Surfers ‘stop, drop and surf’ in Huntington Beach to celebrate the first California Surfing Day

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Tom Thrasher hits the waves Thursday morning as surfers in Huntington Beach celebrated the inaugural California Surfing Day.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

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Karen Scorah runs to the water’s edge for an early surf session Thursday as Huntington Beach celebrated the first California Surfing Day. Community members were invited to “stop, drop and surf.”

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

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Members of the Huntington Beach High School surf team head to the water next to the Huntington Beach Pier on Thursday morning during the inaugural California Surfing Day.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

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Pro surfer Courtney Conlogue turns out Thursday morning in Huntington Beach for the first California Surfing Day.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

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Ryan Rustan and Sugar, a surfing dog, prepare for a morning on the waves Thursday in Huntington Beach on the inaugural California Surfing Day.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

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Sugar the surfing dog glides off Huntington Beach on Thursday morning on California Surfing Day.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

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A surfer cuts back on an inside wave Thursday as Huntington Beach celebrated California’s inaugural Surfing Day.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

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Surfers line the beach north of the Huntington Beach Pier to celebrate the inaugural California Surfing Day on Thursday.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

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Longtime surfing star Jericho Poppler, whose image adorns the California Surfing Day logo, appears in Huntington Beach on Thursday to celebrate the occasion.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

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Quaid Fahrion, 10, catches a wave Thursday off Huntington Beach on California Surfing Day.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

By Priscella Vega

Sept. 20, 2018 12:10 PM PT

Everybody from surfing icons to high school surf teams to a wave-riding dog headed to the coast Thursday morning in Huntington Beach to mark the inaugural California Surfing Day.

Locals were encouraged to “stop, drop and surf” as a way to celebrate a resolution introduced this year by state Sen. Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove). SCR 122 recognizes Sept. 20 as California Surfing Day to spotlight the state’s surfing lifestyle, culture and beach and ocean protection.

Nguyen introduced the resolution in July in Huntington Beach, aka Surf City USA, during the annual Vans U.S. Open of Surfing.

“The sport transcended oceans to impact our language, music, fashion and art,” Nguyen said at the time. “Surfing is part of the social, economic and cultural fabric of our state.”

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscella

Surfers ‘stop, drop and surf’ in Huntington Beach to celebrate the first California Surfing Day

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