GRLSWIRL Surf, Skate Fest 2024: Venice Beach’s Ultimate Celebration
Venice Beach’s Ultimate Community Event with Desert Luna’s Digital Booth showcasing a full Brand Activation
Community | July 13, 2024 | 22 min read
When it comes to surfskate culture, no place on earth feels quite like Venice Beach. And this summer, GRLSWIRL Surf, Skate Fest 2024 turned up the heat— blending the raw soul of surf and skate with the unbreakable spirit of community, inclusivity, and innovation.
From sunrise paddles to sunset skate battles, the day was packed with movement, music, and unforgettable memories that celebrated individuality while uniting people worldwide.
Sarah May
A Paddle Out to Start It Off — Honoring the Ocean’s Spirit
The day began in the most poetic way: a sunrise paddle out under the iconic Venice skies. Dozens of surfers, skaters, and ocean lovers formed a circle in the shimmering Pacific, honoring their deep connection to the water that fuels the GRLSWIRL community’s heartbeat. It was more than a tradition — it was a reminder that unity always starts with gratitude.
Surf, Skate, and Shred: A Celebration on Concrete
After the paddle out, the energy shifted from waves to wheels. A fully custom skate course — designed by Carver Skate— took over the streets of Venice, challenging skaters to showcase their creativity, agility, and fearless vibes. Competitions judged by legends like Christian Hosoi, Laura Thornhill, and Briana King pushed boundaries and cheered on every skater, from seasoned pros to absolute newbies.
Meanwhile, KEEN Ramps and Modular Pumptrack USA built a pop-up skatepark and wave ramp open to the public— turning every inch of Venice into a playground where community, courage, and creativity collided.
Immersive Experiences: Desert Luna’s Digital Photo Booth Brand Activation
Adding even more magic to the day?
Desert Luna proudly sponsored the event, bringing a fully customized digital photo booth experience to the Surf, Skate Fest crowd.
Here’s how Desert Luna leveled up the event experience:
Branded Digital Overlays: Each guest’s photo was layered with a vibrant, event-specific design — blending GRLSWIRL’s iconic aesthetic with custom brand flair.
Lead Capture for Future Engagement: Using smart integration, guests seamlessly entered their email and SMS details at the booth — building a pipeline for future GRLSWIRL marketing campaigns, community events, and brand activations.
Seamless Sharing for Instant Virality: Attendees received their digital captures instantly via text and email, making it easy to share memories (and promote the event) across social media in real time.
Immersive Brand Experience: The booth became more than a photo op — it was an experience that invited attendees to co-create content, foster community, and remember the day forever.
Check out the full gallery here ➡️ GRLSWIRL x Desert Luna Photo Booth Gallery
For brands seeking high-impact experiential marketing activations or content-driven engagement opportunities, Desert Luna proved why photo booths aren’t just “cute”— they’re strategic.
The Full Experience: What Desert Luna Delivered in a package 🛹✨
At GRLSWIRL Surf, Skate Fest 2024, we didn’t just show up with a booth — we brought an entire branded experience to life.
Here’s what our full-day package included:
🔹 Full Day Digital Booth Activation— capturing every moment, from sunrise paddle outs to sunset skate battles.
🔹 Black & White Glam Add-On— because timeless memories deserve that classic Venice Beach edge.
🔹 Custom Branded Overlays— designed to match GRLSWIRL’s bold, iconic style across every photo.
🔹 Custom Tap-to-Start Screen— creating an immediate, on-brand user experience from the very first tap.
🔹 Custom Microsite— a sleek, branded online gallery for instant photo viewing, sharing, and downloads.
🔹 Data Capture— seamlessly collecting guest emails and SMS numbers with opt-ins for future engagement.
🔹 Post-Event Deliverables— including a full CSV list of all collected data, image downloads, and usage rights.
🔹 Custom Branded Backdrop— tying the entire visual experience together for a truly immersive setup.
In short:
We created a turnkey experiential marketing activation— blending content creation, community engagement, brand awareness, and lead generation all in one unforgettable touchpoint.
Good Vibes Only: Live Music, DJs, and Endless Energy
The soundtrack for the day was pure sunshine. Local bands and DJs like Jeremy Sole set the perfect vibe, mixing surf rock, funk, indie, and beachy anthems that had everyone dancing barefoot on the boardwalk.
The energy stayed sky-high with street vendors, brand pop-ups, giveaways, and surprise contests — creating a multi-sensory brand experience that left a lasting emotional imprint.
High-Value Brand Collaborations: Setting a New Standard
GRLSWIRL Surf, Skate Fest wasn’t just a community gathering — it was a masterclass in authentic brand partnerships.
Sponsors like Pedal Electric, Carver Skateboards, Mad Hippie, Sun Sip by Health-ade, Creamy Boys Ice Cream aligned perfectly with GRLSWIRL’s ethos: celebrating freedom, creativity, and living life outside the lines.
Brands take note: The future of marketing isn’t just ads— it’s moments. It’s activations that spark emotion, create user-generated content, and build lifetime loyalty.
GRLSWIRL Surf, Skate Fest 2024 offered a blueprint for how experiential partnerships can drive deep engagement— from email and SMS capture campaigns to co-branded digital content and viral social amplification provided by Desert Luna.
Fueled by Focus: A Special Gift from Our Friends at MUD\WTR 🌱
If you’ve ever wondered how we keep up with the endless energy at events like GRLSWIRL Surf, Skate Fest— here’s a little secret: MUD\WTR. We also work from Mud/Wtr Gather in Santa Monica when we want to feel inspired and part of the community 🌿☕
I’ve personally swapped out coffee for MUD\WTR, and it’s been a total game-changer— helping me stay laser-focused, energized, and grounded throughout long days like this one.
(Seriously, it’s my not-so-secret weapon for staying sharp without the crash.)
And because I truly believe in sharing the good stuff:
The amazing team at MUD\WTR has given us an exclusive discount — unlock 43% off your first purchase. Enjoy this beautiful gift from the community & heart of Venice, CA 🎁.
✨ If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your daily rituals, now’s the time to tap in. Your future self will thank you. 😉
GRLSWIRL: Not Just a Collective — A Global Movement
Founded by a handful of Venice locals with a dream, GRLSWIRL has exploded into an international force— uniting thousands across Los Angeles, San Diego, Lisbon, Denmark, Paris, and beyond.
Through grassroots group skates, epic festivals, and their contagious joy, GRLSWIRL continues to prove that skateboarding (like life) is better when shared.
GRLSwirl sees a world where skateboarding is the tool for transcending barriers and of unification of the people.
Their vision is to create a global network of skate chapters that serve as welcoming space for people of all backgrounds. By coming together through the shared love of skateboarding, they aim to not only bring joy and empowerment to members, but also to make a positive impact on communities through skateboarding and social work.
Lucy — CEO GRLSwirl
Lucy is from Upstate New York now living in Venice, CA.
An ex ballerina, ex farmer and current CEO of GRLSWIRL. She lives for community and the joy it brings her. She's a surfer, skater and everyones biggest cheerleader. You won't find a better hype girl than Lucy.
TEAM RIDERS
VAL
Val is from Sebastopol, CA, living in Venice Beach. Her favorite thing about skating is the adventures and the community. She has become an icon in the Venice skate community with her infectious smile and stoke for life. She always inspires us with her grace and talent.
Squid
Venice native, Squid is a GRLSWIRL co-founder and Venice chapter leader. Her fave things about GRLSWIRL has been watching the evolution of skate grow to be place that stands for inclusion. Catch her cruising the boardwalk with her vintage effortless style on and off the board.
Juju
Julia grew up between California and Brasil. She is an avid surfer and skater but also spent time a Nasa Engineer.
She has a big brain and an even bigger heart. She is the life of the party and always bringing the good vibes.
Ready to Ride the Wave? Join the Movement.
Whether you’re a lifelong surfer, a brand looking to create unforgettable activations, or just someone craving community, GRLSWIRL welcomes you!
🔹 Join GRLSWIRL’s global skate family → GRLSWIRL.com
🔹 See the full Surf, Skate Fest YouTube Recap → Watch the Full Day Here
🔹 Experience the Desert Luna Photo Booth Magic → View the Event Gallery
✨ Brands, Are You Ready to Partner for Your Next Event?
If you’re a brand looking to create unforgettable experiential marketing activations that capture leads, build community, and go viral, Desert Luna is here to make it happen.
Let’s build something IKONIK together. 🌊🛹
