SeeCalifornia.com

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.– O’Neill Coldwater Classic starts today, featuring 16 un-sponsored surfers. Bet you didn’t know that!  The winner of this internationally recognized surfing event from November 6-10, 2013, gets a five-day trip to a beach & surfing destination, Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico.  Steamer Lane waves in Surf City are 4 to 6 feet, conditions are fair to good and the water temperature is 55 degrees F. You can see why the beach isn’t particularly popular for swimming these days, though the surfing is quite popular. Santa Cruz is considered the birthplace of surfing in North America and is one of several world surfing reserves. Surfing was introduced to the mainland in Santa Cruz, Calif. 128 years ago  in 1885.  (The city was incorporated in 1866.)

In other surfing news, the California Surfing Museum in Oceanside has experienced great success and popularity. Guests especially like the display of the foam board a shark bit into and swimsuit worn by a 13-year old surfer, Bethany Hamilton,  the day a shark bit off her arm. Several weeks ago at a City Council meeting, a resolution to forgive one-fifth (1/5) of the $606,380 forgivable loan made by the City to the California Surf Museum to renovate the premises at 312 Pier View Way, was approved. This reduced the balance by $121,276, from $242,552 to $121,276.  Oceanside was incorporated in 1888 and like Santa Cruz, was founded as one of 21 missions in alta California.

In Huntington Beach the International Surfing Museum re-opened this week after the Marketing & Visitors Bureau helped fund new flooring, displays, and visitor services. That venue is preparing to celebrate 100 years of surfing with events planned for their surfing centennial in 2014. Huntington Beach was incorporated in 1909.