Surf’s Up California! International Surfing Day is June 20
California declares ‘International Surfing Day’
It was no surprise when to headlines ran side by side this week. One said California can’t compete academically because our schools are falling behind. The other headline said California legislators have declared International Surfing Day. California state assembly this week approved a resolution declaring June 20 to be International Surfing Day. Kids who ditch school to surf won’t be chastised quite as much during this annual celebration, though school is officially out for most students.
Introduced by surfer Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara), the goal of the new resolution offers a way to celebrate California’s surfing heritage and raise awareness about the need to protect our oceans, waves and beaches. That mission comes with a thumbs up from Surfrider Foundation!
The surf industry in California, an ocean economy, is estimated to be worth $42.9 billion. This week governors of West Coast states are asking the federal government to help with the expected debris and clean up to arrive on our shores from the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami. It’s uncertain how much debris will arrive, but surfers generally work around obstacles still getting in the surf time.
How big is surfing in California?
- California has surf contests for its dogs
- California has ceremonies to bless the waves
- California is home to major consumer surf magazines
- California is home to the wave prediction company, Surfline
- California is home to the majority of surfboard, surf wear, and gear manufacturers and designers
- California is home to some of the world’s top surfers
- Public schools have surfing teams that compete
- California hosts several of the biggest attendance surf events in the world, U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach and Mavericks Big Wave Competition in Half Moon Bay
- California leads the nation in number of surfers and surfing enthusiasts
- California music industry launched a surf culture with popular songs by The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Surfaris, and modern surf bands that carry the tiki torch such as Dead Men Don’t Surf
- Coastal beaches such as Swami’s are cultural icons of surfing
