It’s Official.

Now in its 11th season, the 2023 Vans Duct Tape Invitational Festival is just two weeks away.

Initially held in 2012, the DTI has established itself as the anti-contest contest that both traditionalist and modern longboarders aspire to be a part of…and just a layer or two below the surface…win.

Now over a decade and dozens of installments later, the event represents a convergence of community, creativity, and the best parts of surf culture — which includes burning one another at any opportunity.

In fact , the DTI encourages this behavior with bonus points for shared waves.

With 32 of the world’s best longboard and alternative craft-ing surfers on their roster (see the full lineup, here), this season’s event will take place at the iconic Macumba Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Home to a thriving longboard scene and a people deeply passionate about many things – particularly the holy trinity of surfing, competitiveness, and beach parties – the southern sector of Rio could not be a more appropriate venue for the high-spirited beach bash.

Described by some as the “San-o of Brazil”, Praia Macumba – a consistent, sand-bottomed beachie – will serve as an exciting canvas for DTI alumni and new faces alike. There, surfers will vie – both in straight heats as well in less conventional containers such as shared wave contests and paddle races – for a portion of a $48,000 purse.

Community members will also be welcomed to join the celebration through various other activations, including a community market, art and sustainability workshops, beach cleanups, a Duct Tape Skateboarding Jam, and not one but two surf film premieres, among other happenings. 

On-site surfboard shaping will be another must-see facet of the three-day event, where four shapers will create two unique crafts apiece. These, along with eight more Vans Duct Tape-branded soft tops, will be available for the community to enjoy; post-event, all of the boards will be donated to The Surf Learning & Development Center, a local traditional surf school and NGO committed to promoting education through surfing.

This event’s shaper lineup features Brazil’s own Pedro Barros of Vans Skate, Rio local Jasmin Avelino, people’s champ Mikey February and darling of the silver screen (and the stretch-five), Karina Rozunko.

Plenty to look forward to, so mark your calendar and visit vans.com/ducttape for an event schedule and more information.