A Bunch Of California Suits Just Agreed Surfing Is Their Fav Sport

Did you know that within California’s Government, walking its dusty, disgruntled halls, is surfing’s Unofficial Surf Caucus Assemblyman? 

His name is Ian Calderon (D-Whittier), and yesterday, after literally years of putting on a pressed blue two-piece or off-the-rack 3/2’s and rallying for a cause he’s partially dedicated his “civic” career fighting for*, Calderon’s dream came true.

Allow the LA Times to explain: “Let it be known that on Aug. 20, 2018, surfing became California’s official state sport.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Monday that enshrines surfing in the state’s code. The bill notes that surfing quickly became a California icon after being imported from Hawaii. Malibu, Trestles, Mavericks, Rincon, Steamer Lane and Huntington are California’s world-famous surf breaks. The Surfers’ Hall of Fame is in Huntington Beach. And the neoprene wetsuit, surfers’ unofficial uniform, was invented in the Bay Area.”

Many States forego declaring a State sport, because… Well, because it seems kind of pointless. And while the legislation does seem a little, um, kooky, it’s certainly a far cry from some other State’s official athletic pursuits. Kentucky plays tug-of-war. Alaskans mush, mush, mush their huskies, while Coloradans flock to pack mule races. And Floridians love their “Silver Spurs Rodeo.” 

Surfing has been Hawaii’s state sport since 1998. 

“Nothing represents the California Dream better than surfing,” said the bill’s co-author and “surfer since high school,” Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance). “I’m stoked that we’re celebrating an iconic sport.”

According to the Times, the legislation puts surfing among a number of other seemingly arbitrary things that the State of California have christened over the last few years. “Surfing has now joined a number of official state things that lawmakers have passed in recent years. Sometimes, like every other piece of legislation at the Capitol, they’re a result of lobbying efforts.

“Last year, a group of fourth-graders in Merced made a pitch for almonds to become the official state nut. However, nut industry lobbying added pecans, walnuts and pistachios to the effort before it became law. The quartet is now California’s official state nut, even though none of them are actually nuts and there are four of them.”

Welcome to California.

 *Calderon’s also pushed for a single-use plastic bag ban, and headed up the “Tech Caucus.”