International Surfing Day duck-dives onto our calendars each June 20 and is dedicated to keeping oceans clean and encouraging people to surf the waves.
The ocean makes up most of our planet, and plays a crucial role in our health and survival. Today’s when we’re encouraged to be aware of the environmental impact of our activities in the sea and promote the protection of the ocean by building a passion for surfing.
Over the last 20 years, celebrations for this important surfing holiday have grown massively. The number of celebrations have increased over the years to 200+ events in more than 30 countries with over one million participants.
Surfing is an amazing gift and the beach is an incredible place that should be healthy, safe and accessible to all people. As surfers and beach-goers alike, it is our responsibility to foster a vibrant, inclusive community that comes together to protect and enjoy this extraordinary resource.
Surfing refers to the ability of riding a wave, no matter if the surfer is using a board or not. It also doesn't matter what the stance is, as long as the person is "riding a wave" they are surfing. In modern times, most surfers are found standing on a surfboard as they navigate a wave.
Surfing involves several skills:
- Paddling strength: You need strong arms to paddle out and catch waves.
- Positioning: Knowing where to be to catch the wave at the right time.
- Timing: Popping up quickly as the wave starts to push your board.
- Balance: Staying upright on the board. Practicing with a Balance board can help!
Surfers who are passionate about their sport also give back by volunteering for beach cleanups, habitat restorations, and maintaining recreational areas to keep the environment healthy and people happy.
Surfable waves are not created by wind alone; they require just the right underwater topography.
Ocean swells generated hundreds or thousands of miles away only transform into clean, rideable waves when they encounter seabeds with gradual slopes, reefs, or sandbars that cause the wave to steepen and break in a predictable way.
Small differences in bottom shape can turn the same swell into world-class surf at one beach and unsurfable closeouts a short distance away.
Modern surfing has grown into a sizable global industry that reaches far beyond the beach. The Australian government estimates that surfing contributes around multi-billion per year to the Australian economy alone through tourism, retail, and associated services.
In many coastal regions, surfers have become de facto “sentinels” for the shoreline, noticing changes in water quality, erosion, and marine life before the general public.
Research on surf-break protection shows that local surf communities have successfully campaigned for marine reserves, sewage-treatment upgrades, and legal protection of surf breaks, linking their intimate knowledge of waves with broader coastal management and conservation policies.
Across our nation, the day is celebrated with community coastal clean-ups, free surf sessions, and ocean conservation activities at beaches nationwide. Major festival events and competitions coincide with the weekend to mark the occasion. Because June marks the start of the winter swells in Australia, today’s celebrations provide prime wave conditions for local events including:
- NRMA Insurance Seas The Day Festival (Kingscliff, NSW): The world’s largest female participation surf festival takes over Kingscliff Beach from 20–21 June. It features inclusive surfing divisions for all skill levels, wellness hubs, breathwork, and surf psychology, as well as live entertainment.
- Surf Fest Nose Riding Lessons (Freshwater, NSW): Hosted at the Harbord Hotel, pro surfer Tully White is leading dedicated longboard masterclasses on 20 June to teach advanced traditional manoeuvres.
- The Mindful Surfer Workshop (Kingscliff, NSW): Held at Rowan Robinson Park on 20 June, this session dives into the social psychology of surfing and its impact on mental health.
- Global Conservation Launch: Conservation International is officially launching its new global "Surf For The Ocean" campaign on 20 June to establish community-led surf-protected coastal areas.
- National Ocean Conservation: Throughout the coast, various local boardriders clubs and environmental groups - including Surfers for Climate - host beach clean-ups and habitat restoration projects to protect local marine environments.
Many local boardrider clubs and chapters of the Surfrider Foundation organise volunteer tidy-ups to protect local marine environments. For the rest of us, there’s always more ways to contribute to this great day:
- Go Surfing – Grab a surfboard and have fun in the waves, whether you are an expert or a beginner. If you’ve never tried surfing, this is a great day to start!
- Clean Up a Beach – Join a local group or go with friends to pick up trash on the beach. This helps keep the ocean safe for animals and people.
- Spread the Word – Share pictures, videos, or messages about surfing and ocean conservation on social media. Use hashtags like #InternationalSurfingDay and #ProtectTheOcean to inspire others.
- Be a Responsible Surfer – Choose eco-friendly surf gear, avoid using plastic, and always follow beach rules to keep nature safe.
Cowabunga!! Gotta go – the surf has my name on it!
Fun Facts about Surfing:
- The shape of a "tube" or "barrel" wave is measured by how long it is compared to how wide it is: Square - less than 1:1 (wider than long); Round - 1-2:1 and Almond - more than 2:1 (longer than wide)
- The speed of a tube wave depends on its angle: Fast - 30 degrees; Medium - 45 degrees and Slow - 60 degrees
- Hanging ten: Having both feet on the very front of the board with all ten toes hanging off the edge.
- Hanging five: Having just one foot near the front with five toes off the edge.
“The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun”
“Surfing is attitude dancing”
“If you're having a bad day, catch a wave”
“There are a million ways to surf, and as long as you're smiling, you're doing it right”
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