California Wants To Put A Ring On It

It looks like California lawmakers are looking to make things official between the Golden State and surfing, with legislation this week being put forth that would place surfing on California’s official pedastal, so sit alongside the Golden Poppy (official state flower) and the noble California Redwood  (state tree), as the Official State Sport. 

According to the Los Angeles Times, “The legislation, Assembly Bill 1782, would declare surfing California’s official sport because the state is home to world-famous surf breaks, including Malibu, Trestles, Mavericks, Rincon, Steamer Lane and Huntington and has a long history of hosting major international surfing events.” 

It seems California Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), the bill’s author, is “the latest legislator to try to make various aspects of life in California “official.” A San Diego legislator wants to make the California Vaquero the official state horse, and in recent years California has named an official state nut, dinosaur and deemed denim the official state fabric.”

(Oddly, we now realize, that the LA Times failed to make mention of the small but sturdy California Valley Quail*.)

But you get the drift. It’s a lovely official self-portrait the State’s painted.

Mighty Redwoods. Tall Golden Poppies. A cowboy’s favorite steed. Denim. Surfing.

(But we all know it ain’t quite that postcard, now is it?)

Muratsuchi proposal reads as follows: 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Surfing is an iconic California sport, and is home to a number of world-famous surf breaks like Malibu, Trestles, Mavericks, Rincon, Steamer Lane, and Huntington, which are destinations for both domestic and international surfers.

(b) Every year, California surf breaks host numerous domestic and international surf events, including the International Surf Festival in the Cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance, the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, and Mavericks Big Wave Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay.

(c) California is home to the Surfers’ Hall of Fame, the International Surfing Museum, and the California Surf Museum.

(d) California’s coastline spans 1,100 miles and its beaches and coastal areas generate $1.15 trillion in economic activity annually.

SEC. 2. Section 424.7 is added to the Government Code, to read:

424.7. Surfing is the official state sport.

*From AllAboutBirds.com, which you just have to go see: “The California Quail is a handsome, round soccer ball of a bird with a rich gray breast, intricately scaled underparts, and a curious, forward-drooping head plume. Its stiffly accented Chi-ca-go call is a common sound of the chaparral and other brushy areas of California and the Northwest. Often seen scratching at the ground in large groups or dashing forward on blurred legs, California Quail are common but unobtrusive. They flush to cover if scared, so approach them gently.

California Quail spend most of their time on the ground, walking and scratching in search of food. In morning and evening they forage beneath shrubs or on open ground near cover. They usually travel in groups called coveys. Their flight is explosive but lasts just long enough to reach cover.” 

Fascinating.