"California Should Be Proud of Its Truly Indigenous Pastime"

"There's no question that California has played an important role in the history of surfing. Californians help surfboards evolve from heavy, canoe-like planks to the thin chips of today. We invented the wetsuit, created a multi-billion-dollar surfing industry, and developed the modern science of wave forecasting, opening the door for big-wave riding. Some of the best surfers in the world, including Kelly Slater and Keala Kennelly, have made California home. And we surely have the edge when it comes to surfing lore, from Butch Van Artsdalen and hellraisers of Windansea to Miki Dora and the pranksters of Malibu.
"But we didn't invent it."

Dennis Romero in the Los Angeles Times argues that "[s]kateboarding, not surfing, should be California's official state sport."