The next USA Bodysurfing event is May 12 at T Street in San Clemente. Photo: Unsplash//Drew Farwell
Steamer Lane, also known as “the Lane” and never “Steamers.” is possibly the most famous surf spot in all of California. With the historic lighthouse museum positioned at the top of the rocky point, a fenced-off sidewalk spanning the length of the break designed for perfect spectating, and oceanic positioning that picks up even a hint of swell, it makes perfect sense that the Lane has hosted a plethora of surf contests over the years.
And bodysurfing is equally historic, if not even more so, than the Lane. In the Encyclopedia of Surfing entry on bodyboarding, Matt Warshaw writes that bodyboarding can be defined as “riding a wave using only the body as a planing surface; the original and purest form of surfing. Prior to the invention of the surf leash in the early 1970s, all surfers were adept bodysurfers, as nearly every wipeout was followed by a bodysurfing ride to the beach to pick up the lost board.”
So surprisingly, what Steamer Lane has not hosted is a bodyboarding contest. Ever! That was subject to change recently, as USA Bodysurfing scheduled a bodysurfing contest for April 21. This event was important, as USA Bodysurfing announced that “the Steamer Lane event in January will still be a North America qualifying event for the IBSA Bodysurf World Tour.” Bodysurfers from near and far were frothing, even though bodysurfing the Lane means battling frigid temperatures, seals, and plenty of kelp.
Unfortunately, no one will have a chance to suit up in a 4/3 and compete, because the event was cancelled. California bodysurfer Ryan Masters posted an update to Instagram on April 17: “Unfortunately, USA Surfing has canceled the Steamer Lane event this Friday, April 21 due to the dismal surf forecast with no rideable waves expected this Friday through Sunday. The event will be rescheduled for January 2024.”
On the bright side, bodysurfers will still have a chance to compete in Californian waters: USA Bodysurfing announced that the “next USA BodySurfing event is scheduled for May 12 at T-Street in San Clemente.”
In the meantime, if you’re itching for some media to get you in the bodysurfing mood, Warshaw points to the films Primal Surf, Pure Blue, and Come Hell or High Water. And for a historically radical bonus, check out this edit of Mark Cunningham and Bruce Lee bodysurfing iconic Hawaiian breaks such as Sandy Beach, Point Panic, and Pipeline. But let’s pray for swell so we get to see some pure wave riding, in person.
