The world’s top skimboarders will be competing at Aliso Beach this weekend, Aug. 27 and 28, in a contest that will showcase some of the best in the sport.

The Laguna Beach event, known as “the Vic,” is stop four of the United Skim Tour, with competitors hoping to nab some of the $9,000 in prize money. The contest is put on by Victoria Skimboards, and this year marking the 45th annual Vic West skimboarding contest.

Professional men riders include the 2021 men’s tour champion Gerardo Valencia of Mexico, the 2019 men’s champion Lucas Fink, of Brazil, and locals including Laguna Beach’s Brandon Sears, who won the event in 2009, and Dane Cameron, currently ranked second on the tour.

Professional women riders include Chabe White, of Mexico, Florida’s Casey Kiernan, who is ranked first on the tour, and Amber Torrealba, also from Florida, who won the Vic West in 2019, 2018 and 2016.

The pro prize purse is crowd-funded from local donors and sponsors, an idea spearheaded by Tex Haines, contest director as well as owner and founder of Victoria Skimboards.

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“The professional prize purse is a really special way for the best skimboarders in the world to be rewarded at this contest,” said Haines in an event announcement. “We’ve had a tremendous sponsorship run this year with great support from the skimboarding community and local community members and businesses in the Laguna area.”

Following Laguna Beach, competitors will head to Spain in September before coming back for the Exile Oktoberfest in Newport Beach at the Balboa Pier from Sept. 17 to 18.

In the men’s division, points from the best four placings count toward each skimboarder’s 2022 UST points total. In the women’s division, points form the best two placings count toward each skimboarder’s 2022 UST points total.