Riding the Wave of Community: Inside Sri Lanka’s Cove Surf Jam
ENTERTAINMENT
Words by Donnie Madden
It started as a ripple of an idea—an alternative to Sri Lanka’s rising surf competition scene. It quickly swelled into Cove Surf Jam, a vibrant celebration of surf culture that goes far beyond the waves. “We wanted something non-serious,” explains Ed Templeton of Soul & Surf, the event founder. “A gathering that dove into the alternative sides of surfing, music, and community.”
The Origins of Cove Surf Jam
Cove Surf Jam was born from a collective desire to create something different. “With the boom in surf tourism here in Sri Lanka and a more formal competition circuit taking shape, we felt the time was right,” Templeton shares. “We floated the idea to other businesses—even so-called competitors—and the response was wildly positive. The idea caught fire, and a group of us made it happen.”
The first Cove Surf Jam, held in 2024, brought together surfers, spectators, and local businesses in a weekend-long celebration of community and surf. The event’s grassroots, community-driven vibe struck a chord, cementing its place as a fixture in Sri Lanka’s surf culture calendar.
What to Expect in the Water
“You’ll see smooth, stylish surfing from an incredible array of local and foreign surfers,” says Templeton. But beyond technical skill, Cove Surf Jam encourages participants to follow their intuition and embrace the moment. “From last year’s Jam, the crowd went nuts for Vasco’s hop onto and off the rock maneuver and Ellie’s finless foamboard 360s—complete with flamingo pose,” Templeton recalls.
“I think the Buddha and the Locust were debuted—and named—at the 2024 Jam,” he adds with a grin. But what truly captures the spirit of the event are the moments of camaraderie, like when competitors hopped onto each other’s boards to go tandem or even tridem. “That camaraderie caught the spirit of the weekend,” he says.
The Highlights to Look Forward To
For Templeton, the Cove Surf Jam weekend is packed with must-see moments—and mouth-watering bites. “Big Mighty’s brisket burger is definitely on my list,” he jokes. “But seriously, the random, constant, and hilarious commentating from Liam and Justin was a highlight last year. It set the perfect tone for the event.”
Other standouts include the three different surf jams and the Podi Scene Sri Lanka film festival on Saturday night. “If the Sunday afternoon prize-giving and Sunday Session are even 10% as good as last year’s, it’ll be an unforgettable weekend,” he says.
Why Cove Surf Jam Matters
Events like Cove Surf Jam offer more than entertainment—they’re a reminder of the strength of Sri Lanka’s surf community. “You don’t really know why it’s important until you do it,” Templeton reflects. “So many people said last year it was exactly what was needed. Surf-oriented businesses can get so caught up in their own worlds that we forget to connect with each other.”
That connection fosters collaboration rather than competition. This year, the winners of the first-ever Varkala Surf Jam in India will join the festivities, underscoring the event’s growing international reach. “It’s a reminder that we’re in this together,” Templeton adds. “And that attitude is so much healthier than being competitive.”
As Cove Surf Jam returns this year, it promises to be more than just an event. It’s a celebration of connection, creativity, and the shared stoke that defines surf culture. For Templeton and the community, it’s a chance to honor what makes surfing in Sri Lanka so special: not just the waves, but the people riding them.
