Some weekends are worth clearing the calendar for. On October 23 and 24, Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) is hosting its 19th Annual Skate the Coast in Los Angeles. It is a 15-mile skate, bike and roll along the Pacific, and it raises money for a cause that has always made sense to those of us who grew up around board culture.
We love anything that gets people outside, moving and looking out for each other. This event does all three.
What Is Skate the Coast?
Skate the Coast is B4BC's flagship fundraising ride.
Riders cruise the iconic Southern California Strand from the Santa Monica Pier to Dive N Surf in Redondo Beach, with the ocean alongside them most of the way. B4BC describes it as a mellow cruise, and that is the point. This is not a race. It is a collective push for prevention.
Anyone on wheels is welcome, whether that means skateboards, inline skates, roller skates, bikes or something in between. All ages and abilities are invited.
If 15 miles sounds like a lot, there is a shorter drop-in option at Dockweiler State Beach, so you can still roll with the crowd and finish at the party.
About Boarding for Breast Cancer
B4BC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1996 by people from the action sports world.
Its mission has three parts:
- Teach young people about early detection
- Promote an active, healthy lifestyle as one of the best forms of prevention
- Support those affected by breast cancer
That mix of education, movement and community is why the organization has stuck around for three decades. It meets young people where they already are, on boards, bikes and in the streets, instead of asking them to come to it.
Why It Fits Us
Nixon was born in Southern California and built on surf, skate and music culture. We make watches for people who are always up for something, and a coastal ride for a good cause is exactly that kind of something.
Time well spent matters to us, and few things beat a day on the Strand with a few hundred people rolling toward the same finish line.
The event also reflects how we think about community. Skate culture has always been about showing up for each other. Skate the Coast takes that instinct and points it at something bigger than a trick or a session.
The Weekend Schedule
Friday, October 23: Registration Party
The weekend starts with a registration party from 3 PM to 8 PM at Firestone Brewery in Venice. Riders sign waivers, pick up their event tee and goodie bag, and settle in for live music, cold drinks, raffles and auctions. It is a relaxed way to meet the people you will be riding with the next morning.
Saturday, October 24: Skate the Coast
Event day runs from 9 AM to 4 PM. Here is how it unfolds:
- 7:30 AM: Shuttles leave Dive N Surf in Redondo Beach for the Santa Monica Pier.
- 9:00 AM: The ride starts at the Santa Monica Pier.
- 10:00 AM: Hydration stop in Venice.
- 10:30 AM: Hydration stop at Marina Del Rey.
- 11:00 AM: South Bay drop-in at Dockweiler State Beach.
- 12:30 PM: Stop at Noble Park in Hermosa Beach.
- 1:00 PM: Finish at Dive N Surf in Redondo Beach.
The finish line party runs from 12 PM to 4 PM with live music, food, drinks, raffle prizes and a silent auction. Plan to hang around. Part of the fun is seeing everyone roll in.
How to Take Part
Every skater fundraises a minimum of $50 to register. Registration includes an event tee, a goodie bag and raffle tickets. B4BC has set a goal of $75,000 for 2026, and the money goes to its education, prevention and survivorship programs.
A few incentives make the fundraising more fun:
- Earn 10 extra raffle tickets for every $100 you raise.
- Raise more than $150 and receive Yeti drinkware.
- The top three individual and team fundraisers win prizes.
Pro tip: send your fundraising link out early, and tell people why you are riding. A personal note usually does more than a mass message.
Can't Make It to LA?
You can join virtually. Register, ride your local path or trail, and post about it with @b4bc and #skatethecoast. Virtual participants get a tee in the mail and raffle tickets for every $10 raised.
B4BC will choose a photo contest winner on Monday, October 26.
Tips for Ride Day
- Wear pink if you can. The ride is known for its sea of it.
- Bring sunscreen, a hat and a water bottle, even though there are hydration stops.
- Pick wheels you are comfortable on for 15 miles. Soft, larger wheels make a long cruise easier.
- Wear a helmet and pads. Friendly pace or not, it is a shared path.
- Check the time before you go. A watch on your wrist makes it easy to keep to the stop schedule without pulling out your phone.
See You on the Strand
Good causes tend to work best when they are easy to join and fun to be part of. Skate the Coast manages both. Whether you roll the full 15 miles, hop in at Dockweiler or ride your own route from home, you will be part of something that keeps young people informed and supports those affected by breast cancer.
Register or donate for Skate the Coast 2026 and learn more about B4BC's work at b4bc.org.
