A hundred surfers rode the waves of the Jersey Shore today in a tournament for a worthy cause.

The Clean Ocean Action Open made its return to Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch.

The event raised money for Middletown-based not-for-profit group Clean Ocean Action, which fights to improve water quality and protect against pollution in the waters off the New Jersey and New York coast.

"The ocean is only as clean as the next generation makes it, so it's critical to get the next generation involved," says Cindy Zipf, of Clean Ocean Action.

Tyler Thompson was 3 years old when his father organized the first tournament in 1987. This year, they organized the first tournament in 25 years together.

Surfers competed in age brackets from 4 years old to 76. Among them were pros ranked among the best in the world, born and raised in Jersey.

Despite the fall weather, surfers said the ocean water temperature was still comfortable.