![Kenworthy and Long Beach's Nolan Rapoza are in striking distance of making the cut for next year's World Tour to compete against the world's best Kenworthy and Long Beach's Nolan Rapoza are in striking distance of making the cut for next year's World Tour to compete against the world's best](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OCR-L-SURFWINS-0709-02-1.jpg?w=132)
![](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/191_laylan_connelly.jpg?w=67)
Laylan Connelly
Laylan Connelly started as a journalist in 2002 after earning a degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. Through the years, she has covered several cities for The Orange County Register, starting as a beat reporter in Irvine before focusing on coastal cities such as Newport Beach, Dana Point and Laguna Beach. In 2007, she was selected for a prestigious Knight New Media fellowship focusing on digital media at UC Berkeley, where she learned skills to adapt to the ever-changing online landscape. About the same time, she began covering the 42-miles of Orange County coastline, focusing on lifestyle, environment, surf culture and anything having to do with the beach. Her coastal coverage now extends up the California coast into Long Beach and the South Bay.
Location: Orange County, California, USA
All Stories
![Kenworthy and Long Beach's Nolan Rapoza are in striking distance of making the cut for next year's World Tour to compete against the world's best Kenworthy and Long Beach's Nolan Rapoza are in striking distance of making the cut for next year's World Tour to compete against the world's best](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OCR-L-SURFWINS-0709-02-1.jpg?w=132)
![Massive crowds seeking relief from an inland heat wave were met at the beach by big waves and strong rip currents along O.C.'s coast Massive crowds seeking relief from an inland heat wave were met at the beach by big waves and strong rip currents along O.C.'s coast](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OCR-L-BEACHRESCUES-0709-03-1.jpg?w=130)
Lifeguards rescued more than 5,600 beachgoers over busy holiday weekend
![The projects, set to start on July 8, will fill in beaches where erosion in recent years has wiped out the sand. The projects, set to start on July 8, will fill in beaches where erosion in recent years has wiped out the sand.](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OCR-L-SANDNORTHBEACH-0706-03.jpg?w=118)
Trucks of sand start arriving today to build up beaches at San Clemente and Capistrano Beach
![Carson was the first and remains the only Newport Beach lifeguard to die in the line of duty in the agency's 101-year history. Carson was the first and remains the only Newport Beach lifeguard to die in the line of duty in the agency's 101-year history.](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OCR-L-BENCARLSON10-0703-20-08.jpg?w=123)
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Ten years following Ben Carlson’s death, the lifeguard’s legacy continues
![The NSSA Open divisions – the elite premier event – kicked off on June 29 and continue this week. The NSSA Open divisions – the elite premier event – kicked off on June 29 and continue this week.](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OCR-L-NSSAHB-0702-lede-PB.jpg?w=140)
NSSA national championships bring big amateur surfing action to Huntington Beach
![Here's some tips when it comes to parking, fire rings and what to know about an evening high tide that may soak your stuff. Here's some tips when it comes to parking, fire rings and what to know about an evening high tide that may soak your stuff.](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OCR-L-BEACHFOURTH-0702-01.jpg?w=119)
Big crowds, big surf and big tides: What to know for a Fourth of July beach day
![State Parks lifeguards and officials held a christening ceremony to welcome a fleet of four new SurfWatch boats, state-of-the-art rescue vessels. State Parks lifeguards and officials held a christening ceremony to welcome a fleet of four new SurfWatch boats, state-of-the-art rescue vessels.](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OCR-L-BOATS-0629-01Amr.jpg?w=140)
State Parks adds four new rescue boats to lifesaving fleet
![Jay “Sparky” Longley, a surfer and philathropist who just turned 80, started the San Clemente-based business in 1974 to make a sandal that would last. Jay “Sparky” Longley, a surfer and philathropist who just turned 80, started the San Clemente-based business in 1974 to make a sandal that would last.](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OCR-L-RAINBOWSANDALS-062509.jpg?w=129)
Rainbow Sandals turns 50: Celebrating a flip flop with soul
![While small-scale acts have performed sporadically over the past decade, concerts were wiped from the sand scene following a 2013 free concert drew huge crowds. While small-scale acts have performed sporadically over the past decade, concerts were wiped from the sand scene following a 2013 free concert drew huge crowds.](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/RPE-L-CF-PHOTOGALLERY-0421_dk_26.jpg?w=132)
Sublime will bring concert to the sand during US Open of Surfing
![The nonprofit has been taking kids on the autism spectrum out to surf for more than two decades with gatherings around the world. The nonprofit has been taking kids on the autism spectrum out to surf for more than two decades with gatherings around the world.](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OCR-L-SURFERSHEALING-0627-01-PB-1.jpg?w=140)