International Surfing Day, held annually on the third Saturday of June,^{[ citation needed]} is an unofficial, environmentally conscious ^[1] sports-centered holiday that celebrates the sport of surfing, surfing lifestyle, and the sustainability of ocean resources. ^{[2] [3]} Contests and prizes ^[4] are also part of the celebration, with surfing-related industries donating prizes such as surfboards and wetsuits. ^[1] Another purpose of the celebration is to promote the popularity of surfing and to attract new participants. ^[5]

History

International Surfing Day was established in 2005 by Surfing Magazine ^{[6] [7]} and The Surfrider Foundation. ^{[6] [7]} International Surfing Day closely follows the spirit and intent of the World Surf Day, established by the Usenet newsgroup alt.surfing in 1993. ^[8] International Surfing Day is a worldwide ^[9] celebration of the sport of surfing. The day is observed with surf contests, ^[7] barbecues, ^[10] film screenings ^[1] and other surf-related activities. Surfers also use the day to give back to the environment by organizing beach clean-ups, ^{[6] [7] [11] [12] [13] [14]} dune and other habitat restoration ^[10] and other activities ^[3] such as lobbying to maintain the recreation areas in California where surfing occurs, or planting Naupaka (a flowering coastal plant) in Hawaii. ^{[15] [16]}

Direct action was used by form of protest on this day in England to express opposition to sewage in the waters of the Gold Coast; a precarious problem for many surfers who become infected by the bacteria from open wounds from sports-related injuries. ^[17]

Extent of celebrations

International Surf Day events have been held on all populated continents including South America where it is celebrated in Argentina, ^[9] Brazil, ^[18] and Peru. ^[18] Also in the Southern Hemisphere the holiday is observed in the Oceanian nations of Australia ^[19] and New Zealand. ^[18] The day is also widely observed in the American state of Hawaii, also in Oceania. ^{[3] [14]}

In North America the surfing day is most widely observed and celebrations may be found in Canada, ^[18] Costa Rica, ^[18] the French Antilles, ^[18] El Salvador, ^[20] Mexico, ^[21] and in the majority of coastal states of the United States: California, ^{[4] [15]} Connecticut, ^[18] District of Columbia, ^[18] Florida, ^{[13] [22]} Georgia, ^[23] Maine, ^[18] Maryland, ^[18] New Jersey, ^{[6] [11]} New York, ^[18] North Carolina, ^[18] Oregon, ^[10] South Carolina, ^[24] Texas, ^[18] and Virginia. ^[18] After North America the observance has the most popularity in Europe: including in most of the coastal European Union and it is held by surf enthusiasts in France, ^{[5] [18]} Italy, ^[5] the United Kingdom, ^{[17] [18]} Portugal, ^[5] Spain, ^[5] and Belgium. ^[18] Further European celebrations are held in Norway, ^[5] in addition to many of the EU nations overseas possessions.

In Africa, the two French territories of Réunion and Mayotte ^[5] hold annual festivities alongside Morocco, ^[5] the Spanish insular area of the Canary Islands ^[5] and South Africa. The day has also taken hold in some other countries such as Israel and Japan. ^{[5] [18]}

See also

• Earth Day
• Go Skateboarding Day

Notes

External links

• International Surfing Day official website
• International Surfing Day Social Network