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The 1938 Championships

More than 50,000 spectators lined the coast to watch over 100 competitors paddle and ride waves beside the iconic Rainbow Pier and the Pike amusement zone. This wasn't just a contest -- it was a defining moment in California's surf history. 
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National Stage on Long Beach Shores

Organized by the Long Beach Surfing Club, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the Long Beach Amusement League, the 1938 championships brought together elite watermen and women from across Southern California. Among them were pioneers of the sport:

  • Mary Ann Hawkins, champion swimmer and Hollywood stunt performer, who won the Women's Paddleboard Division
  • Preston "Pete" Peterson, Santa Monica lifeguard and multiple-time surf champion, who claimed the Men's title

Weeks later, the rescheduled surfing competition drew another 40,000 spectators, cementing Long Beach as a centerpiece of early surf culture. 

A Forgotten Surf City

When Long Beach was "Queen of the Beaches"

Today, Long Beach is rarely associated with surfing -- but in the early 20th century, it was one of the West Coast's premier wave-riding destinations.

Six-foot swells rolled toward the shore. Surfboards were built locally. Lifeguards and athletes pioneered techniques that mirrored Hawaiian traditions. 

The installation of the breakwaters during World War II would eventually calm these waves, reshaping the coastline and erasing a once-thriving surf scene from public memory. 

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Historic Recognition

A Recognized Piece of California History

In April 2024, the State of California officially designated the site of the 1938 championships as a California Point of Historical Interest, recognizing its importance in the evolution of surfing in the United States. 

This designation affirms:

  • The site's role as one of the earliest national surf competitions
  • Its cultural and recreational significance
  • Its place in connecting generations of California surf heritage

Local leaders and the Marine Advisory Committee have since advocated for public recognition, including interpretive signage and community engagement, to ensure the story is preserved. 

Then & Now

A Coastline Transformed

The historic contest site spans approximately 28.5 acres of what was once an active surf shoreline -- today reshaped by development and coastal engineering. 

Where waves once broke beside amusement rides and piers, the modern waterfront tells only part of the story. Beneath it lies a forgotten chapter of innovation, competition, and coastal identity. 

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Help Preserve Long Beach's Surf Legacy

This site is more than a memory -- it's a landmark of California's coastal heritage. Ongoing efforts aim to commemorate the location through public education, signage, and community awareness.

Support preservation initiatives. Share the story. Help ensure future generations understand where modern surf culture took root. 

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