Santa Cruz’s iconic surfer statue has long celebrated the city’s surf culture – but it tells only half the story, write two veteran Santa Cruz surfers, Kaila Pearson and Sarah Gerhardt, the first woman to surf Mavericks in 1999. From Antoinette Swan and the Hawaiian princes to generations of pioneering women who challenged barriers in the lineup, women have helped shape Santa Cruz surfing from the beginning, they argue. A companion statue honoring the women of the water would, they write, recognize women’s often-overlooked contributions and reflect the full history of our surf town. If Santa Cruz values its surfing heritage, they believe, it should make that legacy visible for future generations.
Capitola & Soquel
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Why a female surfer statue matters: Two Santa Cruz surfers share their stories
Local female surfers Kaila Pearson and Sarah Gerhardt explain why the statue project matters to the Santa Cruz County community and to them personally.
Posted inLatest News
‘He was that person you could depend on’: Victim of fatal Highway 152 crash identified as Capitola teen Carlos Angeles
Carlos Angeles, a 19-year-old graduate of Soquel High School, has been identified as one of the victims in the Watsonville car crash last weekend that killed two and critically injured two others. The identity of the other person who died, a 17-year-old girl, is not being released at this time.
Posted inHousing & Development
County home sales and inventory continue to rise as summer begins
The Santa Cruz County housing market looked typical for the beginning of summer. Home sales and inventory have risen, bringing more balance to a market often dominated by sellers. However, a new Federal Reserve chair and increasing inflation due to geopolitical instability could lead to an interest rate hike at some point this year.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County 2026 primary election results in charts: Final tally set for June 26
Find the results for all local races in Santa Cruz County’s 2026 primary election here. Lookout will continuously update this page as new results come in.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Capitola voters will elect four district representatives — and a mayor — under new system
As Capitola continues its switch to district-based elections, the city council approved the creation of four districts plus an elected mayor with a two-year term. The first districting maps are expected to be publicly shared by June 17.
Posted inLatest News
Friday evening traffic: Highway 1, 9, and SR-152 lane closures; hit and run
Friday traffic trouble spots in and around Santa Cruz County.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Weekender: ‘Lost Boys,’ Juneteenth, foodie fun
Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out in Santa Cruz County this weekend.
Posted inEvents
Best of Santa Cruz County entertainment, arts & food events this weekend, June 11-14
With the weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County with a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
See which Santa Cruz County communities backed Becerra, Steyer and Hilton
Santa Cruz County’s gubernatorial primary results revealed a clear demographic divide: Tom Steyer performed best in whiter, more college-educated communities, while Xavier Becerra drew strong support from Latino-majority areas such as Watsonville, helping propel him into the November run-off against Republican Steve Hilton.
