The scariest thing we usually see at the beach in Santa Monica is a Euro-tourist in a mankini, but ZJ Boarding House, the Santa Monica surf shop, has a far spookier happening planned:

Haunted Heats III, a now-annual surf contest that requires entrants to shred in costume. Sort of gives new meaning to the term “ripper.”

It happens …

… Oct. 29 at lifeguard tower 26 at the foot of Ocean Park Boulevard (mmm, we can almost smell it now. Boo! No, wait, poo!).

Hide your waves. Yar.; Credit: ZJ Boarding House.

Hide your waves. Yar.; Credit: ZJ Boarding House.

Surfer Geri Lewis had planned his 18th annual Surf-A-Thon contest (not to be confused with his “Debris by the Sea” events) for the same day at the Venice Breakwater but yesterday announced he would move it to November to make way for Haunted Heats up the beach.

ZJ Boarding house's event is free, but they would like you to fill out an entry form, here (PDF).

And ladies, yes, lingerie does count as a costume. Just hope the warm water temps hold until then.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

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