It's official! California has just become the gnarliest state in the union.

Thanks to the help of the Surfrider Foundation, California's state assembly voted Monday to officially recognize June 20 as International Surfing Day.

The commemorative day, now in its eighth year, was established by Surfrider to celebrate the sport itself, surfing lifestyle and the effort to keep oceans clean and beautiful.

Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) introduced the resolution to the State Assembly. In a statement celebrating the assembly's official recognition of the holiday, he recalled that surfing at a young age helped him realize that in the ocean, no one's more or less important than anyone else.

“At that time in my life is when I began to see the beach and our beautiful coastline as the great equalizer in the community," said Assemblymember Williams. "We can all enjoy it. That helped sure up my passion to fight to protect that equalizer."

The House Resolution [PDF] contains some interesting facts about the importance of surfing (and a good wave) to the Golden state:

  • California's coastline spans 1,100 miles
  • California has the largest ocean economy in the nation, providing 408,000 jobs in a42.9 billion industry
  • California's beaches generate 1.15 trillion in economic activity annually
  • The surf industry, which generated 6.24 billion in U.S. retail sales in 2010, is based almost exclusively in California

Oh, and there's one more thing: California has some of the best surfing spots in the world! Check out our top picks for the best surfing spots throughout the Golden State, and suggest your own favorite places in the comments below -- unless you want to keep your little alcove a secret.

And just in case you need help getting time off from work to celebrate the holiday this Wednesday, Surfrider CEO Jim Moriarty penned a surfing sick note for you to give to your boss.

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  • Ocean Beach, San Francisco County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/ocean-beach-central-california_4127/" target="_hplink">Ocean Beach, San Francisco</a>. Photo of Ocean Beach by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/igb/6319728281/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: igb</a>.

  • Bolinas, Marin County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/North_America/USA/California/SF_Marin/bolinas/" target="_hplink">Bolinas, Marin</a>. Photo of Bolinas by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37821733@N05/3871735191/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Hambear</a>

  • Maverick's, San Mateo County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/mavericks-central-california_4152/" target="_hplink">Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County</a>. Photo of the Mavericks surf competition by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/2188267971/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: jurvetson</a>

  • Pacifica, San Mateo County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/pacifica-lindamar-central-california_5013/" target="_hplink">Pacifica, San Mateo</a>. Photo of Pacifica by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leemcarthur/413909225/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: leechantmcarthur</a>

  • Carmel Beach, Monterey County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/North_America/USA/California/Monterey/carmel/" target="_hplink">Carmel Beach, Monterey County</a>.

  • Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/morro-bay-central-california_4193/" target="_hplink">Morro Bay</a>. Photo of Morro Bay by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/314450393/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: mikebaird</a> <em><strong>CORRECTION</strong>: A previous version of this slide named the wrong county that Morro Bay was located in. We regret the error. </em>

  • Steamer's Lane, Santa Cruz County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/steamers-lane-santa-cruz" target="_hplink">Steamer's Lane, Santa Cruz</a>.

  • Jalama Beach, Santa Barbara County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/jalama-southern-california_5038/travel/" target="_hplink">Jalama Beach in Santa Barbara county</a>.

  • El Capitan Beach, Santa Barbara County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=601" target="_hplink">El Capitan beach in Santa Barbara county</a>.

  • Little Rincon, Ventura County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.surfshot.com/surf-reports/little-rincon-131/" target="_hplink">Little Rincon in Ventura County</a>.

  • California 'C' St., Ventura County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/c-street-southern-california_4200/" target="_hplink">California Street, Ventura County</a>.

  • Zuma In Malibu, Los Angeles County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/zuma-southern-california_4949/" target="_hplink">Zuma Beach in Malibu</a>. Photo of Zuma Beach by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rappensuncle/145087414/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: rappensuncle</a>

  • Pt. Dume Beach in Malibu, Los Angeles County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/point-dume-southern-california_4947/" target="_hplink">Point Dume in Malibu</a>.

  • County Line, Los Angeles County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.beachcalifornia.com/county-line-beach-ventura.html" target="_hplink">County Line, Los Angeles</a>.

  • San Onofre Surf Beach, Orange County

    How to get to <a href="http://socalforecast.blogspot.com/2008/03/surf-break-maps-blackies-newport-beach.html" target="_hplink">San Onofre Surf Beach</a>, San Clemente. Photo of San Onofre Surf Beach by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitizedchaos/5105730516/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: digitizedchaos</a>

  • Cottons Point, Orange County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.listphile.com/Open_Surf_Atlas/Cottons_Point" target="_hplink">Cottons Point, San Clemente</a>.

  • Blacks Beach, Orange County

    How to get to <a href="http://solspot.com/weather/north-pacific/southern-california/north-orange-county/newport-pier-blackies" target="_hplink">Blacks Beach, Newport Beach</a>.

  • River Jetties, Orange County

    How to get to <a href="http://solspot.com/weather/north-pacific/southern-california/north-orange-county/santa-ana-river-mouth/" target="_hplink">River Jetties</a>.

  • Salt Creek, Orange County

    How to get to <a href="http://solspot.com/content/surf-break-maps/adam-wright/the-point-salt-creek-dana-point-orange-california" target="_hplink">Salt Creek, Dana Point</a>. Photo of Salt Creek by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kjunstorm/4377496954/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Kjunstorm</a>

  • Cardiff-By-The-Sea, San Diego County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.sandiego.org/article_set/Visitors/5/33" target="_hplink">Cardiff-by-the-Sea, San Diego</a>. Photo of Cardiff-by-the-Sea by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bnsurf/2199923179/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Bengt E Nyman</a>

  • Oceanside Pier, San Diego County

    How to get to <a href="http://www.spitcast.com/surf-report/spot/oceanside-pier-oceanside-ca/" target="_hplink">Oceanside Pier, San Diego</a>. Photo of Oceanside by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocad123/2515730980/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: ocad123</a>