Renderings of what a proposed female surfer statue would look like in the Pleasure Point neighborhood of Santa Cruz. Photo: Santa Cruz County
A group of Santa Cruz surfers has put forth a proposal to add a bronze female surf statue to the Pleasure Point neighborhood of the city. The statue, which would mimic the iconic male surfer statue that currently stands across town on West Cliff Drive, would be constructed near the late Jack O’Neill’s house at the “dirt farm” in front of the surf break at 38th Avenue.
The project has already completed environmental and development reviews, is going through public hearings, and will require sign-off from the county’s zoning administrator.
The proposal has gained the support of Santa Cruz Supervisor Manu Koenig, whose district includes East Cliff Drive. He’s launched an online poll to gauge support for the project.
“Like her counterpart, she will become such a part of our daily lives here in Santa Cruz,” said Koenig. “We will drive by her, walk by her, sit by her on those curved benches. She will watch us surf, gaze at sunrises and sunsets over the Monterey Bay, and stand as a constant, quiet presence through every season and tide.”
“Together, the statues will unite Santa Cruz by framing East and West, giving each of our most iconic surf breaks – Steamer Lane and now Pleasure Point – its own dedicated landmark,” he said.
Koenig says that 78 percent of poll respondents have been in favor of the statue so far.
While the female statue would mirror the 18-foot male statue on the other side of town in size and design – a woman standing in front of a longboard – the project has a few key differences. The woman would be wearing a wetsuit to honor surf pioneer and innovator Jack O’Neill, who invented the wetsuit in Santa Cruz. It would also include three curved benches around the statue.
The iconic male surfer statue has stood on West Cliff Drive since 1992. Photo: Nick Rickert//Unsplash
Spearheaded by local surfer Kari Lochhead, the project’s planning team includes a range of surf figures in the town like Bob Pearson of Pearson Arrow Surfboards, Brian Curtis and Thomas Marsh, the sculptors behind the West Cliff male statue erected in 1992, local shaper Ashley Lloyd, and business owner and contest organizer Alyana Zanville.
“It started with me sending a text to dozens of women asking what they think of this idea, is this something I should pursue,” Lochhead told Santa Cruz Waves. “One of the great things about Santa Cruz is that there’s not only men surfers out there and that’s been changing worldwide, and there have been women here surfing for a long time. I think women in general are amazing so any chance you have to honor a piece of our amazingness let’s celebrate it.”
The project would utilize private funds. Koenig says that $25,000 has already been raised as of February 24.
The male statue on West Cliff sits with Steamer Lane as its backdrop and is famously dressed up by locals according to the season – Santa hats around Christmas and pumpkins around Halloween.
