THRILLING WATER SPORTS & EVENTS
Surf the North Coast in Eureka
Located on California’s North Coast, Eureka gets excellent waves where the Pacific Ocean and Humboldt Bay meet as well as other rugged locations around the Samoa peninsula and the coastline. The area is known for its huge waves in the winter, but the best months for surfing are generally September through November. The wind is low, sunny days are the norm and the beaches are uncrowded.
Championship Surfing and Beach Volleyball in Huntington Beach
The International Surfing Association World Surfing Games will return to Huntington Beach (Sept. 17-24) for the first time since 2006. It will be the seventh major ISA event held in the city after it hosted three editions of the Games in 1984, 1996 and 2006, as well as the ISA World Juniors in 2005, 2018 and 2019. The city will also host the Association of Volleyball Professionals Huntington Beach Open from Nov. 12-13 as one of the last stops of the 2022 season. Watch for free from the beach right next to the iconic Huntington Beach Pier. Since 2000, Huntington Beach has hosted more AVP events than any other location, and 2022 will be the city’s 21st straight year hosting a professional beach volleyball tournament.
The Big Chill Out Surf Competition
On Sept. 17, the Pedro Point Surf Club will host its annual Bill Chill Out Surf Competition Longboard Classic at Linda Mar State Beach in Pacifica. The popular event attracts hundreds of surfers and spectators who gather at the beach for a fun-filled day of good food, music and activities. The event is followed by an evening banquet that recognizes club members and local surfboard shapers.
World Waveski Surfing Titles
The World Waveski Surfing Titles is coming to Ventura Nov. 7-13, marking the first of its return since the event was held in Hawaii in 1986. The event is expected to attract 100 competitors to the U.S., including the waveski hotbeds of Australia, South Africa, France, Spain, Portugal and Peru who will descend on California Street’s Surfers Point.
CALIFORNIA’S SPORTS STADIUMS
University of California Memorial Stadium
California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley is the home of the California Golden Bears football team. Designed by John Galen Howard, Memorial Stadium is dedicated to students who lost their lives in World War I. Since it opened in the fall of 1923, Memorial Stadium has generated scores of unforgettable memories for generations of Golden Bears. The regular season kicks off Sept. 3 vs. UC Davis and ends Friday, Nov. 25 vs. UCLA. All seven home games will be held at FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium.
Los Angeles: The Sports Capital of the World
Los Angeles is home to 12 professional teams across several major sports including football, basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer. With iconic teams such as the Rams, Lakers, Dodgers, Clippers, Kings, Galaxy and more, Los Angeles is a global epicenter of sports and entertainment. The city’s legendary teams have venues to match with spectacular arenas including Dodger Stadium, Crypto.com Arena, Banc of California Stadium and the Super Bowl LVI host SoFi Stadium, deemed one of the world’s most technologically advanced stadiums.
San Francisco’s Chase Center
Chase Center, the new state-of-the-art sports and entertainment arena in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood, will host the 2022 League of Legends World Championship Finals on Nov. 6. The continental tour will make stops in Mexico City, New York City and Toronto before arriving in San Francisco, marking the first-time world championship that will be hosted in North America since 2016.
New Snapdragon Stadium at San Diego State University
This September, the San Diego State University Mission Valley campus will open Snapdragon Stadium. The all-new 35,000-seat facility will serve as the home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team, San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League and the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby. The year-round entertainment destination will also host over 300 projected events and serve as a community hub throughout San Diego.
Versatility at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center
Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center is a state-of-the-art sports facility that hosts soccer, lacrosse and televised events. It also serves as a full-service venue for upcoming events like Boots and Brews, a party-inspired country music festival on Sept. 10, and dog agility shows such as the Gavilan Kennel Club Dog Show & Trial (Oct. 7-9). With a robust calendar of youth sports events, the center was selected as the first South Bay area recipient of a SaveStation Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), donated by the nonprofit Kyle J. Taylor Foundation. This device boosts MHOSC’s safety response capabilities, making it a top choice for athletics and special events.
Petco Park: America’s #1 Ballpark
Located near the Historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego, Petco Park is home to the city’s Major League Baseball team, the San Diego Padres. With year-round good weather, visitors can enjoy a great baseball experience at the #1 ballpark in America. San Diego is a favorite destination for sports travelers who follow their favorite teams or want to experience a game in a new venue. Beyond a baseball game, a trip to Petco Park is a complete entertainment experience for the entire family.
LET’S GOAL!
Kick It with The Oakland Roots Soccer Team
Formed in 2018 by a group of Oakland natives, the Oakland Roots Sports Club is an American professional soccer team based at Oakland’s Laney College. The team captures the magic of the city and the power of sport as a force for social good with games through October. The fun continues as the city proudly welcomes Oakland Soul, a USL W League team that kicks off in 2023. Oakland Soul is a purpose-driven women’s soccer team that will be an elite pathway to pro soccer, providing a high-quality training environment while protecting and empowering players so they are strong and healthy both physically and mentally.
Monterey County Welcomes a New Soccer Team
With great excitement from residents and visitors alike, Monterey County welcomes Monterey Bay Football Club, the area’s first professional soccer team in two decades. The team’s name, Monterey Bay Union, comes from the moniker for Monterey Bay, “the greatest union of land and sea.” Fans can enjoy home games at the newly renovated Cardinale Stadium, sip local brews at the Alvarado Street Brewery beer garden and take in the majestic views of the Fort Ord Dunes State Park less than a mile away from the stadium.
ENDURANCE MARATHONS FOR ALL AGES
New IRONMAN 70.3 Morro Bay Triathlon
The seaside city of Morro Bay and the central California coastline will play host to the newest IRONMAN® 70.3® triathlon on May 20, 2023. But for those looking to jump-start their endurance sooner on November 6, Morro Bay Triathlon will take place at the city’s waterfront beginning with a harbor swim, or if preferred, a kayak or SUP paddle. This unique event also has Olympic and sprint courses that take participants on a bike ride along beautiful Estero Bay, and ends with a run on the beach boardwalk, over the sand dunes and along the beach, ending at Morro Rock.
The World’s Oldest 100-Mile Race
The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run is the world's oldest 100-mile trail race. The run starts in Olympic Valley, near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and winds through the canyons of the American River and ends 100.2 miles later in Auburn. An annual lottery is held, with applicants from around the world, hoping to gain a coveted entrance ticket. This ultimate test of endurance highlights the rugged beauty of Placer County. Held annually on the last full weekend in June, the next run will be held June 24-25, 2023.
Oceanside Hosts Elite Sporting Events Year-Round
Oceanside is home to a year-round calendar of impressive athletic events that attract both participants and spectators. Labor Day Pier Swim (Sept. 5) is a nearly 100-year-old tradition that takes swimmers around the iconic pier. The Super Girl Surf Pro (September 16-18) attracts worldwide attention as the world's largest professional female surfing event. Bike the Coast (Nov. 5) caters to cyclists of all levels with varying distances from seven to 100 miles. Ironman 70.3 Oceanside (April 1, 2023) is a highlight for triathletes. The city is also the starting location for Race Across America (June 2023), an annual 3000-mile transcontinental bicycle race from the west to the east coast. Also coming next year with the completion of Frontwave Arena, Oceanside will be home to the San Diego Sockers, one of the country’s most successful indoor soccer franchises
Scenic Marathons and Bike Races
Through Sonoma County
This fall, the Cloverdale Kiwanis Vineyard Races (Oct. 23) weaves through beautiful Alexander Valley in Sonoma County on a course offering a mixture of flats and gently rolling hills. Run among vineyards resplendent in fall colors with views of the Russian River Valley. A ride that's on every rider's bucket list, Levi’s GranFondo (April 22, 2023) boasts one of the biggest and best routes in North America. It rivals some of the toughest stages of the world's most difficult road races.