Red Bull Junior Surf Masters - Northern Sydney

Cadets / Juniors
Palmie-Narrabeen NSW
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Red Bull and Mick Fanning are giving you the opportunity to go head-to-head with some of Australia’s best young surfers. The Red Bull Junior Surf Masters will see the top four winners from each regional qualifying event battle it out to go up against 16 Pro Junior surfers (hand-picked by Mick) for a share of $50,000 worth of prizes to launch your surfing career.

For your shot at fame and fortune, apply for a spot in one of the qualifying events at www.redbull.com.au or download the entry form under 'Documents' on this page. Get your entry in quick as the event is sure to fill up!

Avalon Beach is the venue for the fifth and final qualifying event of the Series on Saturday 23rd* of August. *Please note date change to Sat 23/8/2008 only*

To check out how the Red Bull Junior Surf Masters qualification process works and what you have to do on your Road to Fame Click Here.

The Red Bull Junior Surf Masters Qualification events are open to males aged between 15-20 years of age.

For further information please contact Surfing NSW on 02 9349 7055 or visit www.redbull.com.au

Red Bull Junior Masters Schedule:

5-6 July - South Coast - Werri Beach, Gerringong
9-10 August - North Coast - Lennox Head
16-17 August - Central Coast - Merewether Beach, Newcastle
23 August - Northern Sydney - Avalon Beach
24 August - Southern Sydney - Cronulla Beach

29-31 August - Series Final - Sydney

Women's Events 2008

UKPST Dates
23-24 March, Salt Rock North Devon Women’s Pro, Croyde, North Devon
27-28 June, (tbc) Fat Face Women’s Night Surf, Lusty Glaze Newquay
25-26 July, White Stuff Surf Relief, Watergate Bay, Newquay
23-24 August, Hot Tuna, Widemouth Bay, Bude
11-12 October, Elusive Welsh Women’s, Rest Bay, Porthcawl
15-16 November, Gul Women’s Open, Fistral Beach

BLU dates
19-20 April, Perranporth
17-18 May, Woolacombe
14-15 June, Jersey
6-7 September, Scarborough
27-28 September, Perranporth

ASP WCT Calendar
Check www.SurfGirlmag.com for pictures and results.
Roxy Pro, 23 February – 6 March, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Rip Curl Pro, 19-24 March, Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
Billabong Girls, 18-24 August, Praia da Tiririca, Itacare, Bahia, Brazil
Rip Curl Girls Festival, 28 August – 1 September, Hossegor, Landes, France
Beachley Classic, 7-12 October, Northern Beaches, Sydney, Australia
Mancora Peru Classic, 27 October – 3 November (tentative), Lobitos, Mancora, Piura, Peru
Roxy Pro, 24 November – 6 December, Sunset, Oahu, Hawaii
Billabong Pro, 8-20 December, Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii

BSA competitions
3-5 April, English Nationals, Watergate Bay, Newquay
3-5 April, Welsh Nationals, Freshwater West, Pembs
24 May – 1 June, World Junior Surfing Games, France
20-22 June, Gold Coast Ocean Fest, Croyde, N. Devon
21-22 June, Mosquito Groms, Newquay
5-6 July, Quiksilver King of the Groms, Fistral
14-20 July, Celtic Watersports Festival, Northern Spain
18 August, British Grom Club Contest, Fistral
23-25 August, Quiksilver Skins Event, Fistral
28-30 August, British Interclub Surfing Championships, Porthtowan, Cornwall
September onwards, BSA/Skinner’s Goldrush, Fistral
13-14 September, Jesus Surf Classic, Croyde, N. Devon
21-22 September, Billabong British Junior Surfing Championships with Calypso, Widemouth Bay, Nr. Bude
27-28 September, British Bodvboarding Championships, Porthtowan
T.B.A. British National Surf Championships, Fistral

Ado Wins ASP Grade-1 Oakley Women's Pro Junior

Pauline Ado (FRA), 17, clinched the ASP Grade-1 Oakley Pro Junior in solid five to six foot (1.5 to 2 meter) waves at Lacanau in France today. Ado, who defeated reigning ASP European Women’s champion Lee Ann Curren (FRA), current Junior ratings leader Joahnne Defay (FRA) and Marie Dejean (FRA) in a 100% French final, takes her win this year.

Brit girls Tassy Swallow, Holly Donnelly and Beth Mason took part. Holly came third in her Round 2 heat, Beth Mason was also third and Tassy Swallow fourth in her heat. Good luck for the next comp girls!

Ado, who ended up winning with a low 7.83 point score tally (out of a possible 20) due to the testing conditions, made it through four rounds today. Ado was a standout today and defended her ASP Junior regional crown with solid surfing.

"It was really difficult to express my skills out there and I am a bit disappointed with my scores", Ado said. " Lee Ann (Curren) dominated the whole final but I was Lucky in the end and it is not really you want to win. " Ado, who will try at least to make the end-of-the-year regional Top 2, remains in contention for a possible second consecutive ASP European Junior title.

Lee Ann Curren (FRA), 19, who lost his seed right due to a late entry, had to get through a 6-heat marathon-day to make the final, missing the crown by 0.15 point. Curren posted both highest heat result and wave score, respectively a 17.33 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) and a perfect 10.00 point ride (out of a possible 10) in Round 2.

"I knew I had to find the best position and I chose the outside", Curren said. "The waves doubled throughout the day and it was very hard to find big scores. I had to change boards to adapt but it did not pay in the end."Curren, who competed in two events only this year, sits No.12 on the regional ratings and will need big results to hope for any Junior title at the end of the year.

Joahanne Defay (FRA), 14, confirmed her regional lead by reaching the final for the second consecutive event but finished 3rd to Curren and Ado, still keeping her No. 1 spot in Europe. "It is very hard to surf in these huge hollow waves", Defay said. "I am happy I made the final and managed to reach the outside because it was a real challenge for me."

Defay is looking forward to keeping good form and secure a spot for the ASP World Junior Championships (WJC) in Narabeen next January. "There are four Pro Junior events remaining", Defay said. "I will do my best to stay in the Top 3 and try and win my ticket for Narabeen." Marie Dejean was the last finalist in the Oakley Pro Junior and remains consistent this season thus far.

Cannelle Bulard (REU) and Oakley Pro Junior defending champion Alizée Arnaud (FRA), suffered early eliminations leaving an open door to all ratings’followers to catch up in Lacanau. "The conditions were very hard” Bulard said. “I surfed the foam because I couldn’t paddle out because of my boards being too short."

Europe’s best under-21 competitors will meet next week end in Hourtin, France, 30 minutes North to Lacanau for the ASP Grade-2 Kana Miss Cup Pro Junior, Stop No. 5 of 8 on the ASP European Women’s Pro Junior tour.

All results, news and photos available at www.aspeurope.com

FINAL
Heat : Pauline Ado (FRA) 7.83 pts, Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 7.67 pts, Joahnne Defay (FRA), 3.73 pts, Marie Dejean

SEMIFINALS
Heat 1: Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 7.34 pts, Pauline Ado (FRA) 4.97 pts, Cannelle Bulard (FRA) 3.80 pts, Joahnne Panzini
Heat 2: Joahnne Defay (FRA) 9.33 pts, Marie Dejean (FRA) 7.20 pts, Nikita Robb (FRA) 6.23 pts, Alizée Arnaud

QUARTERFINALS
Heat 1: Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 6.00 pts, Cannelle Bulard (FRA) 3.10 pts, Francesca de Santos (PRT) 2.47 pts, Alix Cranet
Heat 2: Pauline Ado (FRA) 6.27 pts, Joahnne Panzini (FRA) 5.50 pts, Merril Delanne (FRA) 0.77 pts, Garazi Sanchez
Heat 3: Joahnne Defay (FRA) 7.73 pts, Alizée Arnaud (FRA) 6.76 pts, Justine Dupont (FRA) 2.00 pts, Marjolaine Ado
Heat 4: Nikita Robb (FRA) 10.10 pts, Marie Dejean (FRA) 6.74 pts, Fransisca Sousa (PRT) 6.60 pts, Camille Davila

Billabong's Grant 'Twiggy' Baker Slays Massive Wave in Cape Town

FROM SURFERS VILLAGE NEWS

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 August, 2008 : - - Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker rode what he says was the biggest wave he has ever ridden in Cape Town on Saturday when he and fellow Billabong team rider Greg Long towed each other into waves estimated to be over 70 foot (22 metres) in height.

The 35 year-old from Umhlanga, near Durban, and Long, 25, from San Clemente, California, started the day towing into waves at Dungeons, the notorious open ocean reef outside Hout Bay where Baker won the 10th anniversary edition of the Red Bull Big Wave Africa paddle-in event two weeks ago.

After three hours of epic rides and as the low tide approached the duo rode their Honda personal watercraft (PWC) out to the indicator reef known a Tafelberg, a kilometre outside of Dungeons, where the huge waves usually just peak and crumble as the reef is eight metres below the surface.

However, the 16 second swell period and Southerly direction of the massive swell on Saturday, combined with the low tide and glassy conditions, was creating enormous waves that were breaking top to bottom in an awesome display of ocean power.

“The waves were definitely the biggest I’ve ever seen in South Africa and possibly the biggest anywhere,” Baker said. “Greg towed me into one giant wave that was so big I was terrified and started hyper-ventilating.”

“Later, when we saw the photos taken by Craig Kolesky with a large lens from Chapman’s Peak, we realised that those were possibly the biggest waves ever recorded, on a par with the rides we had a Cortes Bank in January which were measured at well over 70 feet.”

Baker and Long, along with the team of Mike Parsons and Brad Gerlach, challenged the seamount known as the Cortes Bank, 160 Kms off the coast of California, in an epic adventure into what have been described as the biggest waves ever seen and surfed.

Both Baker and Mike Parsons were nominated for the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards, the Oscars of big-wave surfing, for rides that day. Parsons won the prestigious award for a wave measured at 70 foot plus even though the judges could not see the bottom of the wave!

After spending an hour and a half at Tafelberg and each riding several waves, Baker and Long returned to Dungeons for more rides as the tide came back in. They ended their day seven kilometres across the bay at Sunset Reef, near Kommetjie, where they rode more huge waves as the swell started to diminish.

Sunday dawned with slightly smaller waves and no wind so the intrepid duo joined the Who’s Who of local and international big wave chargers at Sunset. Leaving their jetski and 1.9 metre tow boards on the shore and waxing up their three metre long big wave surfboards, they paddled into perfect waves with 30+ foot faces (10+ metres) in a session that lasted for six hours.

“We will definitely be keeping our eye on Tafelberg for future sessions,” Baker said. “That wave can get a lot bigger!”

Rip Curl Pro Search 2008

SOMEWHERE, Indonesia – Bruce Irons (HAW) has defeated fellow finalist Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) to claim the 2008 Rip Curl Pro Search in rifling four-foot (1.5 metre) lefthanders 'somewhere' in Indonesia.

Stop No. 6 of 11 on the 2008 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search saw a marathon day of action capped off by a stunning barrel shootout finale between the young Hawaiians.

Irons, who took down reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) and Dream Tour sophomore Ben Dunn (AUS) en route to his Finals berth, came from behind in last 10 minutes of the event, grabbing an 8.33 and a 9.33 to scalp his first ASP World Tour victory.

The progressive natural-footer eased into the Final against Patacchia grabbing small scores before unleashing a fury of backhand tubes and commited re-entries over dry reef to take the win and move into No. 10 on the ASP World Tour ratings.

Irons maintains the family monopoly on Rip Curl Pro Search events, joining older brother Andy, who has two Rip Curl Pro Search titles (2006, 2007) under his belt already.

Patacchia was in stunning form all event, netting high scores and eliminating top seeds before coming up short in the Final.

After suffering an injury early in the season, Patacchia has since rebounded, finishing equal 9th in Fiji and Jeffreys Bay before his runner-up finish 'somewhere' Indonesia. The stylish goofy-footer now sits at No. 14 on the ASP World Tour.

Chris Ward (USA) was another who was in blazing form all day, eliminating former three-time ASP World Champion and two-time defending Rip Curl Pro winner (2006, 2007) Andy Irons (HAW) and 2007 ASP World Tour runner-up Taj Burrow (AUS) before coming up short against an in-form Irons.

Tiago Pires (PRT), 2008 Dream Tour rookie, put in the best performance of his young career, dispatching of eight-time ASP World Champion and current ratings leader Kelly Slater (USA) in Round 3 before rampaging through to an equal 3rd place finish.

All Rip Curl Pro Search videos, photos and news are available via http://live.ripcurl.com/

With the early elimination of the majority of top seeds on the Dream Tour, current ratings leader Kelly Slater (USA) maintains a healthy lead on this year's ASP World Title race.

The next stop on the 2008 ASP World Tour will be the Boost Mobile Pro pres. by Hurley at Lower Trestles, California from September 7 – 13, 2008.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH FINAL RESULTS 1

– Bruce Irons (HAW) 17.66 2 – Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.16

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH SEMIFINAL RESULTS

SF 1: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 10.16 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 8.50
SF 2: Bruce Irons (HAW) 13.70 def. Chris Ward (USA) 13.50

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH QUARTERFINAL RESULTS

QF 1: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 16.50 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 14.17
QF 2: Tiago Pires (PRT) 12.00 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 11.34
QF 3: Bruce Irons (HAW) 19.40 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 9.67
QF 4: Chris Ward (USA) 16.34 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.90

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH ROUND 4 RESULTS

Heat 1: Kai Otton (AUS) 11.67 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.67
Heat 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 19.50 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.40
Heat 3: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 10.00 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 6.30
Heat 4: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.77 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 5.06
Heat 5: Bruce Irons (HAW) 10.84 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 10.83
Heat 6: Ben Dunn (AUS) 15.97 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 12.37
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.43 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 11.83
Heat 8: Chris Ward (USA) 18.17 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 11.33

CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 AFTER STOP NO. 6

1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 5620 points
2 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 4548 points
3 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 4382 points
4 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 4370 points
5 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 4353 points
6 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 3950 points
7 – Andy Irons (HAW) 3938 points
8 – C. J. Hobgood (USA) 3870 points
9 – Bobby Martinez (USA) 3628 points
10 – Bruce Irons (HAW) 3392 points

G-Land, Perfect Wave for Surfing

G-Land is located in the southern part of Banyuwangi, East Java. G-Land derived from Grajagan , the name of the particular spot (and also the name of a village nearby) at G-Land where huge waves can be found. July to August would be the best time to surf. Many People thinks that G-Land or Plengkung is Grajaga, but it not true, G-Land is beach in front of Grajagan .

Plengkung bay or G-Land is considered one of the greatest surfing breaks in the world and one of destination of the surfing world. Exotic surf travel almost never has the kind of grace and logic that it does in magazines and movies.

Condition of surrounding areas since the camp is exclusively situated near the jungle where there are big trees as well as many bushes spread out everywhere plus a humid air resulted by such natural circumstances. Accordingly, these could probably a proper habitat for mosquitoes that may unexpectedly lead to malaria disease. However, during this season actually there are seemingly very few mosquitoes found, as weather is quite dry.
Beautiful, uncharted waves are out there, but its a long, tedious, sometimes dangerous job finding them. Only a few surfers ever sail out into the great unknown. This is why many people today think of G-Land , Banyuwangi-East java, not just as a perfect wave, but as a perfect adventure.

More than a name or a place, G-land is a haven. So close but yet so far from Bali, G-land is a magnet for swell and is definitely not overrated. The set up in G-land is simple, the relaxed atmosphere and pumping waves make for an experience like no other surf trip. Starting with the fact that its located at the edge of a jungle filled with birds, reptiles, insects and other creatures not found on the beaches of Sydney or Los Angeles.

G-Land is a long fast wave typical of most Indonesian waves, suggested surf board length at 68 " 72 Gun " unless you surf like a top 44 contender, so bring a couple of Guns and your hot-dogger for the small days or down at 20/20s. You should bring at least 2 boards, Indonesian waves are powerful and its possible to break boards, so be prepared and bring at least two boards.

NSSA Hawaii Event #1

NSSA Hawaii Event #1

NSSA
PK's Kaua'i Hawaii
26 - 27 July 2008

Kyle Galtes brings it on with double victories in NSSA season opener


Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 30 July, 2008 : - - NSSA Hawaii opened up this season with lip smackin’ 2 to 4 foot surf at PK’s on the south shore of Kaua’i. It felt great to get back into the swing of competition after an awesome Nationals this year. Congratulations to all of Hawaiian surfers who won titles at the Nationals.

The new NSSA Hawaii format which permits only surfers to compete from their resident island in the 4-star events appears to be a positive step as many new surfers were introduced to the NSSA program and given the opportunity to participate. (The modified system allows for all surfers to compete in the 5-star contests).

The new competitive structure made for a relaxed family day on the Beach House Restaurant lawn. We saw a lot of new faces at this event, so watch out, there’s new talent to be seen in the coming months. Newcomer James Thesken took an impressive double win in the Open Boys & Explorer Menehuenes. Kyle Galtes was blowing up winning both the Open Men’s & Explorer Juniors to start his season on the right foot.

We were visited by celebrity Jada Pinkett-Smith & kids who stopped by to watch & cheer on Mainei & Maluhia Kinemaka and family during the NSSA Hawaii first event. The kids were in top form as the turtles lulled on the reef while the waves kept getting better as the day progressed and the tide came up. NSSA Hawaii would like to offer a huge congratulations to Malia Manuel and Coco Ho for going one-two in the Women’s final at the US Open in Huntington Beach!

THE SCOREBOARD NSSA HAWAII EVENT #1

OPEN DIVISIONS

Open Mens
1. Kyle Galtes
2. Dylan Goodale
3. Kaimana Jaquias
4. Chatson Barrett
5. Nathan Carvalho
6. Gavin Klein

Open Juniors
1. Kaimana Jaquias
2. Kalen Galtes
3. Kaikea Elias
4. Jesse Guglielmana
5. Troy Weston-Webb
6. Ry Cowan

Open Boys
1. James Thesken
2. Lucas Angulo
3. Dorian Blanchard
4. Kai Haugland
5. Pierre Graham
6. Tabin Shamblin

Open Mini Groms
1. Mainei Kinimaka

Open Womens
1. Leila Hurst
2. Nage Melamed
3. Tatiana Weston-Webb
4. Maluhia Kinimaka
5. Brianna Cope
6. Lianna Patey

EXPLORER DIVISIONS

Explorer Mens
1. Dylan Goodale
2. Kyle Galtes
3. Chatson Barrett
4. Nathan Carvalho
5. Ry Cowan
6. Gavin Klein

Explorer Juniors
1. Kyle Galtes
2. Ry Cowan
3. Kaimana Jaquias
4. Elliot Leon
5. Dylan Goodale
6. Nathan Carvalho

Explorer Boys
1. Jesse Guglielmana
2. Christian Graham
3. Keola Carreira
4. Roy Carvalho
5. Mana Medeiros
6. Kalen Galtes

Explorer Menehuene
1. James Thesken
2. Tabin Shambin
3. Pierre Graham
4. Lucas Angulo
5. Kai Haugland
6. Dorian Blanchard

Explorer Womens
1. Brianna Cope
2. Leila Hurst
3. Nage Melamed
4. Tatiana Weston-Webb
5. Liana Patey
6. Mainei Kinimaka

Explorer Girls
1. Tatiana Weston-Webb
2. Brianna Cope
3. Kiana Fores
4. Lianna Patey
5. Mainei Kinimaka
6. Maluhia Kinimaka

Open/Explorer Longboard
1. Josh Lindstedt

www.nssa.org

CHOOSING A SURFBOARD

The Shortboard

There are basically four types of surfboard design, plus beginners boards. The first is the Shortboard, also known as the Thruster. This is the type of board that is pictured above. It is a board used to perform quick manoeuvres and is the most popular type of surfboard design. The size of these Shortboards is generally from around 5´8´´ to 6´10´´.

The Longboard or Malibu

The main difference in design from a shortboard is that the nose of the Longboard is rounded. Other than that there is no real difference, Shortboards tend to have 3 fins and Longboards tend to have a single fin. (Surfboards can have as many fins as they like, it is not a standard thing). Mini Malibus range from the 7´2´´-9´0´´ and Malibus are 9´0´´ and upwards in length.

The Fish

The Fish is very similar to a Shortboard but is smaller in length. The lack of length is made up by an increase in the width of the board, giving it a slightly more rounded shape. Fish are generally between 4´8´´ and 6´0´´.

The Gun

The Gun is a bigger version of the Shortboard and is used in the big wave arena. The increased length of the board makes it possible to paddle into bigger waves. The Gun can be anywhere from 7´2´´ in length to over 12´ for the really big waves.

The Softboard

The best surfboard for a beginner is a Malibu. The bigger, thicker Mals are easier to catch waves with and are more stable to stand up on The ideal board should be at least 9´ long and be made of foam. Foamies as they are called are the ideal board to start on because the soft foam construction means the boards are incredibly buoyant, enabling the beginner to catch waves easily. Their dimensions ensure that they are very stable in the water - making it easier for the novice to stand up.

The Pop-Out

A Pop-Out is a surfboard that is made on a production line and is a cheap alternative to a custom made fibreglass surfboard. The Pop-Out is made of foam covered with thick fibreglass and is practically indestructible! As a result of their construction the pop-out is heavier than a softboard or a custom board of equal size, which is good from a learners point of view, because the board is much steadier in the water. The Pop-Out is a good beginners choice because of their cost and the fact that they float really well.

Surfing Culture

Surfing is often viewed as less of a sports activity, and more of a lifestyle. Popularised in the United States during the 1950s, surf culture found increasing expression with mass-production of surf fashion, music and, later, with the booming surf magazine and movie industries in the 1960s. Bruce Brown's classic movie Endless Summer glorified surfing in a round-the-world search for the perfect wave; The Ventures, The Surfaris ("Wipeout!") and other surf rock bands melded surfing with rock and roll to create surf rock and other surf music. (True surfers don't acknowledge the Beach Boys as surf music—Surfin' USA notwithstanding). Surfing culture can be seen in their slang: hang ten, gremmies, the Big Kahuna, the woody, waxing my stick, the green room, etc, though many of these terms are now archaic. Partially due to the obsessive tendency of its participants, and partly to the predominantly stylised media representation of the sport's participants, surfing became embedded in the popular imagination as synonymous with either a naive, pseudo-spiritual hippie idealism or a drug-addled, lazy, 'beach-bum' apathy. Neither of these is probably accurate. Though today such stereotypes have long since lost whatever relevance they may have had, surfing has still failed to completely divest itself of negative social connotations, despite the best attempts of various commercial marketing strategies. (Aside: One famous Australian surfer, Nat Young, once tried to register the sport as a religion, but to no avail.)

If there is one fair generalisation concerning the sport, it is the fanatical enthusiasm of its devotees. Surfing Magazine, founded in the 1960s when surfing had gained popularity with teenagers, used to say that if they were hard at work and someone yelled "Surf's up!" the office would suddenly be empty.
Surfers developed the skateboard to be able to "surf" on land; the number of boardsports has since grown.

The History of Surfing

Surfing is a popular recreational activity and sport in which individuals are propelled across the water by the force of waves, whilst standing on, predominantly, GRP ("fiberglass") boards. Wooden and foam (see plastic) boards ("foamies") are also used.


Originally developed by Hawaiian islanders (see Ngaru), before the 15th century, "he'e nalu" (wave-sliding) spread in the early 20th century to the USA and Australia, where heavy timber "malibu" boards were ridden directly towards beaches. However, the sport exploded in popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, when cheaper, more maneuverable, and lighter boards made of fiberglass and foam became available and the teenaged baby boomers headed to the beach in droves to enjoy the maneuverability and stunts made possible by the new boards. The sport has spread to most places where waves of sufficient size and the right shape appear, including France, Brazil, South Africa, and many island states. Wetsuits are usually worn in to keep surfers warm in colder weather. Other surfing equipment includes board leashes, used to keep a surfer's board from washing to shore after a 'wipeout', wax and/or traction pads, used to keep a surfers feet from slipping of the deck of the board, interchangeable "skegs" and of course in warmer climates the surf trunk or board short.

Surfing has a unique and often powerful appeal, which probably derives from an unusual confluence of elements; adrenalin, skill, and high paced maneuvering are set against a naturally unpredictable backdrop—an organic environment that is, by turns, graceful and serene, violent and formidable. Surfers' skills are tested not only in their ability to control the craft in challenging conditions, but by their ability to execute various maneuvers such as the 'cutback' (turning back toward the breaking part of the wave), the 'floater' (riding the very top of the wave), and, if the surf conditions allow it, "getting barrelled". This is the 'holy grail' of surfing, where the surfer maneuvers into a position where the wave curls over the top of them, forming a "barrel" (or "tube"), with the rider inside the cylindrical portion of the wave.

Competitive surfing is a comparison sport where riders, competing in pairs or small groups, are allocated a certain amount of time to ride waves and display their prowess and mastery of the craft. Competitors are then judged according to how competently the wave is ridden, including the level of difficulty, as well as frequency, of maneuvers. There is a professional surfing world championship series held annually at surf beaches around the world. Though in recent years competitive surfing has become an extremely popular and lucrative activity, both for professional competitors and sponsors, the sport does not have its origins as a competitive pursuit. It is common to hear debate rage between purists of the sport, who still maintain the ideal of 'soul surfing', and surfers who engage in the competitive and, consequently, commercial side of the activity.
A non-competitive adventure activity involving riding the biggest waves possible (known as "rhino hunting") is also popular with some surfers. A practice popularized in the 1990s has seen big-wave surfing revolutionized, as surfers use jetskis to tow them out to a position where they can catch previously unrideable waves. This spectacular activity is extremely popular with television crews, but because such waves rarely occur in heavily populated regions, and usually only a very long way out to sea on outer reefs, few spectators see such events directly.