A group of local surfers who grew up in and helped shape Santa Cruz surf culture founded the Santa Cruz Board Riders Club: Shane Skelton, Brian Kilpatrick, Anthony Ruffo, Darryl “Flea” Virostko, John Slebir, and Jon Sisk. They share a deep connection to these breaks and the generations who first surfed them, and they started the club with two goals: preserve Santa Cruz’s surf history and invest in the next generation of local surfers.

The club’s purpose is to keep Santa Cruz surfing rooted in the community that built it. We mentor local youth, pass down the knowledge, respect, and etiquette that come from growing up in these waters, and make sure the kids who live here have a real path into the sport. Santa Cruz is one of surfing's birthplaces on the mainland, and we’re committed to keeping that legacy alive and in local hands.