News Summary
Huntington Beach hosts ‘A Great Day in the Stoke’, a free surfing festival celebrating Black surfers. The event promotes inclusivity, water safety, and well-being, making history as the largest gathering of Black surfers. Founded by Nathan Fluellen, the festival aims to inspire future generations and change the narrative in the surfing community. With activities ranging from surf lessons to community celebration, it redefines representation in the sport, making it accessible for all.
Huntington Beach is the vibrant host of a unique and groundbreaking event called A Great Day in the Stoke, a free surfing festival aimed at celebrating Black surfers. Scheduled for Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., the festival is anticipated to be the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.
The festival was founded by Nathan Fluellen, a travel influencer and TV host, in an effort to highlight Black surfers and provide essential surf lessons while promoting water safety. Fluellen established the festival to create an environment where representation of Black surfers becomes the norm rather than an exception. His own childhood dreams of surfing were deferred due to the lack of representation in the sport, motivating him to develop an event that actively addresses this issue.
This festival is emblematic of a growing movement that seeks to promote access, equity, and inclusion in surfing while also emphasizing health and wellness. It also serves as a response to the paddle outs that were held in memory of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, symbolically transforming mourning into a celebration of Black lives and achievements.
The location of Huntington Beach was intentionally chosen for its historical significance in the surfing community. The city, known as Surf City USA, hosts the International Surfing Museum and the renowned US Open of Surfing, making it a fitting backdrop for such a pivotal event.
The festival draws in participants ranging from children to teens, many of whom may not have previously considered surfing due to societal perceptions. The event encourages young surfers to experience freedom of expression and celebrate inclusivity within the surfing community. As interest and participation among Black surfers have significantly increased each year since the festival’s inception, the enthusiasm surrounding the event has also grown.
Devon James, a 24-year-old surfer and content creator, expressed that the festival fosters an environment where all participants feel welcomed and included. The spirit of the festival is fundamentally rooted in community celebration and in challenging stereotypes that have traditionally surrounded Black participation in surfing.
Notable individuals and families from within the surfing community have expressed excitement about the festival and its positive impact on local youth. Fluellen aims for the event to inspire ongoing participation and practice, allowing anyone interested in surfing to find joy in their experiences, regardless of their skill level.
The festival’s name is derived from A Great Day in Harlem, a historic photograph from 1958 featuring a large group of jazz musicians, reinforcing the theme of coming together to celebrate Black culture and excellence. The festival thus stands as both a marker of progress and a celebration of diversity in the sport of surfing.
Through this initiative, the festival not only provides practical surfing knowledge but also strives to change the narrative surrounding who is represented in surfing. This renewed focus reflects a broader cultural movement aimed at diversifying a sport that has long struggled with inclusivity. A Great Day in the Stoke is more than just a surfing festival; it is a transformative celebration that aims to leave a lasting impact on the surfing community and the lives of those involved.
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Additional Resources
- LAist: A Great Day in the Stoke
- CBS News: Black Surfing Community
- ABC7: Community Paddle Honors Kolby Aipa
- LA Times: Kolby Aipa Induction
- MSN: Largest Gathering of Black Surfers
- Wikipedia: Huntington Beach
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
