Where Did Surfing Styles Come From?

Surfing styles began more than likely with the Hawaiians. They surfed on large wooden surfboards that were more difficult to turn than our modern day long-board surfboards. The old Hawaiian surfing style was one of style and grace. These great pioneers of surfing rode the small and large Hawaiian surf and set the stage for all surfing styles around the world. As the surfing craze caught on around the world, surfboards evolved into lighter and more fashionable crafts.

As the surfing styles began to evolve, surfers started to surf bigger waves. The general surfing style started to evolve into a more aggressive type of sport. What once was a laid back sort of style catch a wave and pose. Now a typical surfer could surf bigger waves and make more radical turns on the wave. The surfboards were built for speed and maneuverability.

Standard surfboards now came with a place to attach a leash so when the surfer wiped out his board didn't end up on the shore. This lead the way for even more people surfing, because now surfers did not need to swim to catch their boards. Surfers were launching their surfboards in the air, they were doing 360s and going as fast as they could and performing radical turns.

Surfing styles changed dramatically as did surfboards. In the 1970s surfboards started to have three fins which gave the surfer even more speed and stability. During the 1980s surfing styles were still evolving as boards got even shorter. Waves that surfers only dreamed of riding were being ridden all over the world. These mammoth waves were being ridden mostly because of the new designs of surfboards.

Still today many surfers ride modern long boards and choose to retain the old school style of our Hawaiian brothers. While other are constantly pushing the envelop, trying new maneuvers, going faster and farther than ever before. If you are trying to choose a surfing style, take a look at your local surf break and keep a close eye at how the local surfers are surfing your home break. You might get an idea for your own surfing style. Surfing styles usually reflect the surfers personality. Keep working at your own surfing style and one day you will wake up with your own surfing style.