Industries:
Sports
THE SCENE
When you’re surrounded by such an incredible natural environment, it’s inevitable that new industries will crop up to find new ways of exploring and experiencing the great outdoors. Santa Cruz is known for our role as the epicenter of innovation in the world of surfing, skateboarding, and mountain biking. Today there’s even more interest in building creative, new products to reinvent the extreme-sports realm.
The sports industry, like our community, is proud of its diversity in the scale and variety of companies who started here or have come to
find their home in Santa Cruz. The field’s stacked with major internationally-recognized surf, skate, and mountain bike companies. We’re also welcoming new niche companies revolutionizing the traditional equipment used for these sports, from electric bicycles and one wheeled skateboards, to handcrafted bicycle frames and more. Our inspiring environment and culture presents endless opportunities for the exploration of future products.
The Roots
There’s no question that Santa Cruz is the home of surf innovation. Santa Cruz’s own world-famous O’Neill family invented the wetsuit and leash cord. That pioneering spirit can be found on dry land as well. NHS Inc., the oldest continuously-running skateboarding company in the world, with its internationally known Santa Cruz logo, was founded here and continues to enjoy success.
Founded in 1993, Santa Cruz Bicycles grew off of a relationship to NHS Inc. Julianna launched in 1999 as a full women’s line within the Santa Cruz Bicycles company and led the way for women to get into mountain biking. Today, mountain biking continues to be a strong industry in Santa Cruz with Ibis Cycles moving here in 2009 and several custom frame builders opening up shop in the 2000s. We’ve seen a new trend of electric-powered vehicles with OneWheel and Blix Bikes amongst others setting up shop here.
15
Bike shops and manufacturers
20+
Surf Shops, Shapers, Suppliers
1973
NHS Inc. was founded
Tourism
Each year over 1 million tourists visit Santa Cruz to take in the beaches, visit our world famous boardwalk, explore the mountains, and kick back at the numerous breweries and restaurants unique to our Central Coast city.
Artisanal
Craft is culture in Santa Cruz. You don't have to go far to find a local bakery, charcuterie, brewery, distillery, winery, ice creamery, and meet other fine food producers and connoisseurs who are all dedicated to locally sourced, high-quality products.