Huntington Beach to Host Largest Gathering of Black Surfers on June 4

Huntington Beach, Calif.–May 20, 2022—Huntington Beach, the original Surf City USA located along the Southern California coastline, will host the inaugural Great Day in The Stoke surfing event on Saturday, June 4 starting at 7:00 a.m. on the beach near the city’s iconic pier. The free event will be one of the largest gatherings of Black Surfers in recent history and will pay homage to those who helped pioneer the sport for the Black community.

Providing a safe space for Black surfers to compete and connect, the event will kick off with a surfing competition that includes nearly three-dozen Black surfers. Free family-friendly activities throughout the day include surf lessons, beach yoga hosted by WalkGoodLA, a surfboard demonstration by Earth Technologies and a live DJ. In addition, guests can watch the surfing competition from the shore, and applaud Tony Corley, founder of the Black Surfing Association, as well as Sharon Schaffer, the first professional Black female surfer, as they are honored during an awards and tribute presentation.

A Great Day in The Stoke will feature the surf competition from 7-11am; beach yoga from 10-11am; the awards ceremony at 11:30am; and surf lessons from 1-3pm. 

“We are absolutely thrilled to be the host city for this historic event,” said Kelly Miller, president and CEO of Visit Huntington Beach. “Surfing is a sport that brings people together, and Huntington Beach is a place where everyone is welcome. As an avid surfer myself, I’m extremely excited to welcome A Great Day in The Stoke founder, Nathan Fluellen, and all the participants to Surf City USA.”

The name, A Great Day in The Stoke, pays homage to A Great Day in Harlem (1958) and A Great Day in Hip-Hop (1998). Just as these two events brought the Black community together decades ago, so will the events of June 4 as Black surfers of all skill levels, including professionals from across the African diaspora and the Hawaiian Islands, descend on Huntington Beach to compete for the best waves. The entry fee to participate is $20, and participants can register at agreatdayinthestoke.com. All other activities are free.

 “A Great Day in the Stoke is intended to inspire the Black community to feel welcome in the water and to experience and share the joy of surfing,” said Nathan Fluellen, the event’s founder and organizer. “We want to show the world that Black surfers exist in mass and hope this safe space will grow interest among BIPOC.”

A Great Day in The Stoke takes place on Saturday, June 4 at 7:00 a.m. near the iconic pier in Huntington Beach. For information on accommodations and dining options for Huntington Beach, visit surfcityusa.com; for more information on A Great Day in The Stoke, visit agreatdayinthestoke.com.

About Visit Huntington Beach 

Visit Huntington Beach is the official destination marketing organization of Huntington Beach, Surf City USA®. One of Southern California’s premier coastal destinations, Huntington Beach is the ideal location for a California family vacation, active outdoor adventure trip or relaxing weekend getaway. With 10 miles of wide-open beaches, Huntington Beach is a destination of choice for vacationers and business travelers alike. To plan your Surf City USA® vacation, or to learn more about Huntington Beach, see the Visit Huntington Beach website at www.surfcityusa.com or call 1-800-729-6232 for a free Visitors Guide.