Heroes Polynesian Inventions & Contributions around the world.

Who Invented Surfing?

Since we have no way of knowing exactly when the first attempted surf session was, we are also in the dark about who had the idea in the first place. We can infer that the creator of surfing was of Polynesian origin, but even that’s just speculation.

Sorry, but that’s the closest answer we have got!

While our information about the first surfer is limited, we can do the next best thing and follow history to see who brought the sport to life. When European settlers first came to Hawaii, surfing lost a lot of its edge. Hawaiian locals were steered away from surfing, and the Christian settlers shunned it entirely.

Still, surfing was such an essential part of Hawaiian culture that people never stopped doing it entirely. If there were waves to catch, the locals weren’t about to let the Europeans ruin their good time. Around the end of the 19th century, tourism began to develop, and surfing started to make a huge comeback.

People from all over the world started to notice how awesome surfing is, and this was fantastic for Hawaiian tourism. One of the most prominent early players in modern surfing was Duke Kahanamoku. Born in 1890, “The Duke” was one of the best surfers of his time and also an accomplished Olympic swimmer.

Once Duke’s fame as an athlete reached a certain point, he decided to go on a world tour to showcase his skills and spread the love of surfing. From California to Australia, he traveled, surfed, and caught the eyes of thousands of eager spectators. He single-handedly popularized the Hawaiian surf tradition.

While we can’t say that The Duke invented surfing, surfing was a massive part of his legacy, and his influence played a pivotal role in the history of surfing.

Thanks to his enthusiasm and athleticism, the sport gained more attention than ever before. If anyone in surf history deserves the title of “The Father of Surfing,” it is him.

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