10 Facts About Surfing You May Not Know

Here are 10 exciting and lesser-known facts about surfing that will surprise you:

Surfing dates back over 1,000 years to ancient Polynesia, where it was a cultural and spiritual practice before becoming the sport we know today.
The world’s first surfboards were made from solid wood, sometimes weighing over 100 pounds, making them much harder to ride than modern foam boards.
Surfers can actually “hear” the ocean with their feet, using the sensation of vibrations through the board to anticipate waves and adjust their position.
The longest ride on a wave was over 100 feet, set by surfer Garrett McNamara in 2011 at Praia do Norte in Portugal—truly defying the limits of what’s possible on a board.
There’s a type of surfing called “toe-in surfing,” where surfers are towed into massive waves by jet skis, allowing them to catch waves that would be impossible to paddle into.
The first ever recorded surf competition was held in 1928 in Corona del Mar, California, marking the start of modern competitive surfing.
Surfboards used to be covered in fiberglass, which didn’t exist until the 1950s—before that, boards were made from heavier materials like balsa wood or redwood.
Surfers have a unique wave-riding style called “snaking,” where a surfer weaves in and out of another rider’s path to gain the best part of the wave, sometimes leading to friendly rivalries!
There are “surfing dogs” that compete in events, with pups like “Surfing dog Ricochet” gaining fame for their ability to catch waves alongside their human counterparts.
The world’s largest wave ever surfed was 101.4 feet tall, ridden by Portuguese surfer António Laureano at Praia do Norte, proving that the biggest waves aren’t just for adrenaline junkies—they’re for legends.