It’s all about sharing the stoke.
International Surfing Day lands on Saturday, June 15, putting a spotlight on surf culture and giving people an excuse to take a pause in their busy lives to ride a few waves.
Surfrider Foundation and partners started the day in 2005 to raise awareness and support for the world’s beaches and coastal environment, according to the San Clemente-based nonprofit. This year, more than 200 events are expected to take place around the world.
“On International Surfing Day, we come together and take a moment to celebrate the waves and beaches that we all love,” Surfrider Foundation officials said in a statement. “Surfing is an amazing gift and the beach is an incredible place that should be healthy, safe and accessible to all people. As surfers and beachgoers, alike, it is our responsibility to foster a vibrant, inclusive community that comes together to protect and enjoy this extraordinary resource.”
One big gathering will be at Corky Carroll’s Surf School at Bolsa Chica State Beach, where it will host a beginner surfer meetup at 9 a.m., offering a chance for people to get to know each other on land while hitting the surf together.
The surf school, which meets between towers 17 and 18, typically rents the surfboards and wetsuits for $40 during meetups, but for International Surf Day people can use the boards and wetsuits for free.
There’s also going to be demo boards on hand for more experienced surfers and free coffee from Java Jaws.
Corky Carroll’s Surf School held its first meetup of the summer at the beginning of the month and the turnout was a big success, said owner Keith Coleman.
“It was such a good vibe,” he said.
People just picking up the sport can feel intimidated, or just want to be part of a community, rather than trying to figure out surfing on their own, he noted.
Instructors will be on hand, not giving full lessons but available for tips and to share knowledge with people, he said, whether they’ve never surfed or are just starting to get their feet wet.
The surf school also this year is offering a three-month lease program that allows people to get unlimited use of surfboards and wetsuits for $190, a great option for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot to buy a new board or doesn’t want to transport a big board to the beach to surf.
The surf school also offers two-hour lessons and weeklong camps.
At the Huntington Beach Pier, the Surfrider Foundation’s North Orange County chapter is teaming with Rip Curl to host a beach cleanup during the Rip Curl GromSearch surf contest.
It’s a great way to show young surfers, the groms, the importance of preserving the coast “so we have a place to surf and recreate, and to take care of the place we love,” said KC Fockler, education coordinator for the chapter.
After the cleanup, people can swing by to check out the surf contest on the south side of the pier and see the next generation of rippers.
“It’s kind of a perfect match because International Surfing Day was started to recognize the love of surfing and the ocean,” Fockler said. “Surfrider’s mission is to protect the ocean, coast and beaches.”
Surfrider will have a booth set up and information about cleanups and ocean pollution.
If you are in Huntington Beach for the cleanup and contest, or the surf meetup, it’s definitely worth a stop to see the “Duke’s Dream Came True: Surfing’s Road to the Olympics” exhibit at the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum.
The exhibit looks at surfing’s past and the father of modern-day surfing, Duke Kahanamoku. But it’s also a great chance to celebrate surfing’s future, as his dream of surfing making it into the Olympics comes true, with surfing’s second Olympic appearance happening in just a few weeks in Tahiti.
Kahanamoku won an Olympic gold medal for swimming in the 1912 Stockholm games and his vision was for surfers to also stand on the winners podium.
The extensive exhibit features 18 renowned surf artists depicting the Hawaiian surfer and showcases 16 panels highlighting Kahanamoku’s various life chapters.
The museum, at 411 Olive Ave., will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
