Fancy a bit of history class? Here we go – this time, it’s the stuff your teachers never told you!
We begin our little surfing time travel in the 12th century. Yes, over 800 years ago, people were already riding the waves on what we now call “the boards that mean the world.” Thanks to ancient cave art, we know that ocean-loving Polynesians were already spending their (back then relatively short) lives catching waves on wooden planks.
18th Century
Around 1720, the surfing spirit made its way to Hawaii, where it quickly became a key religious ritual. The Hawaiians built their wooden boards through ceremonial practices, believing that it would earn them protection and favor from the gods.
19th Century
About a hundred years later, strict Christian morals banned surfing. Men and women enjoying the ocean together? Scandalous and wasteful! Luckily, Mark Twain and especially Jack London brought surfing back into public awareness. A passionate surfer himself, Jack London founded the first surf club in the world in 1908: the Waikiki Outrigger Canoe and Surfboard Club. Lifeguards on Hawaiian beaches began using surfboards as a life-saving tool for swimmers in trouble.
20th Century
The most iconic surfer of this era was “The Duke”. One of six brothers, he was an exceptional swimmer and widely recognized as the best surfer across the Hawaiian Islands. At the 1912 Olympic Games, Duke Kahanamoku won gold in the 100-meter freestyle with a record-breaking time – and his unique “surf crawl” swimming style helped introduce the sport to a global audience.
From there, surfing’s rise was unstoppable. In the 1950s and 60s, surfing became a worldwide phenomenon. The film “Gidget” (released in the 60s) caused the number of surfers to multiply tenfold shortly after it hit the screens.
And so, a once daring pastime of bold Polynesians evolved into a global sport for wave lovers everywhere. The massive wooden boards of the past have transformed into sleek surfboards for radical maneuvers.
… And what started as a hobby has since grown into a professional sport with top athletes riding waves for fame and fortune.
