Photo: Jereme Aubertin

Surfing New Zealand will welcome in summer with the inaugural National Surfing Day to be celebrated on the Sunday 1st December – the official first day of summer.

The celebration will take place throughout New Zealand with the country’s 145,000 surfers encouraged to hit the water at any beach they desire to mark the day.

The objective is to get out into the ocean and enjoy it the best way everyone knows how. That may be at a remote beach, with friends and family or with complete strangers. Surfers are encouraged to introduce someone new to the sport as well and show them the powerful attraction of the ocean environment and riding waves.

Photo: Jereme Aubertin

Summer is a time when the coastal waters of New Zealand are bustling with action. For most people, the longer days mean more of a chance to get out and have a surf before or after work or double up with a couple of surfs on weekend days.

For beginners wanting to give surfing a go, Surfing New Zealand accredited Surf Schools will offer discounted surf lessons on National Surfing Day. Money raised from the lessons will be donated to charity. The recipient charity will be determined by the New Zealand surfing community via a poll on the .

Surfing New Zealand’s network of boardrider clubs will use the day to gather at their local beach or clubrooms where they will run events, drive membership, conduct beach clean ups and introduce friends and family to the sport we all love.

With surfing being a highly social activity, everyone can share their own tales of how they celebrated the day by using the #nationalsurfingday hash tag and joining in on the fun through social media.

For further information on the National Surfing Day please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on or email [email protected].

So make sure you get along and join in on the fun.