How to Celebrate California Surfing Day in Ventura?

Featured image by Byba Depit

California Surfing Day is upon us (yep, September 20th), which is nice, but in Ventura surfing is celebrated every day. From C Street, to the Santa Clara Rivermouth, to Mondos, Ventura’s surfers have long known the priceless value of uninhibited, unending, pretty much illicit fun.

Few know this joy, or our local waters, better than Steve Walden and Mary Osborne, two long-time locals who made surfing a part of their lives long before it became legislation.

Steve Walden has been surfing for close to 60 years and making surfboards for almost as long.

At this point in his life, hard work, talent, and an unabashed love for surfing have earned him global recognition as a shaper. Mention this to Walden and you’ll get an embarrassed shrug.

“It’s been a great life,” says Walden with a smile any surfer knows.

And Mary Osborne…

Ventura native, professional surfer, surf instructor, environmental champion, Osborne’s love of surfing (and life) is infectious. And her zest for fun knows no bounds (witness a women’s surf class that combines surfing, yoga, and a champagne brunch).
Again, the knowing smile.

“There’s no place like home,” says Osborne.

When California Surfing Day dawns, neither Walden nor Osborne are likely to make a fuss about it. But if there is a swell running, they will likely slip quietly into the water. When the right wave comes, they’ll swing to their feet and the world will fall away.

And that is something to celebrate.

Don’t surf? Don’t worry. In celebration of all things ocean, you can do something nice for our beaches. On Saturday, September 18th, from 9 am to noon, you can join a hand in the official Ventura County Coastal Cleanup Day. For a list of their official cleanup sites, please click here, but realize too that everything doesn’t have to be official.  You can do the right thing for Ventura’s beaches — your beaches — any day you like. For more info, please click here.