201810.28
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Surfers in Halloween costumes take over Newport Beach waves

by in News

The biggest surf costume gathering in Orange County happened early Saturday morning on the north side of the Newport Beach Pier, with the decked-out wave riders turning soggy as soon as they hit the ocean.

  • Colonel Sanders races across the face of a misty wave during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Batman and Poison Ivy share a wave during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

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  • A surfing Yeti waits for waves in the morning fog during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • One person took a nap during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Superwoman makes a turn in the gloomy waves during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • A surf dog waits for waves during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Prisoner, Miles Thompson escapes on a wave during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • A butterfly watches the surfers in the fog during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Not surfing, just having breakfast, Candace Mendoza, left, Katie Goto and Kinsey Ross watch their relatives surf during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • One of more than 50 costumed surfers gets some waves in the gloomy morning fog during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Toy soldier surfers, Susan Janechek and Irma Perez check the beach before getting some waves in the fog during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • A pink fish wipes out into Colonel Sanders during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Surfers, Jason Swan, right, and his two sons; Max (7) and Matthew (11) are about to hit the surf during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • A masked surfer glides along the water in the misty morning during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Poison Ivy watches the surfers before getting a few waves herself during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • “Holy Halloween!” Batman just ran over another surfer during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Surfers warm up with some Halloween yoga during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • A scary pumpkin washes ashore during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Napoleon conquers a wave during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • A burgler escapes from a wave during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Surfer Blake Sinclair of Santa Ana surfs with his five year-old son, Otto during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • While not surfing and just having breakfast on the beach, Candace Mendoza, left, Katie Goto and Kinsey Ross watch their relatives surf during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Belly boarder, Mike Moran the beer guy, catches one in during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Poison Ivy almost gets a tube in the morning fog during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • A surfing bee makes a beeline for the shoulder of the wave during the Blackies surf costume contest in Newport Beach Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

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The event, which draws more than 100 people, began a decade ago with just a few surfers riding waves while wearing their Halloween costumes. It used to be organized by the Blackies Classic Longboard Association, with awards handed out for the best costumes.

These days it’s more of a casual gathering of friends and strangers who simply show up on the Saturday before Halloween, share waves and get a good laugh.

“They just show up in costume and surf,” said longtime Blackies local Bill Spurgeon. “There’s no prizes, no organization or anything.”

If you missed the fun, a small gathering put on by the Wahine Kai Surf Club will happen at 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, at Bolsa Chica beach, tower 20.

Around 10 to 20 club members will be decked out in costume for the event. Awards are given for best wave, longest wave, best wipeout and best costume.