The logo is only the beginning
A skateboard graphic can be someone’s first encounter with Santa Cruz, long before they see the ocean. That is a remarkable calling card for a small coastal city. But the story gets more interesting when you look beyond the T-shirt: who made the boards, who rode them and how the designs traveled.
Two dates worth knowing
Visit Santa Cruz County traces local surfing to three Hawaiian princes who surfed here in 1885. Its guide also points to the NHS Skate Museum and the company’s founding in 1973. Those are two useful starting points for understanding how riding a board became part of this town’s identity.
Start on dry land
The museum is a good lead for the design-curious; check its visiting information before making the trip. Prefer the ocean? Watch from a public overlook. Give it more than a minute. The waiting between waves is part of surfing too. You can appreciate the skill without needing to borrow a board or pretend you know the break.