In this episode, you'll meet Haunani, who drove up from San Diego, to surf at Topanga Beach. She talks about why Topanga Beach is so special to her. She also gives great advice to Beginner Surfers: just bc you can paddle out during a big swell, doesn't mean you should be surfing The Point. You need to surf The Bay or The Inside, never The Point during a big swell. It's just too dangerous!

Visit Topanga Lou Surf Videos for Topanga surfing videos.

June 24-25, 2023 - Santa Monica Pier 360: Paddle & SUP Races (and more)!

Santa Monica Pier 360 Beach Festival celebrates the best of beach life with an awesome, FREE, all ages festival! With ocean sports competitions, live music, food and drinks, interactive games, sampling by some of your favorite brands and so much more, Pier 360 offers a peek into iconic SoCal beach culture and brings together thousands of guests for a day of good vibes. Whether you're hanging with the family, competing on land or at sea or partying with your friends–Pier 360 has got it all!

Join us for an all-day, family friendly celebration of decades of surf, skate, paddleboard and lifeguard history.

The pier deck will also feature hula dancing, beer and spirits garden, live music and a surf history museum celebrating the history of lifeguarding, paddleboarding, surfing, and skateboarding around the Santa Monica Pier. POP SK8 Roller Rink will be popping up for this year’s annual kickoff summer event!



Come skate the mini-ramp and street course that will be set up on the pier. Skate Experience brings together legendary skaters from around Los Angeles for all-day shredding, clinics and competition. Attendees can watch skaters 360 over the Pacific, or get in on the action themselves with demos and workshops led by top local skaters. No advance registration necessary.



Join us on Sunday, June 25th for our first ever Santa Monica Pier 360 Sandcastle Competition! Compete with other fellow sand architects for a morning filled with sand, fun and sun! Click Here for the Sand Castle information.



The Museum of Beach Life celebrates the Pier's role in the formation of SoCal beach culture and tells the stories of some of the legendary personalities that pioneered active beach lifestyle at the Pier. The unique attraction features surf/paddle memorabilia curated by local legends and notable collectors (Rich Wilken, Jeff Ho, Cary Weiss, Mike Young) and exhibits celebrating the birth of mainland paddleboard racing, 2-person beach volleyball, the original Muscle Beach and so much more!

From SUP Yoga clinics with YOGAqua, to demos from the top pros and youth clinics, the Pool brings the ocean lifestyle to the city in a unique and all-inclusive way.





TANDM Surf Bodyboarding Contest

This event features the TANDM Surf Bodyboard (as seen on Shark Tank). Up to 24 Two-Person Teams competing for a chance to make the Finals. Top three teams win a TANDM Surf Bodyboard. Competing teams are judged on wave riding style, performance of maneuvers/tricks and demonstration of Aloha spirit. This event takes place at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 24, 2023!

Online Registration $60 , Click Here to register.



POP SK8, California's first themed pop-up roller rink, is a family-friendly, outdoor roller rink experience, offering a perfect place to hang out, roller skate, and celebrate with the community! Come be part of the POP SK8 PIER 360 roller rink experience on the iconic Santa Monica Pier this Sat & Sun from 10am - 5pm.

Skaters can bring own quads or rollerblades. Quad skates will also be available on-site to use on a first-come basis (sizes 8 youth to 13 adult).

All one hour skate sessions are FREE!

CBVA Men’s & Women’s $4,000 Open’s, Co-Ed Doubles and the Santa Monica Beach Volleyball Hall Of Fame Legends Exhibition Saturday, June 24th & Sunday, June 25th as part of the 2023 Santa Monica Pier 360 Beach Festival.



CBVA Beach Volleyball Tournaments

The Open’s on Saturday is for the High Level Beach Volleyball Athletes trying to earn a bid into the AVP Hermosa Beach Open. The Co-Ed divisions on Sunday will be for both Novice and Advanced level players. Included in the entry fee are beverages, event t-shirt and all of the beach volleyball action you can fit into the day. Come be part of a huge Santa Monica event!



Thanks to our friends at Michelob Ultra, Kona Brewing Co. and Nutrl Vodka, we’ll have cold brews and vodka seltzers keeping you cool this Pier 360. Kick back, relax, and soak up the sunny summer vibes while hanging out in the legendary Pier 360 Beer & Spirits Garden.

ALL-DAY MUSIC: Prepare to be blown away at this year's Pier 360. Each morning we're kicking off with Polynesian dancers ready to transport you to a world of vibrant colors, intricate movements, and ancient traditions. Every afternoon will showcase a variety of bands ensuring an irresistible atmosphere of joy and celebration.






Did you know that the sport of Paddleboard started at the Santa Monica Pier? Celebrate 90 years of tradition with multiple paddle events throughout June 24th-25th. These events will be the most inclusive and high-profile SUP event to have taken place in the US for many years.

The One Mile Fun Paddle with an ocean start is a great fit for paddlers who are less experienced or just want to enjoy a more relaxed race with a friendly vibe.

$30 online registration (price increase on race day)

Sprint Racing in the surf will provide a dynamic sporting spectacle in a fast paced, elimination format that will see the top contenders competing round after round until the Final.

$40 online registration (price increase on race day).

The Long Distance Race will provide an iconic and high performance course for the worlds best. This years event is a two loop course (total distance is 5 miles) in front of the Santa Monica Pier.

Racers should leave ample time to park and check in at registration a minimum of an hour before their event start time. Day of registrations should allow at least 90 minutes to park and register.

Click Here for the most updated SUP race information and to register to race.

Share the stoke of summer with your local community at Surfrider LA and the World Surf League as we celebrate International Surfing Day! We will be meeting on the beach at Tower 20, Santa Monica between 10am-12pm on Saturday, 6/17 to pick up trash and learn about waste management on our shorelines. Dune Sunscreen, Sister Betsy Surf Wax, and EMOcean will all have donated product on the sand with us as well.

Prior to the beach cleanup, Dream Team Society will be hosting a casual surf and beach hang from 9am-10am. All types of surf, boogie, or swim craft are welcome. Please bring your own board.

Here’s what you can expect for the epic day:

9AM-10AM → Casual surf & beach hang for all skill levels hosted by Dream Team Society ! All types of surf, boogie, or swim craft are welcome. Please bring your own board.

10AM-12PM → Beach cleanup @ Tower 20!

Come celebrate our love of surfing and our beaches for all people to enjoy!

Started in 2005, International Surfing Day is an international celebration of the love of surfing and our beaches for all people to enjoy. The day was established to raise awareness and support for our world’s beaches and coastal environments.

Sat, Jun 17, 2023
10:00AM-12:00PM PDT

For more info & to sign up, Click Here

CINEMALIBU™ SUMMER SERIES OF FREE OUTDOOR COMMUNITY MOVIES AT MALIBU BLUFFS PARK STARTS WITH “TOP GUN” ON JUNE 17

The City of Malibu’s CineMalibu™ series returns to Malibu Bluffs Park for a summer of free, family-friendly outdoor community movie screenings with trivia, games, food trucks and more, starting with "Top Gun" (1986, PG) on Saturday, June 17. This summer, the series presents iconic films from the 1980s.

CineMalibu™ Schedule:

"Top Gun" (1986, PG) Saturday, June 17, 7:00 PM "E.T." (1982, PG) Saturday, July 15, 7:00 PM "Karate Kid" (1984, PG) Saturday, August 19, 6:30 PM

Arrive early to participate in themed activities with the Malibu Library, contests, giveaways, a raffle, and to purchase tasty food from the D'Amores Pizza Truck and treats from Apollo's Expresso and Shave Ice.

The movies start at sunset and pre-event activities start at 5:00 PM. Malibu Bluffs Park is located at 24250 Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon.

At the City of Malibu booth, show a staff member that you follow the Community Services Department on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win great prizes, including gift cards to local businesses and a 30% off coupon for a City of Malibu recreation program.

Tickets or RSVPs are not required. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring chairs and blankets. Alcohol is not allowed at Malibu Bluffs Park. Dogs must be on leash and under control of their owners at all times.

For more info, Click Here

Los Angeles Department of Public Health just released an update about the Malibu Beaches Closure Due To A Sewage Spill:

Ocean Water Use Warning for Los Angeles County Beaches

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:

BEACH AREAS CLOSURES:

The following sites continue to remain closed due to a recent sewage discharge:

· Malibu Lagoon State Beach
· ¼ mile north of Malibu Lagoon State Beach
· ¼ mile south of Malibu Lagoon State Beach

BEACH AREAS WARNINGS:

· Sweetwater Canyon Storm Drain at Carbon Canyon Beach
· Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach
· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

These warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested.

BEACH AREAS NOW CLEARED:

Warnings have been lifted for the following beach areas where recent sample results identified water quality levels within State standards:

· Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach
· Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach


Laboratory results from three local agencies are displayed on the map. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) Environmental Health Recreational Waters Program, collects ocean water samples from the mainland, once a week throughout the year. DPH collects an additional five samples from Avalon on Santa Catalina Island beginning in April through October. The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (SD) collects ocean water samples at selected sites on the mainland, once each week throughout the year. The Beach Cities of Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes (BC) jointly collect water samples within their cities, once a week throughout the year. DPH, SD, and BC also resample sites that have exceeded State Standards for bacteria in ocean water. The City of Los Angeles, Environmental Monitoring Division, LA Sanitation (HYP) collects water samples from various sites, one to five times per week, all year round. LA City also collects samples at some DPH sites as required by their State NPDES permit.

The public is notified when a site has exceeded State Standards for bacteria in ocean water on this website, by telephone hotline, and by signs posted at the impacted beaches.

Use the map below to obtain the current water quality status of your favorite beach location. Use your mouse wheel to zoom into a particular location. Click on the marker to identify the sampling location. This map is updated as conditions change.

Hop aboard the Marina del Rey WaterBus - a scenic way to get around the Marina!

The WaterBus operates 6/16 – 9/4 (Fri – Sun) for $1 per person, one-way. Stops include Burton Chace Park, Fisherman’s Village, Marina “Mother’s” Beach and more.



For more info, Click Here

Mackenzie Eisenhour will be signing mhis book, 1000 Skateboards at Rip City Skates in Santa Monica - Sunday June 25 from 1-4PM. Come through and buy a copy, get your existing copy signed, and meet the author at one of the most legendary skateshops on the planet.

A must-have for diehard fans and the perfect introduction for anyone just getting into skateboard culture, 1000 Skateboards is the definitive compilation that profiles 1,000 boards from old-school classics to famed iconic boards as well as the latest innovations hitting the streets. Covering over seventy years of brands and designers, this is the skateboard bible to inspire both the experienced as well as a rising generation of new thrashers.



Broken down into categories based on deck shape and neck size as well as individual brands, uses, and skill levels, the book profiles the full range of board types: old-school, short boards, longboards, cruisers, street, freestyle, slalom, park, vert, pool, off-road, and more. Every type of board is included, from well-known brands to the obscure: Alien Workshop, Almost, Antihero, Baker, Birdhouse, Blind, Chocolate, DGK, Element, Enjoi, Flip, Girl, Globe, Habitat, Krooked, Plan B, Powell Peralta, Primitive, Punked, Real, Santa Cruz, Sector 9, Supreme, Toy Machine, Zero, and Zoo York—to name just a few.

Avaliable at H&M, the Pismo Beach, LA County T-Shirts.

Their designer got a few things wrong, as Pismo Beach is in San Luis Obispo county, not Los Angeles county.

Los Angeles county is 4,751 sq mi not 80.35

33 46' 6" n 118 11' 44" w points to a building on West Ocean Blvd in Long Beach, California not West/East Ocean Blvd and certainly not in Pismo Beach. Long Beach is at least located in Los Angeles county and actually is 80.35 sq mi

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"A peaceful day at the beach turned violent on Thursday, June 8, 2023, when, according to witnesses, a group of men who may have been under the influence instigated a brawl, leading to arrests and charges of assault with a deadly weapon. The incident occurred at Santa Monica Beach and prompted a swift response from local law enforcement.

According to the victims, who were enjoying the day with friends, a group of men approached them and began harassing them. The situation quickly escalated into a physical altercation involving multiple individuals. Shockingly, the aggressors resorted to wielding metal poles, which were umbrella spikes, to strike the victim.

Thankfully, the Santa Monica Police Department received timely reports of the brawl and swiftly dispatched officers to the scene. Upon arrival, they intervened to restore order and apprehended two of the individuals responsible for the assault. Authorities have stated that these individuals will be charged with assault with a deadly weapon"

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

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