U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships: World-Class Surfing at the Oceanside Pier

Overview

Some of the most fearless, technically gifted surfers in the world are coming to North County — and you can watch them for free. The 9th Annual U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships takes over the north side of the Oceanside Pier from September 10–13, 2026, bringing roughly 80 elite adaptive athletes from around the world to compete for a world title and a prize purse of nearly $30,000.

Make no mistake: this is a real competition — heats, scores, eliminations, and world-class surfing across a range of divisions. Part of the Adaptive Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour and organized by the Stoke for Life Foundation, it's four days of genuinely elite athleticism against the backdrop of one of San Diego County's best beach towns. It's exhilarating to watch, completely free from the sand, and a great reason to spend a day in Oceanside.

What You Actually Need to Know

• Event: 9th Annual U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships, by the Stoke for Life Foundation
• Dates: September 10–13, 2026 (Thursday–Sunday)
• Where: North side of the Oceanside Pier — 300 N. The Strand, Oceanside, CA 92054
• Admission: Free to watch from the beach
• The field: ~80 adaptive athletes from 17 countries, competing across multiple divisions
• Stakes: A World Championship Tour event with a ~$30,000 prize purse
• Info & schedule: usopenadaptivesurfingchampionships.com

What to Expect

Elite competition, across many divisions. Athletes compete in divisions that include unassisted prone, prone assist, blind and low-vision, upper-limb standing, and below-the-knee standing (with men's and women's brackets) — surfing with prosthetics, from wheelchairs, prone on custom boards, and through conditions that would challenge any surfer. The format is straightforward championship surfing: heats, judged scores, and eliminations building toward the finals.

A world-class field. Competitors travel from around the globe to surf the north-side waves at the Oceanside Pier, which tend to offer the cleaner, higher-scoring rides that make for great competition (recent years have seen fun 3-to-4-foot surf).

An easy, free day at the beach. You watch from the sand, so bring a chair, some sunscreen, and settle in. It's family-friendly, the setting is beautiful, and downtown Oceanside's restaurants, coffee shops, and the pier itself are all right there.

About Stoke for Life

The event is run by the Stoke for Life Foundation, which launched the U.S. Open in Oceanside in 2017 to raise awareness of the rehabilitative benefits of adaptive water sports — and the importance of accessible beaches for people with disabilities. Beyond the competition, the foundation runs clinics and education programs year-round. Watching the event is a small, easy way to support that mission and celebrate the sport.

Good to Know

• Free to watch — no ticket needed; just head to the beach on the north side of the pier
• Bring beach gear — a chair, sunscreen, water, and a hat make for a comfortable day of spectating
• It's family-friendly — a genuinely great, memorable outing for all ages
• Check the schedule — heats run across all four days; the finals are the marquee session, so check the event site to time your visit
• Plan for parking — the pier area is popular, so arrive early or use nearby lots and walk in
• Make a day of it in Oceanside — pair it with the pier, the beach, and downtown's food and coffee

However you catch it, the U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships is world-class sport and one of the most compelling free events on San Diego's fall calendar. For more happening around town, browse our full event calendar, or explore more of Oceanside.