A Love for El Porto and the Surfing Community

When Woodrow “Pack” Landfair first visited El Porto, he was immediately captivated by the tight-knit beach community. The charm of the area was enough to make him fall in love with it, so much so that he purchased the El Porto Surf Shop in 2017 and made Manhattan Beach his home.

Landfair played a pivotal role in launching the El Porto Surf Contest, an event that is set to celebrate its fifth anniversary on Saturday, January 31. This contest, organized by the South Bay Boardriders Club, will begin at 7 a.m. and will feature accomplished surfers competing in various categories, along with live music, art, and food.

Landfair shared that the contest attracts participants ranging from 4 to 74 years old. He noted that one of the most crowded fields is typically guys in their 30s, many of whom he sees regularly in the parking lot. “I think it’s a neat contest because it’s so Porto centric,” he said.

Before purchasing the El Porto Surf Shop, Landfair had rented a board from its previous owner and asked if the business was for sale. “I told him I’m looking to buy a small business and start a new life,” Landfair recalled. “And he said, ‘You know, it’s on sale right now, just went up today.’ So we agreed right there on the spot, a handshake deal.”

The Evolution of the El Porto Surf Contest

The El Porto Surf Contest has grown significantly since its inception. It has become a highlight of the local calendar, drawing attention from both locals and visitors. The event features accomplished surfers competing in various categories, live music, art, and food.

Landfair eventually purchased the entire building where the El Porto Surf Shop is located, which is situated above Players Liquor. His decision to move to El Porto was not only influenced by the surfing but also by the neighborhood’s people and businesses such as Pancho’s, OB’s, Baja Sharkeez, and Fishbar.

As a surfer, novelist, actor, College World Series baseball champion, day laborer, and someone who has traveled across 48 states on a motorcycle, Landfair has seen a lot of the United States. “I was like, man, this is the best place in the world,” he said after discovering El Porto.

Landfair grew up in Washington D.C., so he didn’t experience the surfing lifestyle during his childhood. However, he had been coming to areas like Venice Beach and Marina del Rey to visit his father since he was four years old after his parents split up. “I learned to surf as a kid, but had never been to El Porto,” Landfair said.

Notable Participants and Future Events

This year’s contest is expected to see past champions and pro surfer Kei Kobayashi, pro surfer and filmmaker Julian Williams, two-time USA Surfing National Champion Teagan Meza, and many others who can be seen surfing at El Porto regularly. The grassroots celebration will also feature local shapers and artists.

The El Porto Surf Shop event on January 31 is part of a “Surf Series” organized by the South Bay Boardriders Club. The series began on December 13, 2025, and was sponsored by Jack’s Surfboards. The next event in the series, sponsored by Dive N’ Surf, will take place in Torrance on Saturday, January 24. Following El Porto on January 31, the Riviera Mexican Cantina will sponsor an event on February 21 in Torrance. That event is followed by an E.T. Surfboards sponsored event at El Porto on March 7, and events sponsored by Wave Rave Los Angeles at El Porto on April 18, Tower 12 at the Hermosa Beach Pier on April 26, and Spyder on May 9 at the Manhattan Beach Pier.

To sign up for these events, visit southbayboardriders.org/surf-series.