surfboarding is an ancient sportsman with an unsure chronicle . Some consider it was start by Polynesian fisherman whorodewooden boards to get to the shore . Ancient Hawaiians referred to the act as " waving - slide " and trust on Kahunas , or priests , to appease the sea and ease up choice waves . The boards were position symbol , and the bounteous the control board , the high your birth : Commoners used circuit board that were 7 feet long , while chiefs would surf on boardsas longsighted as 25 base .
Westerners on display panel the HMSEndeavourgot their first tone at surfing in 1769 as they travel through the South Pacific . Joseph Banks , form on board as a naturalist , account it :
Surfing would n’t make its mainland first appearance until 1907 ; Hawaiian George Freeth demonstrate his gnarly accomplishment at an event for a California railway line . Thanks to Freeth and Duke Kahanamoku , a natator - turned - surfboarder who vulgarize the sport in the 1910s and ' 20s , surfing spread and eventually became the sport we know today .
1. Waikiki, 1925
Olympian swimmers Charlotte Boyle and Ethelda Bleibtrey bewilder with the surfing savior , Kahanamoku , before the 100 yards National Championships .
Bleibtrey was the first cleaning woman in the world to win three Olympian golds . She was alsoarrestedfor " bare swimming"—or not wearing stockings while swimming . Kahanamoku was also an Olympian swimmer andwon fiveOlympic medals .
2. Sydney, 1930
A group of surfers concord up their boards . Before the ' 50 , all surfboard were madeout of woodwind , and not on the nose waterproof . The wood boards would get waterlogged and heavy after being in the water too long . Tom Blake invent the hollow surfboard in 1926 and by 1930 , it had become the first mass - bring forth board .
3. Bondi Beach, 1931
Pictured above is 5 - class - old James Easterbrook , the youngest contender at the surf carnival at Sydney , 1931 .
4. Sydney, 1931
A large group of surfers run to catch a company undulation .
5. Santa Monica, 1935
Surf bunnies ( female surfboarder ) lie on their ' mondo add-in to create a star at the beach .
6. Hawaii, 1935
A collection of surfers ride the wave in Hawaii .
7. Hermosa Beach, 1955
member of the Hermosa Beach club get quick for a heavy competition . By the ' 50s , wood had been interchange with fiberglass and polyurethane foam . The Modern textile was prosperous and cheaper to make . fresh increased availability of surfboard helped surfing become a pop sport .
8. New Quay Beach, 1955
Two girls full their board , while a third oversees .
9. Hawaii, 1960
Surfers hot - dogging and perform whoremonger in Hawaii .
10. Gidget, 1965
Sally Field poses for a promotional impression for the TV show , Gidget . The show was based off the 1956 movie of the same name and lasted for one season .
All images courtesy of Getty Images .
