Watch: Joel Tudor’s First “Surf Fight” Event Goes Off!

Over the weekend, Joel Tudor and his beloved Studio 540, hosted their first Surf Fight, in North County SD enclave Del Mar. 

There were proper waves, a couple hundred entrants, and “No Complaining,” according to Tudor. 

“Fuck, dude, it came together really organically,” JT tells Stab. “In the beginning of the year, we got offered our own permit to let us run a free contest, and to give back to the groms in the community. Between Oceanside and Imperial Beach, there’s sooooo man kids that shred. And this was my first opportunity to do something bigger—I only get 16 slots for the Duct Tape. With this we had 18 groms and 18 girls, and 36 men. So many kids that shred. $1000 winner take all. I ate the tax on it, so the kidsdon’t have to 1099.” 

 “We just put 1000 cash in the winner’s goody bags—which were filled with cool shit. I mean we screenprinted sweatshirts there, with each of their placings on them [laughs].”

Now, Joel’s no stranger to playing host. But Surf Fight was a little different, and a little the same, to what Joel’s used to. 

“With Vans and the Duct Tape, I have a team that does all this for me. With Surf Fight, I had to do every thing. And guess what, to all those contest directors that are always bitching and moaning: you’re not that important and your job ain’t that hard. You’re throwing a party. I grew up in the era of epic parties. All of those contests back in the day, that’s what laid the foundation, that and the Coalition events.”

While there were more than a few takeaways from the weekend, Tudor’s favorite moments: 

“Wayne Lynch meeting Carl Ekstrom for the first time. No big deal.” Photo: Joel Tudor’s iPhone. 

“When you’re cool with your heroes, they show up when you try and make something happen—it’s pretty cool.” Burch, Tosh Tudor, and Wayne Lynch. 

And his proudest accomplishment? 

“We set up at 5AM, tore down before sunset, and didn’t leave one single piece of trash on the beach. That’s probably what I’m most proud of.”