A surfer grabs a wave on a recent overcast morning at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. The Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse sits ...

A heated localism dispute at Santa Cruz’s Steamer Lane escalated from water to land, ending with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Sandro Santiago restraining another surfer and compelling an apology.

There’s a quote attributed to the late Robin Williams, which goes something like this: “Never pick a fight with an ugly person, they’ve got nothing to lose.” Perhaps that’s not totally applicable here ...

A platoon of pelicans’ wings northward past Lighthouse Point in Santa Cruz this week as a surfer rides a wave at Steamer Lane. The California brown pelican’s year-round range extends along the Pacific ...

A recent sunset colors the sky above the Monterey County hills in pastel colors as surfers in the lineup at Steamer Lane look to get a last ride ahead of the gathering darkness.