History of Surfing Timeline

(c. 2000 BCE - Present)

Surfing is an ancient water sport that originated among Polynesian peoples thousands of years ago and became deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture, where it held spiritual and social significance. Suppressed by missionaries in the 19th century, surfing experienced a dramatic revival in the 20th century, evolving into a global phenomenon with professional competitions, technological innovations in board design, and its inclusion in the Olympic Games. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Accounts

Michael Hemmersam describes surfing in the Gold Coast

1640

Amid the 1640s, Michael Hemmersam provided an account of surfing in the Gold Coast, noting that parents 'tie their children to boards and throw them into the water,' one of the earliest European descriptions of board riding.

Image source: History of surfing

Barbot records surfing among Elmina children in Ghana

1679

In 1679, Barbot described children at Elmina in Ghana learning 'to swim, on bits of boards, or small bundles of rushes, fasten'd under their stomachs,' calling it a good diversion for spectators.

Joseph Banks records surfing in Tahiti

1769

The art of surfing was recorded by Joseph Banks aboard HMS Endeavour during James Cook's first voyage. In Tahiti, he observed locals riding breaking waves on the stern of an old canoe with incredible swiftness.

James Alexander observes surfing in Accra, Ghana

1834

James Alexander provided an account of surfing in Accra, Ghana: 'From the beach, meanwhile, might be seen boys swimming into the sea, with light boards under their stomachs.'

Hawaiian Revival

Mark Twain attempts surfing in Hawaii

1866

Mark Twain attempted surfing while visiting Hawaii in 1866 but failed, later recounting the humorous experience in his writings.

Hawaiians begin reviving surfing at Waikiki

1900

Around the start of the 20th century, Hawaiians living close to Waikiki began to revive surfing, and soon re-established it as a sport.

Jack London publishes 'A Royal Sport'

Oct 1907

Jack London tried surfing while visiting Hawaii and chronicled it enthusiastically in an essay entitled 'A Royal Sport,' published in October 1907.

Image source: Surfing

Outrigger Canoe and Surfing Club founded

1908

In 1908, Alexander Hume Ford founded the Outrigger Canoe and Surfing Club, the first modern organization developed to promote surfing broadly, although it was de facto whites-only and women weren't admitted until 1926.

Image source: Outrigger boat

Hui Nalu club founded by local Hawaiians

1911

Local Hawaiians started their own club in 1911 called Hui Nalu, meaning 'Club of the Waves,' as a response to the Outrigger Canoe and Surfing Club.

Image source: Surf culture

Kahanamoku memorialized on US postage stamp

2002

Duke Kahanamoku's role in spreading surfing was memorialized by a 2002 first class letter rate postage stamp issued by the United States Postal Service.

Image source: Duke Kahanamoku

Global Spread

John Wrightson reputedly becomes first British surfer

1890

In 1890, agricultural education pioneer John Wrightson reputedly became the first British surfer at Bridlington in Yorkshire, instructed by two Hawaiian princes studying at his college.

George Freeth demonstrates surfing in California

1907

In 1907, George Freeth traveled to California from Hawaii to demonstrate surfboard riding as a publicity stunt to promote Abbot Kinney's resort in Venice, Venice of America.

Image source: George Freeth

Bridgers begins surfing at Wrightsville Beach

1909

In 1909, Burke Haywood Bridgers and a group of surfers began surfing in the Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina area, the earliest surfing documented in the state.

Tommy Walker returns to Manly Beach with a surfboard

1910

In 1910, Tommy Walker returned to Manly Beach, Sydney, with a 300 cm (10 ft) surfboard bought at Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, for two dollars. He became an expert rider and gave exhibitions in Sydney in 1912.

Freeth surfs at Huntington Beach pier rededication

1914

Freeth surfed at the Huntington Beach pier for its rededication in 1914, helping popularize surfing along the Southern California coast.

Duke Kahanamoku exhibitions in Sydney

Dec 24, 1914 - 1915

Surfboard riding received national exposure with exhibitions by Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku in the summer of 1914-1915 at several Sydney beaches. Following his first exhibition at Freshwater on December 24, 1914, he demonstrated his skill at Freshwater and Manly, followed by appearances at Dee Why and Cronulla.

Freeth moves to San Diego Rowing Club

1917

In 1917, George Freeth moved to San Diego to work as a swimming instructor at the San Diego Rowing Club, continuing to promote aquatic sports.

First footage of surfing in the UK

1929

The first footage of surfing in the UK was filmed in 1929 by Louis Rosenberg and a number of friends after being fascinated by watching some Australian surfers.

North Carolina marks Wrightsville Beach as birthplace of surfing

2015

The state of North Carolina honored Burke Haywood Bridgers and the Wrightsville surfers by placing a North Carolina Highway Marker for 'Pioneer East Coast Surfing' on Wrightsville Beach, designating it the birthplace of surfing in North Carolina.

Image source: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Olympics

Kahanamoku proposes surfing for the Olympics

1920

In 1920, Duke Kahanamoku, the 'Father of Modern Surfing', proposed that the sport be included in the Olympics, planting the seed for surfing's eventual Olympic debut a century later.

Tokyo Olympics postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic

2020 - 2021

Before surfing could make its Olympic debut, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to be cancelled and then rescheduled for the year 2021.

Image source: 2020 Summer Olympics

Surfing debuts at Tokyo Olympics

Jul 2021

Surfing appeared in the Olympics for the first time ever at Tsurigasaki Beach in Chiba, Japan, with several members of the WSL as well as other amateur surfers competing, fulfilling Duke Kahanamoku's century-old dream.

Image source: Surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Technology & Culture

Tom Blake adds a fin to the surfboard

1935

Original Hawaiian boards did not have fins until Tom Blake added one in 1935, a pivotal innovation that dramatically improved board control and maneuverability.

First documented successful big wave ride at Waimea

Oct 1957

As detailed in the movie Riding Giants, the first documented successful attempt at riding giant Waimea Bay waves occurred in October 1957, ushering in the era of big wave surfing.

Image source: Riding Giants

Film Gidget boosts surfing popularity

1959

In 1959, the release of the film Gidget, based on the life of surfer Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman, boosted the sport's popularity immensely, moving surfing from an underground culture into a national fad and packing surf breaks with sudden crowds.

Image source: Gidget

Movie North Shore features wave pool protagonist

1987

The 1987 movie North Shore started its protagonist in an Arizona wave pool before he went on to Hawaii to try his luck, highlighting artificial waves in popular culture.

Image source: North Shore (1987 film)

Katy Perry releases 'California Gurls'

2010

Katy Perry's Billboard #1 hit song 'California Gurls,' featuring Snoop Dogg, released in 2010, highlights the beachside lifestyle first popularized in the 1960s.

Image source: California Gurls

Surf Craft exhibition at Mingei International Museum

2014 - 2015

Surf Craft, part of the AMERICAN ICONS Exhibition Series, was displayed at Mingei International Museum (2014-2015) in San Diego, California, celebrating surfboard design as craft and art.

Image source: Mingei International Museum

First professional contest held at a wave pool

2018

2018 was the first year a professional surfing contest was held at a wave pool, specifically Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch, marking a new era in competitive surfing.

Image source: Kelly Slater

Professionalization

First West Coast Surfing Championships held

1959

If a professional surfer is someone who makes money from surfing, then the history of professional surfing dates to perhaps 1959 when the first West Coast Surfing Championships was held in Huntington Beach, California.

United States Surfing Association founded

1961

In 1961, the United States Surfing Association (USSA) was founded, arguably the first proto-professional surfing contest organization.

Image source: Surfing in the United States

Professional surfing contests begin

1975

In 1975, professional contests started, formalizing competitive surfing and creating pathways for surfers to earn a living from the sport.

Image source: World Surf League

Key Facts

Surfing originated with ancient Polynesians over 3,000 years ago, who used wave riding for both transportation and recreation as they settled Pacific islands.
In ancient Hawaii, surfing (he'e nalu) was deeply embedded in culture, religion, and social hierarchy, with chiefs demonstrating their status through their wave-riding skills.
Christian missionaries arriving in Hawaii in the early 19th century discouraged surfing, contributing to its decline until it was revived in the early 20th century by figures like George Freeth and Duke Kahanamoku.
Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic swimmer from Hawaii, popularized surfing internationally through exhibitions in California and Australia between 1912 and 1915, earning him the title 'Father of Modern Surfing.'
Surfing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games (held in 2021), marking the sport's recognition on the world's largest athletic stage.

Source

This History of Surfing timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

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