The 26th Annual Rell Sunn Surf Contest and Benefit Is July 13

The 26th annual Rell Sunn Surf Contest and Benefit will be held on Saturday, July 13, at Ditch Plains Beach in Montauk. It is a beloved fun contest that has become a Montauk tradition for many families.

The benefit begins with a memorial paddle-out at 8 a.m. to honor surfers who have died. Flowers are provided and tossed in the water to honor friends’ memories. The day will feature an art auction, a raffle with great local prizes, and the sale of Rell Sunn 26 merchandise.

The event’s namesake, Rell Sunn, pays homage to the extraordinary legacy of the Hawaiian-born world champion and trailblazer in the sport of women’s surfing. Sunn’s passion for the sport led her to spearhead the formation of the Women’s Professional Surfing Association and the first women’s pro surfing tour. From the mid-1960s to the early 1980s, Sunn not only dominated the surfing scene as one of its top competitors, but also became a beacon of empowerment for women worldwide, both in and out of the water.

To register and learn more about contest categories, visit rellsunnmontauk.org. Early online registration through July 9 is $100 and includes entry, first contest event and a free T-shirt. Day of event registration will be $140, and will also include entry, first contest event and a T-shirt. Any additional events are $50 each, online or day of event.

The proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Concerned Citizens of Montauk and the Montauk Food pantry. In years past, the money went to help local Montauk families in need and the event will return to that tradition next year as it transitions to a new nonprofit to host the event and help local families.

“In the meantime, we are so grateful for CCOM for helping keep the event alive and well for this year. Without them stepping up to help, we would not have been able to keep the tradition alive,” said Roger Feit, one of the founders of the benefit and a longtime Montauk resident.

“We are honored and humbled to be asked to participate in such an iconic community event that means so much to Montauk in so many ways. Thank you Roger Feit and Alice Houseknecht for founding this event and running it for 25 years. We wish the current committee much success for another 25 years and more,” said Kay Tyler, the executive director of Concerned Citizens of Montauk.