morro Bay QS 1000, and wanted to channel that energy toward the style and grace of longboarding.

"Surfing For Hope has been hosting a local longboard contest in Pismo Beach for the past 10 years," said McKay. "Hosting a WSL event in conjunction with our local event is going to be great for our local community and the California longboard community. Pismo Beach is such an excellent venue to host a longboard event. I think the surfers and fans will be really stoked and it is another great opportunity for Surfing For Hope to get the word out about our mission."

Surfing For Hope has been hosting events in Pismo Beach for over 11 years, including an annual longboard surf contest, monthly Pure Stoke Youth Camps and Cancer Survivor Surf Camps. The organization has also raised over $750,000 over the years to help families along the central coast of California in the fight against cancer and to help with cancer recovery.

Callie Summerlin (USA) winning her Round 1 heat at the Rincon Surf Fest WSL North America Longboard Championships. Callie Summerlin (USA) utilized her Rincon Surf Fest runner-up to mix it up with the world's best to start the 2020 WSL Longboard Tour. - WSL / Andrew Nichols

The event will also feature the likes of 2015 WSL Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly, World Title contenders Kevin Skvarna, Tony Silvagni, Cole Robbins, Avalon Gall, and a plethora of talents looking to make their mark here in Pismo Beach.

The Surfing For Hope Longboard Classic will run September 30 - October 1 at Pismo Beach, California.

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