The return of the Yancy Spencer III Memorial Surf Contest is right around the corner and here is what you need to know.

This memorial contest has always held a special place in our hearts, not just for the incredible local talent it showcases, but for our amazing community that rallies around it. Having the opportunity to honor Yancy’s life and legacy through this event means the world to us and truly couldn’t ask for a more meaningful way to celebrate him.

Putting on a surf contest on Pensacola Beach is not for the faint of heart. While working with the Island Authority is generally an easy process, we all know how unpredictable the surf can be this time of year — but we have our fingers crossed! With the forecasting tools available to us these days, we should have a general idea of the surf conditions for the weekend a few days in advance. We'll do our best to provide as much notice as possible about whether the surf conditions will be suitable or not for the contest. 

If we do need to postpone the contest our back up dates are May 10th and May 17th.

We will have the following divisions:

• Grom's Open (12 & under)

• Junior Shortboard Open (17 & under)

• Women's Shortboard (All ages)

• Men's Shortboard (30 & under)

• Masters Shortboard (31-50)

• Legends Shortboard (51+)

• Women's Longboard (All ages)

• Men's Longboard (All ages)

• Retro Division Open (boards must be from the 1980's or earlier)

This year we are highlighting the new “Retro Division”. The boards surfed in this division must be from the 1980’s or earlier and can be long or short. All boards will be reviewed to ensure they fit this criteria. This division is all about fun and style and all competitors are encouraged to paddle out with that in mind.  

• All divisions are $10, except for the cash prize Retro Division, which costs $25. We strongly encourage everyone to sign up in advance through our website, as we cannot guarantee an available slot on the day of the event.

Check-in time & Location:

• The contest will take place at the Pensacola Beach Pier. Check-in will begin at 8:00 A.M., and the contest will start promptly at 9:00 A.M. The schedule for the heats will be released on the morning of the contest.