SEASIDE — The Tsunami Skippers hosted the 2026 Oregon Coast Classic jump rope tournament in Seaside on April 24–25, marking the first time the event returned to the city since 2019. The competition drew 157 participants from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

The Oregon Coast Classic, co-hosted by the Tsunami Skippers and Seaside High School, was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, held as a small gathering at a convention center in 2021, and relocated to Astoria from 2022 through 2025. “This was the first time it’s been in Seaside since 2019,” said Stacey Dundas, founder of the Tsunami Skippers.

Dundas started the Seaside-based jump roping club 20 years ago to connect with her children and build a community for aspiring jump ropers. The group has since grown to include approximately 20 to 25 athletes with no specific age requirement and performs at local basketball games. “The event went great. People from out of town loved the view. And it’s actually the biggest jump roping competition on the West Coast,” Dundas said. She added, “I love this sport. The opportunities you get through jump rope are unique to any other sport that’s out there. It’s the best sport to be involved in because it will take you places that no other sport can take you.”

Longtime members Ella Clyde and Theia McCarthy, both of whom have been with the Tsunami Skippers for over 10 years, played key roles in the 2026 tournament. In addition to competing, they designed all of the club’s jumping routines and took on coaching responsibilities for younger participants. “We took on more of a role in coaching and putting group routines together,” McCarthy said. She also noted, “It was pretty cool having it here rather than Astoria.” Clyde emphasized the convenience of returning the event to Seaside. “It’s just a lot more convenient to have it back in Seaside because that’s where most of the teams have known it. The tournament being at Astoria for so long was kind of out of the ordinary. Even when we had it in Astoria, most of the teams would always stay in Seaside hotels,” she said.

Both Clyde and McCarthy completed senior projects centered on jump roping in 2026 and each received a $1,000 scholarship for their work.