The laid-back beach town of Santa Cruz, with its epic wave breaks and pavement playgrounds, is home to a deeply rooted, vibrant surf and skate culture. Hailed as the birthplace of mainland surfing and a longstanding hub for the skateboarding scene, Santa Cruz County’s influence on surf and skate culture has been monumental, setting the stage for each sport to become an international phenomenon in its own right. Legend has it that surfers have been riding these waves since 1885, when three Hawaiian princes brought the iconic sport to Santa Cruz’s shores. Skateboarding’s roots began in the 1940s when some California surfers were looking for a way to keep up practicing when the waves were flat (Read more about it here). Since then, this coastal city has carved a name for itself in the skateboarding sphere, with local riders and companies constantly searching for ways to innovate the thrilling pastime and its aesthetic. Over time, Santa Cruz has cultivated a reputation as the cultural heart of the surf and skate scene, which resonates far beyond its city limits.