Surfers will find any excuse to hit the waves – especially if theres an unofficial holiday held to honor the sport.
Ocean-lovers around the world will observe International Surfing Day this Saturday, June 16. Its a day for surfers to celebrate the waves, the beaches and surf lifestyle.
International Surfing Day was started in 2005 by Surfrider Foundation and other surf industry organizations as an annual day to “raise awareness, support and engage communities to help protect our ocean, waves and beaches for future generations,” according to an announcement from the Surfrider Foundation.
A surfer rides a wave at the Wedge in Newport Beach on Monday, June 11, 2018. Waves should be much smaller for International Surfing Day. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Now in its 14th year, theres more than 200 gatherings in 30 countries, as far as Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Japan. An estimated 100 million people have participated in the past decade, according to Surfrider, a nonprofit first started in Malibu in 1984.
This years theme: “Protect & Enjoy.”
One way to celebrate, of course, is to simply surf. This weekends waves will drop to the 2-3-foot range, down from the big swell that showed up earlier this week.
But if you want to be part of the larger global celebration, here are a few local happenings:
Surf City[hhmc]
With a name like Surf City, one of the biggest celebrations will naturally happen at this Southern California beach.
Three Surfrider chapters — Long Beach, Seal Beach and Huntington Beach — are gathering at the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. Therell be events from creating sand art displays to cleaning up the beach.
Laura Butler Wright and Leslie Wielenga organized Low Tide Aliens, a group that gathers to create art using colorful designs that make a temporary imprint in the sand, until waves come at high tide to wash it away. The goal of the nonprofit is to connect people to the beach and ocean, Wright said.
“We looked at the problem of beach and ocean contamination and we think if we can connect kids at a young age to the sand, the waves, to themselves, they will take more responsibility for their actions,” she said.
“The beach is a beautiful, humbling place and we are all one as earthlings sharing this planet I am super stoked to be able to share our art with more people and be able to donate to help whoever needs it.”
Low Tide Aliens has been doing sand art like this for more than two years at the Newport Pier. Watch the artists in action at the Huntington Beach Pier Saturday, June 16, for International Surfing Day. File photo/SCNG
Low Tide Aliens has been doing sand art like this for more than two years at the Newport Pier. Watch the artists in action at the Huntington Beach Pier Saturday, June 16, for International Surfing Day. File photo/SCNG
SoundThe gallery will resume inseconds
From left, Darla Wright and her mother Lisa create a mandala in the sand beside the Newport pier. Their artwork will be on display at the Huntington Beach Pier. FILE PHOTO/SCNG
Darla Wright, left, and mom/artist Laura Wright rejoice after sprinkling the last grain of colored non-toxic sand and drawing the last line in the sand. The group, “Low Tide Aliens” makes beautiful sand art when the tides are low. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
In addition to watching the sand art creation, which kicks off at 6:30 a.m. during low tide, there will be surf paddle-outs and lessons, SUP demonstrations, yoga on the beach, surf industry displays, a Surfrider Foundation beach cleanup and music.
The celebration happens on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier, with the other activities kicking off at 8 a.m. and lasting until about noon.
Dana Point[hhmc]
Surfrider South OC has teamed up with the Ocean Institute to show the film “The Smog of the Sea” at Hobie Surf Shop in Dana Point.
The movie airs at dusk, about 7 p.m., and there will be hot dogs, popcorn and other goodies. No RSVP is needed, and the free event is for all ages.
“The Smog of the Sea” chronicles a 1-week journey through the Sargasso Sea by marine scientist Marcus Eriksen, who invited along a crew to help him study the water. Renowned surfers Keith and Dan Malloy, musician Jack Johnson, spearfisher woman Kimi Werner, and bodysurfer Mark Cunningham were all part of the mission to assess the fate of plastics in the worlds oceans.
“After years of hearing about the famous “garbage patches” in the oceans gyres, the crew is stunned to learn that the patches are a myth: the waters stretching to the horizon are clear blue, with no islands of trash in sight. But as the crew sieves the water and sorts through their haul, a more disturbing reality sets in: a fog of microplastics permeates the worlds oceans, trillions of nearly invisible plastic shards making their way up the marine food chain,” reads the event description.
Malibu[hhmc]
The Surfrider LA chapter will gather with StokeShare, Boys & Girls Club, LAPD Cadets and the Office of Senator Henry Stern for a celebration of surfing and stoke at Zuma Beach in Malibu on International Surfing Day.
The One Watershed Program will bring kids from LAs under-served communities to teach them how to surf, “giving them the opportunity to enjoy the coastal resources that belong to us all,” according to the Facebook event.
The event kicks off at 9 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m. at 30000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Visit the Facebook event page for more information.
Newport Beach[hhmc]
A Surfrider-hosted event from 8 a.m. until noon at 19th street in Newport will bring people together for a morning of surfing and a beach clean up. The gathering is a few blocks from McFadden Square, by the Newport Beach Pier. Look for the Surfrider tent.
Huntington Beach[hhmc]
A total of 511 surfers float on their boards and hold hands in the ocean to create the worlds largest paddle out “Circle of Honor” in Huntington Beach Tuesday morning, June 20, 2017. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach is calling all surfers who participating in last years Guinness World Record “Circle of Honor” to gather and tell stories about the challenging day, when 511 surfers paddled out in big surf for the most people on record to form a circle in the water.
The event costs $25 for adults and $10 for students and is free for kids under 15. The fee will get participants a 1-year membership to the International Surfing Museum and other gifts. All proceeds benefit the museum.
The event, held at the museum, is from 5 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, at 411 Olive Ave., Huntington Beach.
