The San Onofre Shoreline Resilience Project is preparing to unveil its recommended nature-based solution to protect Surf Beach, with a public assembly scheduled for Saturday, November 7, at the San Clemente State Beach Historic Cottage. This meeting, which is the third and final public assembly for this phase of the project, will present a preferred adaptation strategy developed using community feedback, scientific studies, and shoreline modeling.

The project comes as San Onofre has faced significant coastal erosion from recent high tides and heavy surf. California State Parks earlier this month announced vehicle parking closures at the lower dirt lots and damage to the water main serving Surf Beach. While the beach remained accessible to surfers and pedestrians, some facilities and areas were restricted. Project partners gathering at the meeting include California State Parks, Surfrider Foundation, San Onofre Surfing Club, San Onofre Parks Foundation, and the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians. For those unable to attend, Surfrider Foundation will host a virtual lunch-and-learn on Monday, November 9, offering a presentation, question-and-answer session, and opportunities to provide feedback.

Elsewhere, local surfers from San Clemente and Dana Point delivered impressive performances at the 2026 Surfing for Hope Longboard Classic. The World Surf League North America Longboard Qualifying Series event, held October 9-11 at the Pismo Beach Pier, gathered top traditional and competitive longboarders vying for Longboard Tour qualification points. San Clemente was represented by Tommy Coleman, Aidan Sautner, Kai Esposito, Dane Petersen, Jake Reisender, Kai McPhillips, and Travis Karian, while Dana Point's Bucky Barry also competed.

San Clemente's Tommy Coleman, who previously won the Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing Longboard competition, opened his campaign with a strong 12.93-point heat total, advancing into the Round of 32. Kai Esposito posted a 12.50-point total, and Jake Reisender advanced with an 8.47-point total in their opening statements.

Kai McPhillips and Bucky Barry carried the local contingent deepest into the draw. In the quarterfinals, McPhillips defeated Kydon Larrabee 11.84 to 8.90, earning a spot in the semifinals. Barry also advanced by edging Kaimana Takayama in a tight 9.06-to-8.67 showdown. Both surfers came close to making the final, with McPhillips falling to Cole Robbins by just 0.17 points in the semifinals, and Barry posting a 9.83 against Jonathan Melendres’ 11.50.

Beyond the competition, the Surfing for Hope Longboard Classic serves a larger purpose. Founded in 2012 and inspired by cancer survivor “Helmet” Bob Voglin, the Surfing for Hope Foundation uses surfing and the ocean’s healing qualities to support individuals and families affected by cancer. The annual event combines professional surfing, fundraising, and community outreach, including a cancer resource health fair and a Pure Stoke Youth Program offering free surf clinics for children impacted by cancer.

Closer to home, the Dana Point community celebrated the second annual “Surf Queenie of Doheny” event this past weekend. Held at Boneyard, near the Doheny State Beach jetty, the event brought together girls and women of all ages for a celebration of sisterhood, surf culture, and community. Created by Girl In The Curl’s Mary Hartmann, Surf Queenie is described as a gathering designed to celebrate the sisterhood of surfing, creating a supportive environment for women to encourage one another, share waves, and enjoy the ocean.

Unlike traditional contests focused on high-performance, Surf Queenie is about maximizing joy through surfing, welcoming all abilities, ages, and equipment preferences, including longboards, shortboards, and soft-tops. The event also emphasizes environmental stewardship. Organized in partnership with the Doheny State Beach Foundation and California State Parks, Surf Queenie raises awareness of the importance of protecting the park’s natural resources, marine environment, and wildlife. Proceeds from the event benefit the Doheny State Beach Foundation, supporting the continued preservation and enjoyment of the popular coastal destination.