This year marks the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Surfing Championships, an event that first emerged from the moderate and reliable waves of Huntington Beach, Calif., in 1958. A pastime that deftly distills the essence of beach life, the official sport of California as of August and now an Olympic sport, surfing is said to have arrived on the Orange County coast in the 1920s, barely a decade after the city’s incorporation.
During a recent visit to Huntington Beach, I didn’t surf. At the tail end of summer, with school having started in much of the country, the mass of seasonal visitors was mostly absent—my favorite scenario in which to explore a new locale. The vibe is a relaxed beach energy combined with modern, upscale experiences.
It’s thrilling to hear people talk about the transformation Huntington Beach has seen over the past decade or so, especially since the city is barely 100 years old. Gorgeous, unique resorts look out onto the green-azure water.
Touring the canals on an electric Duffy boat with pro surfer Rocky McKinnon at the wheel offered a glimpse into relaxed living here, while learning about some of the programs McKinnon has and is planning to implement in the local community. What sort of programs? An example: McKinnon is one of the few people capable of maneuvering a super-giant longboard, so he’s created his own custom boards with a built-in seat to accommodate people with special needs for “adaptive” surfing. Put that all together for a moment: McKinnon buckles a guest onto his chair-enabled surfboard and catches some waves. I immediately wonder what happens when the board flips, to which McKinnon reassures me that that’s not a problem.
The obvious extension of the above is that McKinnon can take practically anyone into the water for some successful surfing fun—that includes running group surfing lessons. How about surfing a four-person-capacity, 1,000-pound Hawaiian outrigger canoe? McKinnon’s Bold As Love outrigger canoe program, launched earlier this year, is the first in Huntington Beach. During our quiet electric boat ride, McKinnon also casually mentions plans to pilot the outrigger the 26 nautical miles from Huntington Beach to Catalina Island. Whatever…he’s a super-chill, Pacific Neptune. To learn more, reach out to him at www.mckinnonsurfboards.com.
SIDEBAR
While you’re here…
The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel is completing a US$140 million expansion that includes the all-suites Huntington Tower, spa, pool deck, restaurant, event lawn and more. Director of Sales Kamran Enayat says the sweet spot for events is around 300 attendees.
The Holy Smoke unveiled: This supremely smoky, salty treat at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa’s Watertables restaurant is a heavy cocktail with a mesmerizing presentation. Their Tap Water 2.0 drink is lighter and more sippable, but both go well with a bacon jam-smeared filet.
Part of the multiuse Pacific City development, the hip and modern Paséa Hotel & Spa opened in 2016 with nearly 35,000 square feet of meeting space, 250 guest rooms and an original aesthetic, from custom scents throughout the property to dimensional flip flop art.
The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa, built in 2003, completed a renovation of its 517 guest rooms and suites in June. There, groups will find a 20,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom—the largest ocean-view ballroom in Southern California—and more than 110,000 total square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space.
