Bum Rush Tour

In 2011, we began rolling up and down the coasts looking for the best local talent doing what they love to do. No application. No qualifiers. No entry fee. Fifteen minutes after the horn sounds somebody will get a big fat check for a thousand dollars. We make up the schedule as we go along and it’s a surprise contest so this is as specific as we’re getting. If you want to follow our progress follow us on Instagram @sunbum.
Duranbah Beach, Gold Coast, Australia

First stop on our 2019 Bum Rush Tour was the Gold Coast, Australia at Duranbah Beach aka D’bah. To kick off this year’s #BumRushTour we had local Aussies @reefheazlewood, @bededurbo, @theflyingsquirrel, @isabella_nichols and @_jayphillips take over to judge the lineup. So, we posted up, blew the horn and 20 minutes later @duke_wrencher “ripped the bag out of it” and won a cheap champagne (sparkling cider actually) shower & $1,000 bucks. Shout out to Kirra Teams Challenge and all those ripping at the ‘real’ comp! 

Rocky Point, Hawaii
We rolled out of bed at 8, checked the waves from the porch, and Dusty called the crew to let ‘em know, “Bum Rush Tour is on.” “Give it a sec, no one gets out of bed and in the water till way late bruh. This ain’t California, there’s good waves all day. You on island time.” – Pomai. Sure enough the lineup started filling up...20 minutes after Zak sounded the horn the judges knew their guy. It was unanimous: Tyler Newton was our Rocky Point Bum Rush 2018 Champ.
San Clemente, California with Filipe Toledo
When we heard it was International Surfing Day we just had to pull off a Bum Rush. What better day than today to give a random local a $1k check & a cheap champagne shower? After bagels and coffee at Bagel Shack, we checked a couple spots before we started the shenanigans. Pulled up T-Street, saw some waves, and let the Bum Rush begin.
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Thanks to last weeks hellava winter beast, named Riley, the conditions behind our Cocoa Beach office were ideal to kick off the first leg of our 9th annual Bum Rush Tour.  The SB crew and guest local judges all met at our office around 7:00 am, checked a couple spots on the cam, and noticed the waves were best right out back. We waited an hour for the tide to come up, and then hiked the gear down to the beach. The Bum Rush was on.
Velzyland, Hawaii
We rolled out of bed at 8, checked the waves from the porch, and Dusty called the crew to let ‘em know, “Bum Rush Tour is on.” With Zak Noyle, Barron Mamiya and Pomai from Hawaiian Water Patrol as judges – and Rocky Point going off – what more could we ask for? 20 minutes after Zak sounded the horn the judges knew their guy. It was unanimous: Tyler Newton was our Rocky Point Bum Rush 2018 Champ.
San Francisco, California
It was a crowded “locals-only” lineup of about 25 to 30 surfers, with solid shoulder to head high surf. One guy in particular stood out – Ragnar Johnson, a 30-year resident of San Francisco.
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
The Bum Rush Tour judges had all eyes on Eric Esenat after he casually conquered a fin first take off, in a lineup that was unaware of our presence. The footage might give you a better idea of why we had to pull Eric out of the break and shower him with cheap champagne.
Makaha, HI
The Bum Rush Tour made its second stop in Hawaii, this time on the west side of Oahu at Makaha. It was a perfect morning with head high sets, clear blue water, and tons of locals soaking up the surf and sun. Standing out among the rippers was local legend and beloved lifeguard, Bouvey Bradbury, who took the $1000 check during a pre-work surf before clocking in at the guard tower.
Banzai Rock Skate Park, Hawaii
After a disappointing wave check at Rock Piles, the Sun Bum crew decided to move the contest to the skate park across the street, where it’s always seven-foot and glassy. Lots of concrete shredding went down with lots of local talent, but it was 16 year-old Malakai Montes that took home the giant $1000 check.
Orlando, Florida
The Bum Rush Tour made a rare inland stop last week surprising wake boarders at the Orlando Watersports Complex in Orlando, Florida. The Sun Bum tent popped up around 5pm next to the cable parks pool feature and the all out, 30-minute, Best Trick Jam was on for a $1000 check and a cheap champagne shower.
Huntington Beach, California
We rolled up and put the stakes in next to Huntington pier. The beach was straight chaos and the judges had a hard time keeping track of who caught what. Jerry Lehman knew this break – he was dodging surfers and pulling off backside snaps, which landed him the win.
Hale’iwa Ali’i Beach Park, HI
The Bum Rush Tour made its first Hawaii stop of the year at Hale’iwa Ali’i Beach Park on the North Shore. It was a crowded line-up with sets overhead and everyone was ripping. Hometown hero and honorary guest judge, Kawika Foster from the Hawaiian Water Patrol, helped score the contest that gave the win to sixteen year-old Kai Matsumoto.
Seaside, New Jersey
A staple in the Jersey shore surf community, Clay Pollioni’s flair out in the water didn’t go unnoticed by our judges. The impromptu 15-minute Bum Rush Tour surf contest was pumping with chest high ground swell and a circle of friends just doing what they love.
Kona Skatepark, Florida
When there’s no waves, we hit a skate park or lake or wherever we can find some action. Florida’s Kona Skatepark set the scene for winner Marshall Whaley, “I didn’t expect this when I woke up this morning so… I’m happy right now”.
A’ala Skate Park, Honolulu, Hawaii
With unusually strong trade winds plaguing the local surf breaks, the Sun Bum crew took the second stop of this years Bum Rush Tour to the reliable concrete at A’ala Skate Park in Honolulu, Hawaii. “The waves weren’t happening, and we had a $1,000 dollar check to give away, so we decided to throw a 20-minute skate jam at the park,” explained Sun Bum’s, Dustin Smith.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
The Bum Rush Tour in Virginia Beach, landed a 12 year old the day of his life! Unlike all those past sessions, Carter Bernhardt caught waves and one thousand dollars for rocking the line up, with as much skill as surfers triple his age.
Santa Cruz, California
It was a beautiful and busy day at Steamers Lane with about 30 surfers in the water. Taking refuge on a little patch of sand the low tide provided, the Bum Rush judges evaluated the surfers below the rocky cliff.
Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Local surfer, Nick Perganda won the Jacksonville Beach stop of the Bum Rush Tour. Perched on the pier, the Sun Bum judges secretly scored the 25 random surfers who were taking full advantage of the clean shoulder-high conditions not knowing they were in the middle of a 20-minute winner take all contest.
St. Petersburg, Florida
After kicking off the tour with three stops in Hawaii and two in California, we brought the Bum Rush Tour, a unique ambush style surf contest, back to our home state of Florida today for stop number six. With little to no waves on the Gulf Coast today the Sun Bum crew decided to hold a skimboard contest after seeing a group of kids shredding the Upton Beach shoreline. The winner, 24 year-old Stephen Bradford, from just up the road in Indian Rocks Beach, Fla., caught the judges’ eyes with his style, enthusiasm and energy.
Malibu, California
Ker wins a thousand bucks for some fancy footwork on the longboard in Malibu. Beach-goers are confused by our shenanigans.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Our first ever Bum Rush Tour stop. Lindsay Baldwin catches some waves and the win.