GH Newspaper Group

The 15th annual Westport Clean Water Classic surfing contest will hit the waves Saturday and Sunday.

The event is the largest continuously run pro/am competition in the Pacific Northwest. The Clean Water Classic is a benefit surf contest for Surfrider Foundation chapters.

Competitors will register Friday afternoon, with competition heats running from early morning Saturday until late afternoon and on Sunday, leading up to the final heats early Sunday afternoon.

The competition format will include pro and amateur Shortboard divisions for men and women; Longboard divisions for men, women, Masters (40-49) and Grand Masters (50+); Juniors divisions for ages 11-14 and 15-17 and a Keiki division for kids 10 and under who surf with a parent.

Depending on the waves, surfing heats will be staged at Half Moon Bay and /or the groins off Neddie Rose Drive in Westport’s Marina District.

Surfers will be judged on their top two waves with a 10-wave maximum based on the standard 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being a perfect wave. Higher scores will be given to surfers who perform more radical maneuvers within the critical curve portion of the wave.

On Saturday, Bigfoot Surf and volunteers from Surfrider will offer a free surf camp for kids from the South Beach area, helping to inspire the next generation to enjoy their local recreational resource.

The best of the best will vie for prize money and bragging rights at this weekend’s Classic. MIKE COVERDALE