Surf Justice
Collective
Transforming California's surf culture and coastal access—together.
A statewide alliance working to dismantle barriers to coastal access, uplift BIPOC and LGBTQ+ surfers, and reimagine surfing through joy, representation, and justice. Un Mar de Colores is proud to be a founding member and regional lead for Southern California.
Scale
State of California
Focus Areas
Access, safety, representation, anti-racism
Partners
Surf-equity orgs & Tribal + community collaborators
UMDC Leadership
Policy implementation, workshops, access tracking
Surfing Should Feel Like Home for Everyone
California's coastline is iconic—yet access to it remains inequitable. BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrant, low-income, and Indigenous communities continue to face cultural, economic, and systemic barriers to surfing and coastal recreation. The Surf Justice Collective addresses these injustices directly.
Expanding equitable coastal access
Transforming outdated permitting systems
Supporting inclusive surf programs statewide
Building safer, more joyful surf lineups
Shifting surf culture through representation and community
Surfing becomes not just a sport, but a pathway to healing, belonging, and environmental connection.
How Un Mar de Colores Shows Up in the Collective
Regional Leadership: Southern California
Leading community, Tribal, and youth-focused implementation in San Diego and surrounding regions.
Policy Implementation & Advocacy
Supporting statewide legislation and Coastal Act guidance, including AB 2939 and AB 1150.
Access Incident Tracking
Co-developing a statewide system to report discrimination, harassment, and access barriers for surf programs.
Training & Capacity Building
Delivering regional workshops with Tribal partners, community groups, and nonprofits on access rights, cultural protocols, and coastal permitting.
Collective Work Across California
Collaborative advocacy to make coastal access equitable statewide — from permitting to funding.
Tracking barriers, incidents, and the lived experiences of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ surfers.
Elevating diverse voices through campaigns, storytelling, and public education.
Strengthening the work of surf-equity nonprofits across California.
Statewide Wins
Secured equitable surf permitting models adopted in key counties
Restored funding for coastal access programs statewide
Developed statewide access incident reporting tools
Supported equity-focused statewide beach and surf policies
Strengthened partnerships among BIPOC surf organizations
Culture Is Changing—And Youth Are Leading It
The Surf Justice Collective helps young surfers of color see themselves in the water, on the coastline, and in the environmental movement. Through joy, confidence, representation, and community, we're redefining who belongs in surf culture.
It was the first time I looked around and felt like the lineup was built for me.
Members & Partners
Salted Roots (formerly Brown Girl Surf)
Collective Lead
Un Mar de Colores
Southern CA Regional Lead
Outdoor Outreach
Member
Black Surf Santa Cruz
Member
City Surf Project
Member
Queer Surf
Member
Color the Water
Member
Black Surfers + statewide partners
Member
The Surf Justice Collective continues to grow. Interested in joining? Visit surfjusticecollective.org
Join the Movement for Surf Equity
Whether you're an organization, advocate, or community member—there's a place for you in this work.