A Brief History of Surfing
Surfing can be traced back to the shores of Hawaii in 1779, where its rich history began. Captain Cook discovered the natives taking part in surfing with large wooden boards as the large waves crashed on the beautiful beaches of Hawaii. It didn’t reach a height of popularity among the rest of the world until about the 1950s, when it became a well-loved pasttime in California in the United States. However, wetsuits and surf leashes weren’t invented yet, and boards were still very large and heavy. By the time the ’60s came around, surfing was hugely popular, as can be seen through songs by the Beach Boys and films like Beach Blanket Bingo. Plastic surfboards were being manufactured, Gidget was a blockbuster hit, and Dick Dale could be heard on every car’s radio. Today, the places where surfing began (Hawaii and California) are still alive with generations of surfers in their mens board shorts and wetsuits, but finding the perfect surf spot has stretched the far reaches of the globe. Places in Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America are considered to be far better for surfing today. Even places in the UK (including parts of Scotland and Wales) are popular surf spots a bit closer to home.
