Surfers know the ocean’s tendencies and temperaments better than anyone and should be part of the city’s climate resilience planning process, argue Santa Cruz surfing legends Nat Young, Peter Mel and Anthony Ruffo, along with neighborhood organizer Deborah Maddock Elston. Instead, they are being left out – as are any mention of west swells and bomb cyclones. Here, they push to know why and say the city is not doing enough to plan for a climate-resilient future for West Cliff Drive, the Beach Flats and Santa Cruz surf culture.

