For many surfers, the ocean waves provide a space for those who want to experience the freedom of gliding across the water. As the culture surrounding surfing continues to evolve, deep-rooted understandings of inclusion expand with it. 

Over 40 percent of surfers are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), according to a study by the Surf Industry Members Association. Though the sport’s history stems largely from Polynesian and Hawaiian cultures, its stereotypical demographic and presentation is still predominantly white. 

For many BIPOC residents of Santa Cruz, stepping into the water with a board for the first time is not as approachable as it is for other surfers.

“Many people don’t know that surfing has native roots to West Africa as well as Hawaii, and it was Indigenous people riding waves,” said Esabella Bonner, founder and executive director of Black Surf Santa Cruz (BSSC). “To me, Black Surf really unearths that true history and gives Black, Indigenous and Hawaiian folks a space to reclaim.”

A Black Surf Santa Cruz member talks with an instructor, during a BSSC Pop-Up Program. Pop-Up Programs are regularly planned small group coaching sessions with volunteer instructors to learn the basics of surfing. Nov. 8, 2025.

 BSSC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding beach and ocean access for the BIPOC community in Santa Cruz, and strives to continue the legacy of surfing introduced by the BIPOC community. 

As Bonner emphasizes surfing’s historical roots, Richard Schmidt, a professional surfer who grew up in Santa Cruz, highlights the difference between surfer demographics in the past and present. 

“[Today], the demographic has gotten more widespread, [the water has] gotten busier for sure,” Schmidt said. 

This broader shift Schmidt describes has taken shape in individual stories up and down the coast. For Bonner, it began in 2020.

Bonner entered the ocean for the first time during a community paddle out. In June, she caught her first wave, an experience that deeply influenced her commitment to BSSC and their mission of expanding access to the ocean for all. 

“When I caught my first wave, it was this feeling of hope and weightlessness and this moment of [realizing] everybody who wants to do this should be able to without barriers,” Bonner said. “How can we get more people to [experience] this feeling?”

In September 2020, BSSC hosted its first surf lesson for BIPOC community members, where Bonner realized the importance of creating opportunities for people to feel more comfortable. 

“I just wanted to expand that opportunity and access point for other Black and BIPOC folks, [to make] living or visiting Santa Cruz feel more comfortable,” Bonner said. 

A Black Surf Santa Cruz member catches a small wave off the coast of Cowell Beach. Nov. 8, 2025.

In a city where outdoor recreation shapes much of daily life, Bonner sees surfing as central to whether someone feels connected to the broader community.

“If you don’t feel like you belong or feel safe in the ocean, or feel like you don’t belong in the redwoods, how much can you truly feel integrated in a culture where those are such central components?” Bonner questioned.

For Bonner, expanding access is about more than riding waves. It’s about shaping what belonging in a community looks like for all people.

“It would look like joy and connection, and it would look like people having an opportunity to decide for themselves what’s for them or what’s not for them without barriers,” Bonner said. “We would see each other as neighbors.”