Surfboard Art II

Surfing has already been practiced for thousands of years and images of it were already found on pottery from 1000 BC which was discovered in Peru.

The first records of surfing were jotted down in 1769 by Joseph Banks who sailed on the HMS Endeavour after it landed in Hawaii during its first voyage under Captain James Cook.

Surfing was not just a sport, but part of the Polynesian culture and the most skilled surfer was the chief who had the best board, made out of the best tree and he and his clan were the only ones who had access to the best beaches.

By the end of the 19th century, surfing had almost disappeared due to the arrival of missionaries in 1821 who banned almost all Polynesian traditions, cultural habits and rituals, but it came back to life in the beginning of the 20th century when surfing was established as a sport.

The rest of the world was introduced to surfing by Duke Kahanamoku, who was not only an Olympic medalist, but also and avid waterman and in 1907 George Freeth gave a demonstration of surfboard riding and life guard abilities as a publicity stunt in California.

When the sport was introduced on the East Coast of the U.S. in 1912, it became an instant hit and turned Virginia Beach in to one of the main centers for surfing in this part of the U.S. where also the East Coast Surfing Championships take place.

Even if you are not an active surfer, but you can still catch the wave by creating wonderful art on one of those surfboards!