Santa Cruz is located on the northern tip of Monterey Bay on
California's central coast. Surfing was first introduced to the U.S.
mainland in Santa Cruz by three visiting Hawaiian princes in the late
1880s. Since those early days, the Santa Cruz surfing culture has
blossomed into a thriving lifestyle. Many of the world's most highly
regarded surfers hail from Santa Cruz. In fact, Santa Cruz, or "Surf
City" as its known, has become a popular destination for surfing
aficionados of all ages. Surfing in Santa Cruz is a concise historical
overview of the diverse and colorful surfing culture inhabiting the
area.