Best Local Athlete (Non-Derby)
Nat Young
- Nat Young is a 27-year-old Santa Cruz surfing icon with a worldwide audience of 143,000 Instagram followers.
- When he’s back home in Santa Cruz, Young surfs every day—sometimes two or three times a day. When conditions aren’t good, he’s at the gym training.
- Young has always been an athlete. He grew up playing soccer, baseball, golf, and basketball, and competed on Santa Cruz’s junior lifeguard team.
- After he stood up on a boogie board at age 5 while on a trip to Mexico, he started surfing Cowells on a pink board. By 6, he graduated to Steamer Lane breaks, and has since gone up against some of the surfing greats, including Kelly Slater.
- He surfs goofy-footed, with his right foot forward—the minority stance in the surfing world. GEORGIA JOHNSON
Best Farmers Market
Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Market at Cabrillo College
- Features around 65 specialty vendors, most of whom are certified organic or use sustainable farming methods, offering pastured grass-fed meats and poultry, locally produced olive oil, fresh pasta and gourmet sauces, bacon, and tons of local produce.
- At the market, you can find unique items that are not commercially grown anymore, like kumquats and rutabagas.
- The only farmers market in Santa Cruz County operated by the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets—the oldest and largest farmers market organization on the Central Coast of California.
- Presents an opportunity for local farmers try growing different items, such as pluots (a cross between a plum and an apricot), bacon avocados and the local Watsonville “Howard” apples.
- There is beekeeper vendor a whose family has been keeping bees for over 200 years. GJ
Best Place to Walk/Jog/Hike
West Cliff Drive
- Hovering about 20 feet above the water, West Cliff Drive hosts hundreds of runners, bikers and dog walkers daily.
- West Cliff Drive stretches from Natural Bridges to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the Municipal Wharf, which is the longest wharf on the West Coast.
- This area is where surfing was first brought to North America, introduced by three Hawaiian princes in 1885.
- The West Cliff bluffs are actually eroding away. As the sea level rises and storms batter West Cliff each winter, it’s unclear how long Santa Cruz’s favorite walk will be around.
- The annual Open Streets event draws hundreds to bike, play and dance with a great view on a zoned-off, no-traffic West Cliff Drive. GJ
Beach
Seabright Beach
East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
RUNNERS-UP Capitola Beach, Twin Lakes Beach
Bike Ride
West Cliff Drive
RUNNERS-UP Nisene Marks, Wilder Ranch
Boardwalk Ride
Giant Dipper
400 Beach St., Santa Cruz, 423-5590, beachboardwalk.com
RUNNERS-UP Carousel, Fireball
Derby Girl
Ima Hotmess
RUNNERS-UP Hermione Danger, Flower Power
Dog Park
Frederick Street
168 Frederick St., Santa Cruz
RUNNERS-UP Aptos Polo Grounds, Its Beach
Farmers Market
Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Market at Cabrillo College
6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 728-5060
RUNNERS-UP Downtown, Live Oak
Local Athlete (non-Derby)
Nat Young
RUNNERS-UP Carina Reid, Katie Zaferes, Luke Rockhold
Local Hero
Andy Guy
RUNNERS-UP Curtis Reliford, Terry Hollenbeck
Neighborhood
Seabright
RUNNERS-UP Live Oak, Westside
Nonprofit Group
Romero Institute
210 High St. 2nd floor, Santa Cruz, 459-6135, romeroinstitute.org
RUNNERS-UP Dientes Community Dental Care, Grey Bears
Place of Worship
Twin Lakes Church
2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos, 465-3300, tlc.org
RUNNERS-UP Inner Light Ministries, Temple Beth El
Place to Walk/Jog/Hike
West Cliff Drive
RUNNERS-UP East Cliff Drive, Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Retreat Center
Land of Medicine Buddha
5800 Prescott Rd., Soquel, 462-8383, landofmedicinebuddha.org
RUNNERS-UP 1440 Multiversity, Mount Madonna Institute
Wedding Venue
Hollins House
20 Clubhouse Rd., Santa Cruz, 459-9177, thehollinshouse.com
Seascape Beach Resort
1 Seascape Resort Drive, Aptos, 688-6800, seascaperesort.com
RUNNERS-UP Chaminade Resort & Spa, Shadowbrook
