Summer is just around the corner and there is no better way to celebrate than hitting the beaches. This year, a leap year, summer solstice—the longest day of the year—will occur on Friday, June 20 (not June 21) for the northern hemisphere. And it is the International Surfing Day tradition to choose summer solstice as the date to kick off celebrations.

• PHOTO BY NICK COOPER
• SUPER SHAPE: Coop Deville and other local board builders will present their rides at a party on International Surfing Day.

The Surfrider Foundation San Luis Bay Chapter, along with One Way Boardshop, will hold the annual International Surfing Day on Friday, June 20 at the end of Wadsworth Avenue in Pismo Beach from 11 a.m. to noon. A board meeting and after party will be held the same day from 6:45 to 10 p.m. at La Perla Del Mar, 205 Windward, in Shell Beach. Admission to the after party is only $1.

Surfers, beach huggers, ocean lovers, kayakers, and everyone else is welcome to participate and celebrate the aloha spirit. Four local shapers will be at the after party to showcase some of their latest surfboards and to discuss the state of surfboard design, according to Jennifer Blonder of the Surfrider Foundation San Luis Bay Chapter. In addition, there will be live music, food from Seaside CafÈ, and two cold kegs of great beer.

International Surfing Day (ISD), created by SURFING Magazine, is an annual worldwide celebration of surfing, a sort of surfers’ holiday. This is the first annual ISD event in Pismo Beach that the San Luis Bay Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has been a part of, according Blonder.

“International Surfing Day is to not only celebrate surfing, but it is also to raise awareness of the state of the ocean, and help and protect recreation areas,” Blonder said. “This is done by hosting events around the world including beach clean-ups and festivals.”

Blonder coordinated the event and has been involved in the San Luis Bay Chapter for two years. She performs a variety of tasks from ordering merchandise, organizing events, and attending city council meetings.

“The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the enjoyment of the world’s waves and beaches for all people through activism, research and education,” Blonder stated.

Founded in 1984 by surfers in Malibu, Calif., the Surfrider Foundation now includes more than 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide, including the Surfrider Foundation Europe—with ongoing programs and chapters in France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Brazil, and Australia.

Since it was founded 11 years ago, the San Luis Bay Chapter has lobbied the city council and the county to place warning signs at local beaches when pollution has presented a health risk, helped raise money for grants for water sampling and testing, and has organized monthly two-hour beach clean-ups.

For more information about the event or for volunteer opportunities, log on to the Surfrider Foundation San Luis Bay Chapter’s site, www.slosurfrider.org.

Intern Jen Ingan compiled this week’s Strokes and Plugs. Send your business news to [email protected]