Classic Orange County Surfing Defined a Generation and a Destination

Southern California summers usually conjure up thoughts of surfing, shimmering beach sunsets and a certain sense of abandon represented by the natural beauty of the ocean and what it has come to represent in Orange County. The OC beach experience and history evokes sensations that make you feel as though you're “Walking on Sunshine.”

Located in the heart of SoCal, Orange County, California, captures the essence of the surf movement that is now a part of fashion, art, and lifestyle more than any other place on the planet. Beginning in the 60's, Orange County was at the epicenter of a cultural shift, creating a place where the endless summer seemed to never end.

OC shaped a generation by popularizing the surfing movement in the mainland, U.S. Today, Orange County's Huntington Beach is internationally recognized as Surf City USA™.

Legendary surfers grew up here and became cutting-edge entrepreneurs that created a trend-driven multi-million dollar surfwear/actionwear industry.

From the early days of Hang Ten, OP, Hobie Cat, to the current surfwear titans of Hurley, PacSun, Quiksilver, Oakley etc. most all of today's surfwear retailers have their roots in Orange County.

The original "electric" surf guitar sound was created by Orange County's Dick Dale.  Thanks to another 'local', Leo Fender the previously impossible amplification and that unique guitar sound was an overnight success. This became the soundtrack of the surf movement and a pop culture phenomenon.

Blending it all together was The Endless Summer surf movie and iconic poster. The poster's over-saturated sunset scene captured the minds and souls of the day's youth by bringing them to place where warm SoCal summer sunsets invited them into this casual lifestyle. The vibrant poster art of John Van Hamersveld jump-started a revolution in color and expression defining this generation for years to come.