Surf City USA is attempting to break not one, but two Guinness World Records on June 20, 2015. The quest to set new global records for both “World’s Largest Surfboard” and “Most People Riding a Surfboard at Once” is anticipated to be witnessed by a crowd of thousands in Huntington Beach, CA, and by one official Guinness World Records judge.
Who: More than 60 professional surfers, former US Open of Surfing winners, Surfing Walk and Surfers’ Hall of Fame inductees, celebrities, and local heroes
What: A custom-built 42-foot long surfboard to ride one epic wave at the famed Huntington Beach Pier in an attempt to set new global records for both “World’s Largest Surfboard” and “Most People Riding a Surfboard at Once”
When: Saturday, June 20, 2015; 9AM 12PM
Where: Huntington Beach Pier, South side, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
URL: Visit http://www.BigBoardHB.com for ongoing updates.
“It’s appropriate that the world’s largest surfboard and the record for most people surfing on that board would reside here in Surf City USA,” said Peter “PT” Townend, first World Surfing Champion and Huntington Beach resident. “With the International Surfing Museum, the Surfing Walk of Fame and the Surfer’s Hall of Fame, along with the world’s biggest spectator surf contest, the US Open of Surfing, Huntington Beach is where surf culture happens.”
Orange County based international retailer Hurley is the title sponsor for the Huntington Beach attempt, in partnership with Visit Huntington Beach and the City of Huntington Beach. Brett Simpson, one of Hurley’s top riders, will be involved in the attempt.
Huntington Beach’s record-breaking board is 42’ 1/4” long, 11’ 1” wide and 16” thick. The design is based on Australian surfboard shaper Nev Hyman’s schematics, while Orange County boat builder Westerly Marine and Rhode Island’s mouldCAM along with local surf industry shapers are collaborating to craft the massive board. Its design will mimic one of the famous short boards ridden by Brett Simpson, Hurley sponsored professional surfer and Huntington Beach native.
Following the record-breaking event, the surfboard will be on display as an iconic cultural tribute to one of California’s most distinctive and beloved outdoor sports at the International Surfing Museum in Downtown Huntington Beach, allowing the board to become an attraction in itself.
Visit Huntington Beach will select three surfers from the general public to ride the “Big Board” on June 20 with its “Show Us Your Most Epic Wave” competition. Surfers are invited to submit creative videos and photos of their moment of surfing glory via Instagram using #EpicWaveHB. Details have been posted on the Visit Huntington Beach Instagram, @surfcityusa, and winners will be announced on Friday, June 5.
