Santa Barbara surf school Surf Happens will host a free surf clinic and contest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday at Santa Claus Lane in Carpentaria.

The event is open to participants of all ages and will feature surf coaching tips from a team of expert instructors, family surfing lessons, a potluck barbeque, prizes and tips about boards and wetsuits with INT soft boards and Quicksilver and Roxy wetsuits. The organization has provided private and group lessons, surfing camps, coaching and community surfing competitions to the Santa Barbara area for over 10 years.

Surf Happens coach Evan Lamb, a third-year business economics major, said the event is a precursor for the school’s summer clinics.

“We are giving free lessons and there are going to be mock competitions for the little kids and the fans,” Lamb said. “There will be different divisions for the different age groups, and there will be trophies for all the kids for first, second and third place.”

Second-year Santa Barbara City College philosophy major and surfing enthusiast Willing Howard said the program helps introduce local youth to surfing at an early age.

“Getting involved in surf camp allows kids to get off the couch and get more involved with nature and learning discipline,” Howard said. “Surfing is about the community and shared experience of getting excited to go out and catch some waves.”

According to Lamb, the clinic seeks to teach participants the geography of certain surf spots as well as how to identify line-up markers, surf in heavily crowded areas and build a good surf repertoire. The clinic also educates students in surf style, flow, speed and position.

“This is going to sound really corny, but I get to spread the joy of surfing and being in the water,” Lamb said. “Just seeing the happiness on peoples’s faces when they first stand up is pretty cool.”

The camp offers one instructor for every four students. Sign-ups must be submitted prior to the event. Call (805) 966-3613 or contact info@surfhappens.com to RSVP.