More than 130 surfers paddled out in choppy, gusty conditions at Jacksonville Beach on Friday, Sept. 25, as the seventh annual Loggerhead Surf Classic opened under a National Weather Service High Surf Advisory.

A nor'easter moving up the East Coast delivered the swell. The National Weather Service issued a High Surf Advisory for coastal Duval County through 2 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, warning of breaking waves of 6 to 9 feet. A High Rip Current Risk remained in effect through late Saturday night. The agency warned that the conditions could create dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion.

For competitors riding heavy longboards, the gusty conditions made Friday's heats especially demanding. But after a long, hot summer with little surf, competitors said they were happy to finally have waves to ride.

"The storm brings the waves, so we're stoked," pro surfer Sally Cohen told First Coast News.

Cohen said the strong currents could be dangerous for an average beachgoer, even as experienced surfers welcomed the swell. Pro surfer Saxon Wilson also warned inexperienced surfers to stay out of the water Friday.

Amateur competitor Willie Holmes said the conditions were challenging, particularly because of the weight of the longboards, but that the rough surf provided a welcome test of skill.

Justin Quintal, the Jacksonville Beach native and world champion who founded the Loggerhead Classic, said organizers had a backup date available but planned to continue with the competition unless conditions became unsafe. Quintal also serves as the event's director.

The competition features three divisions: Men's, Women's and a mixed-gender Classic Log division, in which surfers compete on pre-1967 equipment. The $20,000 prize purse is divided equally among the three divisions, according to Surfer magazine. Surfer has described the Loggerhead as one of the most prestigious longboard contests to win.

The Loggerhead has grown beyond the surfing competition into a three-day festival of longboard culture, music and art.

Friday night's festivities included a film night and after-party at Vooswar. Saturday's events moved to Ink Factory Brewing for a vintage surfboard swap, vendors and live music. The festival was scheduled to close Sunday at Casa Marina with an awards ceremony, vendors and live music headlined by The Mystery Lights.

The surfing competition ran Friday through Sunday on the beach just south of the Jacksonville Beach Pier. The City of Jacksonville Beach listed Friday's competition hours as 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Weather may have made Friday challenging for surfers and spectators, but competitors appeared happy