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The Complete History of Surfing

From Ancient Polynesian Origins to Modern Welsh Coastlines

Ancient Origins in the Pacific

It is now widely accepted that the origins of surfing lie in the Pacific Basin, possibly in the group of islands collectively known as Polynesia.

Perfect surfing form
Modern surfing continues the ancient tradition of wave riding
Surfing in action
The art of reading waves passed down through generations
Surfer catching wave
From ancient Hawaiian chiefs to modern surfers

The Evolution of Wave Riding

From ancient ritual to modern sport

Ancient surfing

Ancient Polynesia

Surfing began as both necessity and spiritual practice in ancient Polynesian cultures.

Hawaiian surfing

Hawaiian Golden Age

Hawaii became the epicenter of surfing culture with warm waters and consistent waves.

Modern surfing

Global Renaissance

The 20th century saw surfing's resurrection and global spread.

"In every drop of water there is a story of life. In every wave, there is the echo of ancient wisdom passed down through generations of ocean riders."

Key Moments in Surfing History

From ancient rituals to modern sport

1777
Captain Cook's Discovery
Captain James Cook landed in Hawaii and reported surfing to be widespread among the native population.
1915
Duke Kahanamoku's Mission
Hawaiian Olympic swimming champion Duke Kahanamoku introduced surfing to Australia.
1976
International Surfing Association
The ISA was established as the world governing authority for surfing, representing 107 countries worldwide.
2021
Olympic Debut
Surfing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

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The history of Surfing

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