The iconic surfing monument at West Cliff Drive near famous surfing spot Steamer’s Lane. A female counterpart is proposed for East Cliff Drive. (Nik Altenberg — Santa Cruz Local file)

SANTA CRUZ >> A group of surfers and ocean enthusiasts submitted a proposal to the County of Santa Cruz for a new female surfer statue on East Cliff Drive. A community meeting for the project will be on March 12 at Simpkins Family Swim Center.

If approved, it would be a near identical replica of the iconic surfer statue on West Cliff Drive, an 18-foot bronze man standing in front of a longboard that’s stood near Steamer’s Lane and the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum since 1992.

Its exact placement would be on East Cliff Drive at the area known as the “Dirt Farm” in Pleasure Point.

The proposal was submitted in December by Kari Lochhead, and has gained the support of renowned surfers, business owners and Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig, whose district includes the area. 

In a Feb. 23 interview with Santa Cruz Waves, Lochhead said she came up with the idea about two years ago with a group of friends when reflecting on how much they loved the male statue on West Cliff, and how much it reflected their love of the ocean. Lochhead said she asked herself, ‘what if there was a female statue, too?’

“It started with me sending a text to dozens of women asking what they think of this idea, is this something I should pursue,” Lochhead said in the interview. She said the response from her community was overwhelming in support. 

The list includes notable female waterwomen like Ashley Lloyd, of Ashley Lloyd Surfboards, Nicole Fisher, a photographer and owner of Rootstock Collective, and Alyana Zanville, Founder of Ola Chica and organizer of the annual Women on Waves surf competition. 

“One of the great things about Santa Cruz is that there’s not only men surfers out there and that’s been changing worldwide, and there have been women here surfing for a long time,” Lloyd said in the Feb. 23 interview with Santa Cruz Waves. “I think women in general are amazing so any chance you have to honor a piece of our amazingness let’s celebrate it.”

Koenig is inviting residents to participate in an online poll to share thoughts on the project, which will remain open until the Zoning Administrator hearing in April when the project will be reviewed. So far, close to 700 people have taken the poll with 78% of respondents in support of the project, Koenig reported. 

If approved, the project will be funded through private fundraising. At least $25,000 has already been committed, according to a Feb. 24 statement by Koenig, and construction of the statue would not interrupt ongoing repairs to the 38th Ave. stairs or Moran Lake walkway. 

In addition to Lochhead, the planning team includes artists Brian Curtis and Thomas Marsh, who sculpted the male statue on West Cliff, lead designer Alison Hobbs, and surfboard shaper Bob Pearson of Pearson Arrow Surfboards. 

The team is aiming for completion and installation of the statue by next spring.

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