Black Surf Santa Cruz

08/23/2026

Session 3/4 of Prepare to Pop Up is a wrap!!!

Yesterday was a perfect day for kayaking around the Santa Cruz Wharf 🛶

Thank you Venture Quest Kayaks for the epic experience! We saw otters, dolphins, sea lions, and harbor seals 🦦🐬🦭

The P2PUP course does not include any surfing - we instead spend time observing the surf/conditions, kayaking, going for optional ocean dips/swims, and enjoying time by the water together. We can’t wait for our next and final session with this cohort!

08/21/2026

The countdown is on ‼️🪩

Less than 2 weeks to go for our inaugural Beach Ball, our first-ever FUNdraiser celebration! Every donation and ticket sale helps create more opportunities for joy, healing, belonging, and access to ocean connection and PLAY. 🖤

PLUS !! Your donations go further through August 31st!🗣️🗣️ Thanks to Givebutter & the BackBlack, all ticket sales / donations made through Givebutter platform will be matched 5% through the end of August for Black Philanthropy Month. 🖤🌊🌱

See you there!! 🥳🤩

📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History The MAH
📆 Thursday, September 3rd from 6:00-8:30 pm

Ticket links / more info in bio! 🖤🌊

Major thank you to our incredible event sponsors and supporters helping make the evening possible! The MAH Troy Chasey, REALTOR Treehouse Dispensary and Art Gallery Pacific Catch Humble Sea Brewing Co.

08/20/2026

08/20/2026

We might have taken “Beach Ball” a little too literally. 😂🏖️

Good thing The Black Surf Santa Cruz ‘Beach Ball’ is September 3 & you have plenty of time to still get it right 🌊✨

📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History The MAH
📆 Thursday, September 3rd from 6:00-8:30 pm

Ticket link in bio! 🖤🌊

08/12/2026

Join us in celebrating how far we’ve come! 🖤

Since 2020, Black Surf Santa Cruz has grown from an idea into a year-round organization creating space for people to surf, swim, paddle, play, learn, connect, and experience joy.

We’ve welcomed 1,800+ people into our programs and community. Swipe through to see just some of the moments of magic!

We’ve watched people get in the water for the first time.
We’ve built new programs.
We’ve brought people together.
We’ve learned a lot.
And we’ve kept going despite and against all odds stacked against an organization like ours.

Our upcoming ‘Beach Ball’ is about celebrating all of that — and raising what we need to keep building and sustaining this work.

Because we’re still just getting started.

There are more people to reach.
More programs to build.
More time to spend in the water.
More moments of joy to create.

So come celebrate with us. Help spread the word. Get dressed up. Bring your people. Eat, dance, laugh, and help us build what comes next.

THE BEACH BALL
Thursday, September 3 • Santa Cruz MAH
Formal • Under the Sea

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now. Buy yours (or somebody else’s) today! Link in bio !!! 🖤

We’re incredibly grateful to the sponsors and partners helping make this year’s Beach Ball possible. Your support helps us keep building.

08/07/2026

🌊 Help shape the future of Santa Cruz’s coastline!

Black Surf Santa Cruz is partnering with the City of Santa Cruz Official to make sure Black and BIPOC voices are represented in the City’s Shoreline Adaptation + Management Plans.

We’re inviting Black and BIPOC community members who live, work, surf, swim, recreate, or spend time along the Santa Cruz coastline to join a 90 minute virtual focus group. You do not need to live in Santa Cruz to participate! We want to hear from anyone who cares about these coastal spaces and may be impacted by future shoreline changes.

Your feedback will help inform future decisions around:
🌊 Coastal access
🏄 Recreation
🌱 Climate resilience
📍 Shoreline planning and funding priorities

✨ Participants will receive a $75 stipend for their time.

🗓️ Deadline to sign up: Friday, August 14

🔗 Link to apply/ more info: Link in bio

Know someone whose perspective should be included? Please share this opportunity! We’d especially love to hear from Black and BIPOC community members who have a connection to the Santa Cruz coastline. 💙

07/28/2026

!!!!

07/22/2026

A sea of gratitude to our sponsors, partners, vendors, artists, volunteers, and community who made the 6th Annual Liberation Paddle Out possible. Another behind the scenes recap of the day thanks to FMZ MEDIA GROUP 🖤🌊

🎥: FMZ MEDIA GROUP Art By Willz Reggie Stephens 📿