Nick Gabaldón Day brings the joy of surfing to Angelenos of color

In the 1940s when almost every inch of beach was hostile to Black Angelenos, Santa Monica native Nick Gabaldón defied the odds to become California’s first documented surfer of Black and Mexican American descent.

Using a combination of bravery, grit, and a 13-foot rescue surfboard borrowed from a lifeguard, Gabaldón quickly went from a self-taught kook to a respected presence in an essentially all white lineup. Yet despite his trailblazing accomplishments, 71 years after his death, there remain comparatively few surfers of color in Los Angeles.