Youth surf competition in Santa Barbara helps foster love for sport

Local kids hit the surf for a winter beach competition in Santa Barbara on Sunday.

The Surf Happens Foundation hosted its third annual Lakey Peterson Keiki Bowl at Leadbetter Beach.

The Keiki Bowl is a free surf competition for ages 14 and under, where no one loses in the first round and everyone gets a prize.

The event’s namesake, pro surfer Lakey Peterson, was on hand to play with the kids in the surf.

For Peterson, the event is about more than just surfing.

“We’ve got the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper here, which is awesome, teaching people about how to keep oceans clean. And the Surf Happens Foundation raising money for Girls Inc. to get girls surfing.”

Following the surf competition. volunteers swept the beach and cleaned up garbage.