Now in its third incarnation, A Great Day in the Stoke, the largest gathering of Black surfers on the planet, returns to the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday, September 14. The brainchild of Nathan Fluellen, the event first got underway in 2022 as a way to bring Black and African American surfing communities together. Today, it’s turned into a full movement that attracts hundreds of surfers and offers so much more than just a another surf contest.
Created in the aftermath of the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, along with other race-based issues, A Great Day in the Stoke was intended to get people together and bring something positive to the beach. Inspired by A Great Day in Harlem in 1958 and a Great Day in Hip Hop in 1998, the initial running of A Great Day in Stoke saw over 500 people people show up.
A little bit surf contest, a little bit beach party, as well as part health and wellness festival and community gathering, there really is something for everybody going down at A Great Day in the Stoke. On the surf side, there are events for shortboard, longboard and groms. Hawaii’s Julian Williams will be on hand to defend his shortboard title, Farmata Dia will be there to defend her longboard win, as will Southern California’s Mary Oliveira and a host of other talent from both the U.S. and around the world. There will also be free surf lessons for anyone looking to dip a toe in the water for the first time.
“It’s a really good, culturally appropriate place to come and learn about surfing. Also, it’s a comfortable place to come and meet some really rad people who not only surf but [also] do some really good things [in other areas] of their lives as well,” Williams shared in an interview after last year’s event.
Beyond the waves, fitness brand Lululemon has signed on to sponsor a wellness zone. There will be yoga classes, a 5k race in the morning, as well as other beach activities to get involved in.
At the end of the day, along with an awards celebration, there is a time for recognizing trailblazing Black surfing pioneers, including Nick Gabaldon, famously paddled from the Inkwell beach in Santa Monica to Malibu in the 1940s, eventually inspiring the documentary film “12 Miles North.”
A Great Day in the Stoke is free and all are welcome, so if you’re in Huntington this weekend, be sure to swing by and enjoy the good times.
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