Pine Trees Longboard Classic returns to Hanalei Bay with surfers from Hawaiʻi and beyond

Surfers are stoked as the Pine Trees Longboard Classic, a beloved competition held on the North Shore of Kaua‘i, returns for its 44th year.

About 300 surfers of all ages, competing in 12 open divisions and four invitational competitions, are expected to compete March 7 through March 9 at Hanalei Bay.

The Longboard Classic is free to attend and spectators are encouraged throughout the three-day event. Competition times for each division can be found online.

For decades, the competition has attracted surfers from throughout Hawai‘i and beyond. But this year it also will be a fundraiser for the nonprofit Hawai‘i Surf Association, which adopted the Longboard Classic.

All proceeds will go to the programs that operate under the Hawaiʻi Surf Association, said Kīlauea resident Krisy Zietz, who cofounded the nonprofit with her husband, Sebastian “Seabass” Zietz.

“Sebastian and I are volunteer directors of the program, as well, so literally 100% goes back into surfing,” she said.

The nonprofit preserves surfing culture and supports athletes through scholarships, events and clubs around the state.

Krisy confirmed the Longboard Classic’s time-honored entry fee — $25 per division — will not increase. Instead, raffles and T-shirt sales will occur on site to boost the proceeds.

Other attractions include a trip giveaway to Hanalei Plantation Cottages, goodie bags stuffed with gear for competitors, live music and film screenings.

Longboard competitions are relatively rare in Hawai‘i, according to Kaua‘i-based surfer Aamion Goodwin.

Most are shortboard events, with the smaller boards providing more speed and maneuverability. But Goodwin says there is overlap between the two styles.

“It’s about style and grace and flow, and you can achieve that both on short and longboards,” he said. “But longboards, you’re walking up and down the board a lot more.

“There’s a lot of weightlessness that happens in longboarding. If you’re a longboarder, and you get up onto the nose, you’re floating in midair, almost.”

For many surfers, the Longboard Classic’s best moments don’t occur on the water. The camaraderie onshore matters most.

“We’re trying to revitalize gathering for the right reasons and getting people together,” Goodwin said, noting community get-togethers fall to the wayside as “time flies.”

The Pine Trees Longboard Classic offers a time and place to relax, have fun and reminisce.

“You don’t see someone for a year or 10 years, and then they show up there,” Goodwin said. “It’s a lot of work, but we feel blessed to be able to keep it going.”

For more information about the nonprofit Hawai‘i Surf Association and the 44th annual Pine Trees Longboard Classic, visit hawaiisurfassociation.org or the Pine Trees Longboard Classic’s official Instagram page.