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International Surfing Day

Hobby · Nature · The third Saturday in June

A day for surfing, the ocean sport of riding waves on a board, marked by surfers and beachgoers across the United States and elsewhere.

International Surfing Day falls on Saturday, June 19, 2027. That is 235 days away.

Surfing is the sport of riding a breaking wave on a board, standing up while the water does most of the pushing. International Surfing Day honors it each year on the third Saturday in June, and it is marked in the United States as well as in other countries.

The basic idea is simple and the practice is not. A surfer lies on the board, paddles out past the breaking waves, then turns and paddles hard as a good wave rises behind them. In the right moment they pop up to their feet and ride the face of the wave toward shore. Most of a surf session is actually spent paddling and waiting, sitting on the board and watching the horizon for the next set.

In the United States, surfing is common along the coasts of California and Hawaii, and people also surf on the Atlantic coast, the Gulf Coast and even the Great Lakes when the wind is strong enough. Boards come in many shapes. Longboards are easier to balance on and catch waves early, while shorter boards turn more quickly.

On the day itself, people often head to the beach for a morning session, take a beginner lesson, or simply watch from the sand. Many surfers also spend part of the day picking up litter on the beach, since the sport depends on clean water and healthy coastlines.

For anyone far from the sea, a surf film or a few pages about wave forecasting can still carry the feeling. Waves that reach a beach are usually made by wind blowing over open water, sometimes from storms very far away.

Ways to celebrate

• Take a beginner surf lesson at a nearby beach.
• Watch surfers from the shore and notice how they read the waves.
• Join or organize a beach litter pickup.
• Watch a surf documentary at home.
• Look up a surf forecast and learn what swell means.

Dates

All national days on June 19

Also on June 19

• Juneteenth
• National Martini Day
• National Dog Dad Day
• National Watch Day

Categories: Hobby daysNature days