Before the Long Beach breakwater was completed, the area was a center of Southern California surfing.

The Long Beach Surf Club organized the First National Surfing Championship in November 1938. It was held between the Pine Avenue Pier and the Long Beach Pike. Unfortunately, the waves failed to cooperate. It was "a good day for paddling", according to a notation in John Lind's photo album. But the trophies and publicity photos show it was, for its time, quite an ambitious event.