Grayland Open

07/19/2022

It pains me to do this but with the event date fast approaching, I have no choice. For the first time in 10 years of doing the Grayland Open with no issues getting insurance prior to the pandemic, I am having a real problem getting insurance for the Grayland Open. We’ve been trying for months with no luck. As I understand it, there are other promoters having similar issues. This is why you haven't seen much promotion and action on the event from my media outlets over the past couple of months like normal. I have most of the other necessary logistics and funding in place. Permitting has gone just like normal but the delay in getting insurance has left me with no time to finish promoting and scheduling lodging, vendors etc... for the rest of what is needed to complete the event organization. I held out as long as I could but it’s to the point now that even if I had the insurance policy in place today, there’s not enough time to slam the rest of the event and advertising I had planned together to promote and finish getting things in place for the event. I held out on organizing many things I had planned because I didn’t want to spend event grant and sponsor funds not knowing if we could get insurance and have the event.

I’m very sorry to those that were looking forward to competing at the Grayland Open this year. I was too. Particularly for those that were making plans to travel long distances. I know this is not good news. I’ve never had this issue before. I am not sure what has changed in the insurance industry over the past couple of years. I’m very bummed to finally have the event brought to the highest level of competition on the IFWA tour only to be squashed by things that are out of my control. I was really excited to join the IFWA tour with the Grayland Open and looking forward to working with Louis and Carolanne on this and future tour stops for our sport to get it back in the spotlight. I'm confident that the IFWA tour will be making a comeback in the near future. There are some really great options being discussed for the 2023 tour. If it all works out, we will have a great IFWA tour in 2023.

I’m still going to be out that weekend riding and camping at the Grayland Hall as are many others. We still have the Hall rented and it will still be available for those that want to come camp out August 18-22.

07/06/2021

Hello fans and riders! As I'm sure you have guessed, we've decided to postpone this year's event to 2022. The main reason has to do with delays on insurance availability and the government pandemic restrictions that have been in place most of the year. We look forward to getting back to Freeride competition in August of 2022! Until then, jump on the Westcoast Surf Riders page if you'd like to come out and join us for a ride sometime.

10/09/2020

07/29/2020

Step up your game ladles.

07/15/2020

Hello fans and competitors,
As we have slowly made our way closer to the event date, I have been patiently waiting and hoping that we may still be able to have the event in some form. We have been monitoring the pandemic and have held out hope as long as possible. As recently as last week, I had a conversation with the state parks about the event and hope was not completely dead but very unlikely that an event permit can be approved. Our County has seen just under 50 cases of COVID 19 and we are in phase 3 of a 4 phase plan. Our county would have to be approved for phase 4 which is essentially back to normal. Governor Inslee just recently announced that all progression to move forward to the next phase for all Washington Counties are now on hold even with very minimal cases in our county because there has been a statewide uptick in new cases. Every indication is that we are now on a trajectory to be more locked down rather than moving forward to phase 4. What this means is that I have no faith that we will be granted permits or an insurance policy which means we cannot commit the time, money, planning and effort it will take to have the event with little to no confidence that it can legally actually happen. For these reasons I have to cancel the Contest. I really just have no choice.
There are still many that plan to be at the beach hanging out and freeriding for that weekend as long as we are still legally able to. Feel free to join us if you already had plans to be at the event. I know this isn’t shocking news but I needed to make it official for those that still weren’t sure. I look forward to 2021 when hopefully we get back to normal and are able to bring Freeride contests back to America. The tentative dates for 2021 are August 6-8th for the Grayland Open The inaugural Seabrook Surf and Send IFWA world tour stop for the United States will be postponed to September 9th -12th 2021. I’m already working on these events for 2021 and look forward to seeing you all then. Please feel free to reach out or post up any questions.
Photo Credits from past years: Jon Currier Photography Denise Knudson Jim Flynn Dan Lindgren Riders: Brandon Lawlor Zack Bright Demi Morgan Forrest McLauchlin Bryan Wells Anthony Anderson Stuart Allison Dan Lindgren Jake Bright

03/15/2020

Grayland Today☀️🔥🌊