Ocean City Helps Celebrate International Surfing Day

Hundreds of beachgoers bearing all manner of waveriding vehicles — shortboards, longboards, boogie boards, standup paddleboards, kite boards and more — gathered on the beach at 59th Street on Wednesday afternoon and evening to mark International Surfing Day.

The event was sponsored by the South Jersey chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, a national organization that describes its mission as "the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network."

The Ocean City event was one of 200 celebrated in 25 countries on June 20 — the summer solstice.

The celebration included music, equipment demos, conservation activities and, of course, surfing.

The ocean obliged with a 71-degree temperature and two-foot waves that were friendly to crowds of surfers of all levels.

One of the biggest attractions of the event was surfing lessons — free to anybody who agreed to participate in a beach cleanup or to join/renew membership in the Surfrider Foundation.

Krissy Halkes of the Foundation had a list of 36 names waiting for lessons early in the event.