View source for Surfing

{{short description|Sport of riding waves}}
{{About|stand-up ocean surfing}}
{{Redirect|Surfer}}
{{Redirect|Surfers|the suburb of the Gold Coast|Surfers Paradise, Queensland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox sport
| name           = Surfing
| image          = Mavericks Surf Contest 2010b.jpg
| caption        = Mavericks Surf Contest 2010
| union          = [[World Surf League]] (WSL), [[International Surfing Association]] (ISA) 
| first          = 
| country/region = Worldwide
| registered     = 
| clubs          = 
| contact        = 
| team           = 
| mgender        = Yes, separate competitions
| category       = 
| equipment      = [[Surfboard]], [[surfboard leash|leash]], [[wetsuit]]
| venue          = 
| olympic        = Since [[Surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics|2020]] 
| paralympic     = 
}}

'''Surfing''' is a [[list of surface water sports|surface water sport]] in which an individual, a surfer (or two in [[Glossary of surfing|tandem surfing]]), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving [[wind wave|wave of water]], which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitable for surfing are primarily found on [[ocean]] shores, but can also be found as [[standing wave]]s in the open ocean, in [[Lake surfing|lakes]], in [[River surfing|rivers]] in the form of a [[tidal bore]], or [[wave pools]].

The term ''surfing'' refers to a person riding a wave using a board, regardless of the stance. There are several types of boards. The [[Moche culture|Moche]] of [[Peru]] would often surf on reed craft, while the [[Polynesian culture|native peoples of the Pacific]] surfed waves on [[alaia]], paipo, and other such water craft. Ancient cultures often surfed on their belly and knees, while the modern-day definition of surfing most often refers to a surfer riding a wave standing on a [[surfboard]]; this is also referred to as stand-up surfing.

Another prominent form of surfing is [[body boarding]], where a surfer rides the wave on a bodyboard, either lying on their belly, drop knee (one foot and one knee on the board), or sometimes even standing up on a body board. Other types of surfing include knee boarding, surf matting (riding inflatable mats) and using foils. [[Body surfing]], in which the wave is caught and ridden using the surfer's own body rather than a board, is very common and is considered by some surfers to be the purest form of surfing. The closest form of body surfing using a board is a [[handboard]] which normally has one strap over it to fit on one hand. Surfers who body board, body surf, or [[Handplane (bodysurfing)|handboard]] feel more drag as they move through the water than stand up surfers do. This holds body surfers into a more turbulent part of the wave (often completely [[Underwater|submerged]] by whitewater). In contrast, surfers who instead ride a [[Foilboard|hydrofoil]] feel substantially less drag and may ride unbroken waves in the open ocean.

Three major subdivisions within stand-up surfing are [[Standup paddleboarding|stand-up paddling]], [[Surfboard#Long board|long boarding]] and [[Surfboard#Short board|short boarding]] with several major differences including the board design and length, the riding style and the kind of wave that is ridden.

In [[tow-in surfing]] (most often, but not exclusively, associated with [[big wave surfing]]), a motorized water vehicle such as a [[personal watercraft]], tows the surfer into the wave front, helping the surfer match a large wave's speed, which is generally a higher speed than a self-propelled surfer can produce. Surfing-related sports such as [[paddle boarding]] and [[sea kayaking]] that are self-propelled by hand paddles do not require waves, and other derivative sports such as [[kite surfing]] and [[windsurfing]] rely primarily on wind for power, yet all of these platforms may also be used to ride waves. Recently with the use of [[V-drive]] boats,{{clarify|what does gearbox position have to do with surfing a wake?|date=February 2021}} [[Wakesurfing]], in which one surfs on the wake of a boat, has emerged.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} As of 2023, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized a {{convert|86|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=3}} wave ride by Sebastian Steudtner at [[Nazaré, Portugal#Culture|Nazaré]], [[Portugal]] as the largest wave ever surfed.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|title=Surfer rides World Record 26.21 m (86 ft) wave|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2022/5/sebastian-steudtner-surfs-giant-wave-and-smashes-world-record-705874|work=[[Guinness World Records]]|access-date=22 March 2023|date=25 May 2022}}</ref>

During the winter season in the northern hemisphere, the [[North Shore (Oahu)|North Shore]] of [[Oahu]], the third-largest island of [[Hawaii]], is known for having some of the best waves in the world. Surfers from around the world flock to breaks like Backdoor, [[Waimea Bay]], and [[Banzai Pipeline|Pipeline]]. However, there are still many popular surf spots around the world: [[Teahupo'o]], located off the coast of [[Tahiti]]; [[Mavericks, California|Mavericks]], [[California]], United States; Cloudbreak, [[Tavarua]] Island, [[Fiji]]; Superbank, [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast, Australia.]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Bremner |first=Jade |title=World's 50 best surf spots |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/50-surf-spots/index.html |access-date=2021-07-14 |website=[[CNN]] |date=July 2013 |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809211620/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/50-surf-spots/index.html |archive-date=2021-08-09}}</ref>

In 2016 surfing was added by the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) as an Olympic sport to begin at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]] in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |title=IOC approves five new sports for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 |url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-approves-five-new-sports-for-olympic-games-tokyo-2020 |publisher= International Olympic Committee |date=3 August 2016 |accessdate=27 July 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806013659/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-approves-five-new-sports-for-olympic-games-tokyo-2020 |archive-date=6 August 2021}}</ref>
The first gold medalists of the Tokyo 2020 surfing men and women's competitions were, respectively, the Brazilian [[Ítalo Ferreira]] and the American from Hawaii, [[Carissa Moore]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tóquio 2020: Ìtalo Ferreira consegue a inédita medalha de ouro em Tóquio 2020!! |trans-title= Tokyo 2020: Ìtalo Ferreira gets the unprecedented gold medal in Tokyo 2020!!|url= https://omaringa.com.br/esportes/2021/07/27/toquio-2020-consegue-o-bronze/ |publisher=Jornal O Maringá|date=27 July 2021|accessdate=21 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Carissa Moore, Italo Ferreira Win Surfing Gold|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/07/26/sports/olympics-tokyo-medals-results#olympics-surfing|publisher=NYTimes|date=27 July 2021|accessdate=27 July 2021}}</ref>

==Origins and history==
{{Main|History of surfing}}

===Peru===
[[File:Huanchaco.jpg|thumb|''Caballitos de totora'', reed watercraft used by fishermen for the past 3000 years at Huanchaco, Peru, known for its surf breaks]]
About three to five thousand years ago, cultures in ancient [[Peru]] fished in kayak-like watercraft (''mochica'') made of reeds that the fishermen surfed back to shore.<ref name="Hough-SneeEastman2017">{{cite book |last1=Hough-Snee |first1=Dexter Zavalza |last2=Eastman |first2=Alexander Sotelo |editor1-last=Hough-Snee |editor1-first=Dexter Zavalza |editor2-last=Eastman |editor2-first=Alexander Sotelo |title=The Critical Surf Studies Reader |year=2017 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-7282-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mLwwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT11 |page=11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=What are Caballitos de Totora?|url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/what-are-caballitos-de-totora|access-date=2020-09-04|website=Surfer Today|date=20 March 2017}}</ref> The [[Moche culture]] used the [[caballito de totora]] (little horse of [[Totora (plant)|totora]]), with archaeological evidence showing its use around 200 CE.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Larco Hoyle|first=Rafael|title=Los Mochicas|publisher=[[Larco Museum|Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum]]|year=2001|isbn=9972-9341-0-1|location=Lima}}</ref> An early description of the [[Inca Empire|Inca]] surfing in [[Callao]] was documented by Jesuit missionary [[José de Acosta]] in his 1590 publication ''Historia natural y moral de las Indias'', writing:<ref>{{Cite book|last=de Acosta|first=José|author-link=José de Acosta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=26zAd4TrWXsC&q=olas|title=Historia natural y moral de las Indias|publisher=Casa de Juan de Leon|year=1590|pages=162}}</ref>{{Blockquote|text=It is true to see them go fishing in Callao de Lima, was for me a thing of great recreation, because there were many and each one in a ''balsilla caballero'', or sitting stubbornly cutting the waves of the sea, which is rough where they fish, they looked like the Tritons, or Neptunes, who paint upon the water.|author=|title=|source=}}

===Polynesia===
[[File:Surf-riding 1858.jpg|thumb|left|Hawaiians surfing, 1858]]
In [[Polynesian culture]], surfing was an important activity. Modern surfing as we know it today is thought to have originated in [[Hawaii]]. The history of surfing dates to {{circa|AD 400}} in Polynesia, where [[Polynesians]] began to make their way to the [[Hawaiian Islands]] from [[Tahiti]] and the [[Marquesas Islands]]. They brought many of their customs with them including playing in the surf on Paipo (belly/body) boards. It was in Hawaii that the art of standing and surfing upright on [[Surfboard|boards]] was invented.<ref name="Walker2011">{{cite book|author=Isaiah Helekunihi Walker|title=Waves of Resistance: Surfing and History in Twentieth-century Hawaiʻi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y_KrcQAACAAJ|year=2011|publisher=University of Hawaiʻi Press|isbn=978-0-8248-3547-7|page=16}}</ref>

Various European explorers witnessed surfing in [[Polynesia]].  Surfing may have been observed by British explorers at Tahiti in 1767. [[Samuel Wallis]] and the crew members of {{HMS|Dolphin|1751|6}} were the first Britons to visit the island in June of that year. Another candidate is the botanist [[Joseph Banks]]<ref>Fleming, F. (c. 2005). ''Off the Map: Tales of Endurance and Exploration'', p. 154. Atlantic Monthly Press.</ref> who was part of the [[first voyage of James Cook]] on {{HMS|Endeavour}}, arriving on Tahiti on 10 April 1769. Lieutenant [[James King (Royal Navy officer)|James King]] was the first person to write about the art of surfing on Hawaii, when he was completing the journals of Captain [[James Cook]] (upon Cook's death in 1779).

In [[Herman Melville]]'s 1849 novel ''[[Mardi]]'', based on his experiences in Polynesia earlier that decade, the narrator describes the "Rare Sport at Ohonoo" (title of chap. 90): “For this sport, a surf-board is indispensable: some five feet in length; the width of a man's body; convex on both sides; highly polished; and rounded at the ends. It is held in high estimation; invariably oiled after use; and hung up conspicuously in the dwelling of the owner.”<ref>''Mardi, and A Voyage Thither'' (Northwestern University Press, 1970), 273.</ref> When [[Mark Twain]] visited Hawaii in 1866 he wrote, "In one place, we came upon a large company of naked natives of both sexes and all ages, amusing themselves with the national pastime of surf-bathing."<ref>{{cite book |last=Twain |first=Mark |title=Roughing It |year=2007 |publisher=Digireads.com Publishing |location=Lawrence, Kansas |isbn=9781420930283 |page=264 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gjUOvGeK51MC}}</ref>

References to surf riding on planks and single canoe hulls are also verified for pre-contact [[Samoa]], where surfing was called ''fa'ase'e'' or ''se'egalu'' (see Augustin Krämer, ''The Samoa Islands''<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LHyUEUwaUdAC|title=The Samoa Islands|access-date=8 November 2014|isbn=9780824822194|last1=Krämer|first1=Augustin|year=2000|publisher=University of Hawaii Press }}</ref>), and [[Tonga]], far pre-dating the practice of surfing by Hawaiians and eastern Polynesians by over a thousand years.

===West Africa===

West Africans (e.g., [[Ghana]], [[Ivory Coast]], [[Liberia]], [[Senegal]]) and western Central Africans (e.g., [[Cameroon]]) independently developed the skill of surfing.<ref name="Dawson II">{{cite book |last1=Dawson |first1=Kevin |title=Undercurrents of Power Aquatic Culture in the African Diaspora |date=March 20, 2018 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=9780812249897 |pages=28–30 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FyVJDwAAQBAJ |chapter=Cultural Meanings of Recreational Swimming and Surfing |doi=10.9783/9780812294781 |oclc=994296486 |s2cid=202315785}}</ref> Amid the 1640s CE, Michael Hemmersam provided an account of surfing in the [[Gold Coast (region)|Gold Coast]]: “the parents ‘tie their children to boards and throw them into the water.’”<ref name="Dawson II" /> In 1679 CE, Barbot provided an account of surfing among [[Elmina]] children in Ghana: “children at Elmina learned “to swim, on bits of boards, or small bundles of rushes, fasten’d under their stomachs, which is a good diversion to the spectators.”<ref name="Dawson II" /> James Alexander provided an account of surfing in [[Accra]], Ghana in 1834 CE: “From the beach, meanwhile, might be seen boys swimming into the sea, with light boards under their stomachs. They waited for a surf; and came rolling like a cloud on top of it. But I was told that sharks occasionally dart in behind the rocks and ‘yam’ them.”<ref name="Dawson II" /> Thomas Hutchinson provided an account of surfing in southern [[Cameroon]] in 1861: “Fishermen rode small dugouts ‘no more than six feet in length, fourteen to sixteen inches in width, and from four to six inches in depth.’”<ref name="Dawson II" />

===California===
[[File:Essie Harris Surfs the cold waters of Morro Bay, CA 14 Oct 2009.jpg|thumb|upright|A woman holding her surfboard about to surf in [[Morro Bay, California]]]]
In July 1885, three teenage Hawaiian princes took a break from their boarding school, [[St. Matthew's Episcopal Day School|St. Matthew's Hall]] in [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], and came to cool off in [[Santa Cruz, California]]. There, [[David Kawānanakoa]], [[Edward Abnel Keliʻiahonui|Edward Keliʻiahonui]] and [[Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole]] surfed the mouth of the [[San Lorenzo River]] on custom-shaped redwood boards, according to surf historians Kim Stoner and Geoff Dunn.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dunn |first1=Geoffrey |title=Riders of the Sea Spray |url=http://www.gtweekly.com/santa-cruz-news/good-times-cover-stories/936-riders-of-the-sea-spray.html |access-date=2020-04-01 |work=[[Good Times (newspaper)|Good Times]] |date=31 March 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103121552/http://www.gtweekly.com/santa-cruz-news/good-times-cover-stories/936-riders-of-the-sea-spray.html |archive-date=2013-01-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{cbignore|bot=InternetArchiveBot}} In 1890, the pioneer in agricultural education [[John Wrightson]] reputedly became the first British surfer when instructed by two Hawaiian students at his college.<ref name=Times>{{cite news|last=Martin|first=Andy|author-link=Andy Martin (author)|title=Britain's original beach boys|newspaper=The Times|location=London|date=April 9, 2012|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/britains-original-beach-boys-3kjh2vj7l7q|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.museumofbritishsurfing.org.uk/| title = Hawaiian Royals Surf Bridlington – in 1890! - Museum of British Surfing}}</ref><ref>Malcolm Gault-Williams, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r84MBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA255 Legendary Surfers: The 1930s],  Volume 3, Lulu (2012)] - [[Google Books]] pg. 255</ref>

[[George Freeth]] (1883–1919), of English and Native Hawaiian descent, is generally credited as the person who had done more than anyone else to renew interest in surfing at Waikiki in the early twentieth century after the sport had declined in popularity in Hawaii during the latter half of the nineteenth century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Verge |first=Arthur C. |date=2001-07-01 |title=George Freeth: King of the Surfers and California's Forgotten Hero |url=https://online.ucpress.edu/ch/article/80/2-3/82/32395/George-Freeth-King-of-the-Surfers-and-California-s |journal=California History |language=en |volume=80 |issue=2–3 |pages=82–105 |doi=10.2307/25177649 |jstor=25177649 |issn=0162-2897}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Moser |first=Patrick |title=Pacific Passages: An Anthology of Surfing Writing |date=May 2008 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=9780824831554 |edition=First |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |pages=153–154 |language=English}}</ref>

In 1907, the eclectic interests of land developer Abbot Kinney (founder of Venice of America, now Venice, California) helped bring Freeth to California. Freeth had sought the help of the Hawaii Promotion Committee (HPC) in Honolulu to sponsor him on a trip to California to give surfing exhibitions. The HPC arranged through their contacts in Los Angeles to secure a contract for Freeth to perform at Venice of America in July, 1907.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Moser |first=Patrick |date=2020-09-29 |title=The Hawaii Promotion Committee and the Appropriation of Surfing |url=https://online.ucpress.edu/phr/article/89/4/500/111983/The-Hawaii-Promotion-Committee-and-the |journal=Pacific Historical Review |language=en |volume=89 |issue=4 |pages=500–527 |doi=10.1525/phr.2020.89.4.500 |issn=0030-8684}}</ref> Later that year, land baron [[Henry E. Huntington]] brought surfing to [[Redondo Beach, California|Redondo Beach]]. Looking for a way to entice visitors to his own budding resort community south of Venice where he had heavily invested in real estate, he hired Freeth as a lifeguard and to give surfing exhibitions in front of the [[Hotel Redondo]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Moser |first=Patrick |title=Surf and Rescue: George Freeth and the Birth of California Beach Culture |date=June 28, 2022 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-08652-6 |edition=First |location=Urbana, Illinois |pages= |language=English}}</ref> Another native Hawaiian, [[Duke Kahanamoku]], spread surfing to both the U.S. and Australia, riding the waves after displaying the swimming prowess that won him Olympic gold medals in 1912 and 1920.<ref>[https://olympics.com/en/news/the-legend-of-duke-kahanamoku-the-father-of-modern-surfing-and-double-olympic-ch The legend of Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing and double Olympic champion in Antwerp] (accessed 29 April 2022)</ref>

Mary Ann Hawkins, inspired by Duke Kahanamoku's surfing during the late 1920s, developed a lifelong passion for surfing. In 1935, her family relocated to [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], providing her with opportunities to further immerse herself in surfing and paddleboarding.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Moser |first=Patrick |title=Waikīkī dreams: how California appropriated Hawaiian beach culture. |publisher=Urbana: University of Illinois Press. |year=2024 |isbn=978-0-252-05678-9 |location=English |publication-date=2024}}</ref> On September 12, 1936, Hawkins achieved a historic milestone by winning [[California|California’s]] first women’s paddleboard race at the Santa Monica Breakwater. She continued to dominate the sport,<ref name=":02" /> winning numerous competitions, including the women’s half-mile paddleboard race and the [[Venice Breakwater]] event in 1938, both held on the same day.  
	
Hawkins was also a pioneer in tandem surfing, a discipline that highlights synchronized surfing between two individuals on a single board. She gained further recognition in 1939 when she performed exhibition [[paddleboarding]] and tandem surfing displays at various [[Southern California]] beaches, inspiring a new generation of women surfers.<ref name=":02" /> 
	
In January 1939, Hawkins was appointed head of the women’s auxiliary group of the Santa Monica Paddle Club and rose to vice president by January 1940.<ref name=":02" /> Her surfing peers frequently lauded her achievements, with "Whitey" Harrison describing her as "the best tandem rider." Throughout her career, Hawkins exemplified grace and athleticism, leaving an indelible mark on the history of women’s surfing and paddleboarding.
	
In 1975, a professional tour started.<ref name="Woman of the Year">{{cite web | title=Woman of the Year | website=Surfing Walk of Fame | url=http://www.surfingwalkoffame.com/woman/Oberg.html | access-date=11 December 2017 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806224253/http://www.surfingwalkoffame.com/woman/Oberg.html | archive-date=6 August 2017 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> That year [[Margo Oberg]] became the first female professional surfer.<ref name="Woman of the Year" />
{{clear right}}

==Surf waves==
<!-- [[Surf wave]] redirects here -->{{See also|Ocean surface wave}}
[[File:Pipeline Barrel (51633882).jpeg|thumb|Pipeline barrel at [[Pūpūkea, Hawaii]]]]
[[File:A surfer surfing on the ocean (Unsplash).jpg|thumb|Surfer getting tubed at [[Sunset Beach (Oahu)|Sunset]] on the [[North Shore (Oahu)|North Shore]] of [[Oahu]]]]
[[File:Surfers at Mavericks.jpg|thumb|right|A large wave breaking at [[Mavericks, California|Mavericks]]]]

[[Swell (ocean)|Swell]] is generated when the wind blows consistently over a large space of open water, called the wind's [[fetch (geography)|fetch]]. The size of a swell is determined by the strength of the wind, and the length of its fetch and duration. Because of these factors, the surf tends to be larger and more prevalent on coastlines exposed to large expanses of ocean traversed by intense [[low-pressure area|low pressure systems]].

Local wind conditions affect wave quality since the surface of a wave can become choppy in blustery conditions. Ideal conditions include a light to moderate "offshore" wind, because it blows into the front of the wave, making it a [[Barreling wave|"barrel"]] or "tube" wave. Waves are left-handed and right-handed depending upon the breaking formation of the wave.

Waves are generally recognized by the surfaces over which they break.<ref>The Bluffer's Guides, The Bluffer's Guide to Surfing, Oval Books, 2008.</ref> For example, there are beach breaks, reef breaks and point breaks.

The most important influence on wave shape is the [[bathymetry|topography of the seabed]] directly behind and immediately beneath the breaking wave. Each break is different since each location's underwater topography is unique. At beach breaks, sandbanks change shape from week to week. [[Surf forecasting]] is aided by advances in information technology. Mathematical modeling graphically depicts the size and direction of swells around the globe.

Swell regularity varies across the globe and throughout the year. During winter, heavy swells are generated in the mid-latitudes, when the North and South [[polar front]]s shift toward the [[Equator]]. The predominantly Westerly winds generate swells that advance Eastward, so waves tend to be largest on West coasts during winter months. However, an endless train of [[mid-latitude cyclone]]s cause the [[isobar (meteorology)|isobar]]s to become undulated, redirecting swells at regular intervals toward the tropics.<!-- what is an undulated isobar? -->

East coasts also receive heavy winter swells when low-pressure cells form in the sub-tropics, where slow moving [[Anticyclone|highs]] inhibit their movement. These lows produce a shorter fetch than polar fronts, however, they can still generate heavy swells since their slower movement increases the duration of a particular wind direction. The variables of fetch and duration both influence how long wind acts over a wave as it travels since a wave reaching the end of a fetch behaves as if the wind died.

During summer, heavy swells are generated when cyclones form in the tropics. [[Tropical cyclone]]s form over warm seas, so their occurrence is influenced by [[El Niño-Southern Oscillation|El Niño and La Niña]] cycles. Their movements are unpredictable.

Surf travel and some surf camps offer surfers access to remote, tropical locations, where [[tradewinds]] ensure offshore conditions. Since winter swells are generated by [[mid-latitude cyclone]]s, their regularity coincides with the passage of these lows. Swells arrive in pulses, each lasting for a couple of days, with a few days between each swell.

The availability of free [[Numerical weather prediction|model data]] from the [[NOAA]] has allowed the creation of several [[surf forecasting]] websites.

===Tube shape and speed===
[[File:Wave-shape-intensity.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|The [[geometry]] of tube shape can be represented as a ratio between length and width.]]

Tube shape is defined by length to width ratio. A perfectly cylindrical [[vortex]] has a ratio of 1:1. Other forms include:
* Square: <1:1
* Round: 1–2:1
* Almond: >2:1

''Peel'' or ''peeling off'' as a descriptive term for the quality of a break has been defined as "a fast, clean, evenly falling curl line, perfect for surfing, and usually found at pointbreaks."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Warshaw|first=Matthew|title=The Encyclopedia of Surfing|publisher=Harvest Book Harcourt Inc|year=2005|isbn=978-0151--00579-6|location=Orlando|pages=e.g. 452}}</ref>

Tube speed is the rate of advance of the break along the length of the wave, and is the speed at which the surfer must move along the wave to keep up with the advance of the tube.<ref name="Lewis et al 2015" /> 
Tube speed can be described using the peel angle and wave celerity. Peel angle is the angle between the wave front and the horizontal projection of the point of break over time, which in a regular break is most easily represented by the line of white water left after the break. A break that closes out, or breaks all at once along its length, leaves white water parallel to the wave front, and has a peel angle of 0°. This is unsurfable as it would require infinite speed to progress along the face fast enough to keep up with the break. A break which advances along the wave face more slowly will leave a line of new white water at an angle to the line of the wave face.<ref name="Lewis et al 2015" /><ref name="Mendonca et al 2012" />

:<math>V_s = \frac {c}{sin \alpha}</math><ref name="Lewis et al 2015" />

Where:
:<math>V_s = </math>velocity of surfer along the wave face
:<math>c = </math>wave celerity (velocity in direction of propagation)
:<math>\alpha =</math>peel angle

In most cases a peel angle less than 25° is too fast to surf.<ref name="Lewis et al 2015" />

* Fast: 30°
* Medium: 45°
* Slow: 60°

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Wave intensity table
|-
! !! Fast !! Medium !! Slow
|-
! Square
| [[G-Land|The Cobra]] || [[Teahupoo]] || [[Shark Island, Cronulla Beach|Shark Island]]
|-
! Round
| [[G-Land|Speedies]], [[Gnaraloo]] || [[Banzai Pipeline]] ||
|-
! Almond
| [[Lagundri Bay]], [[Snapper Rocks|Superbank]] || [[Jeffreys Bay]], [[Bells Beach, Victoria|Bells Beach]] || [[Angourie Point]]
|}

===Wave intensity===
The type of break depends on shoaling rate. Breaking waves can be classified as four basic types: spilling (ξ<sub>b</sub><0.4), plunging (0.4<ξ<sub>b</sub><2), collapsing (ξ<sub>b</sub>>2) and surging (ξ<sub>b</sub>>2), and which type occurs depends on the slope of the bottom.<ref name="Lewis et al 2015" />

Waves suitable for surfing break as spilling or plunging types, and when they also have a suitable peel angle, their value for surfing is enhanced. Other factors such as wave height and period, and wind strength and direction can also influence steepness and intensity of the break, but the major influence on the type and shape of breaking waves is determined by the slope of the seabed before the break. The breaker type index and [[Iribarren number]] allow classification of breaker type as a function of wave steepness and seabed slope.<ref name="Lewis et al 2015" />

===Artificial reefs===
The value of good surf in attracting surf tourism has prompted the construction of [[artificial reef]]s and sand bars. Artificial surfing reefs can be built with durable sandbags or concrete, and resemble a submerged breakwater. These artificial reefs not only provide a surfing location, but also dissipate wave energy and shelter the coastline from erosion. Ships such as [[Seli 1]] that have accidentally stranded on sandy bottoms, can create sandbanks that give rise to good waves.<ref>{{cite web|title=Seli 1: One Year On|url=http://www.zigzag.co.za/news/enviro/6709/Seli-1|work=ZigZag|publisher=Online Publishers Association South Africa|access-date=25 May 2012|author=Clayton Truscott|date=23 September 2009}}</ref>

An artificial reef known as [[Chevron Reef]] was constructed in [[El Segundo, California]] in hopes of creating a new surfing area. However, the reef failed to produce any quality waves and was removed in 2008. In [[Kovalam]], South West India, an artificial reef has successfully provided the local community with a quality lefthander, stabilized coastal soil erosion, and provided good habitat for [[marine life]].<ref>{{cite news |title=India's first artificial reef to protect Kovalam |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-first-artificial-reef-to-protect-Kovalam/articleshow/5951403.cms |access-date=25 May 2012 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=20 May 2010 }}</ref> ASR Ltd., a New Zealand-based company, constructed the Kovalam reef and is working on [[Boscombe Surf Reef|another reef]] in Boscombe, England.

===Artificial waves===
[[File:Surf IMG 0949 (3120282731).jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Surfing a stationary, artificial wave in Southern California]]

Even with artificial reefs in place, a tourist's vacation time may coincide with a "flat spell", when no waves are available. Completely artificial [[wave pool]]s aim to solve that problem by controlling all the elements that go into creating perfect surf, however there are only a handful of wave pools that can [[simulate]] good surfing waves, owing primarily to construction and operation costs and potential liability. Most wave pools generate waves that are too small and lack the power necessary to surf. The [[Seagaia Ocean Dome]], located in Miyazaki, Japan, was an example of a surfable wave pool. Able to generate waves with up to {{convert|3|m|ft||abbr=on|sigfig=1}} faces, the specialized pump held water in 20 vertical tanks positioned along the back edge of the pool. This allowed the waves to be directed as they approach the artificial sea floor. Lefts, Rights, and A-frames could be directed from this pump design providing for rippable surf and barrel rides. The Ocean Dome cost about $2&nbsp;billion to build and was expensive to maintain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.surfline.com/mag/pulse/2000/nov/11_8_japan.cfm|title=MADE IN JAPAN Unlike its counterparts, Miyazaki's Ocean Dome wavepool is for real|author=Duncan Scott|date=8 November 2000|work=Surfline|publisher=Surfline/Wavetrak, Inc|access-date=25 May 2012}}</ref> The Ocean Dome was closed in 2007. In England, construction is nearing completion on the Wave,<ref name="the-wave">{{cite web |title=Sustainable inland surfing destinations |website=The Wave Bristol |url=http://thewave.com/Bristol/ |access-date=11 December 2017 }}</ref> situated near [[Bristol]], which will enable people unable to get to the coast to enjoy the waves in a controlled environment, set in the heart of nature.

There are two main types of artificial waves that exist today. One being artificial or stationary waves which simulate a moving, breaking wave by pumping a layer of water against a smooth structure mimicking the shape of a breaking wave. Because of the velocity of the rushing water, the wave and the surfer can remain stationary while the water rushes by under the surfboard. Artificial waves of this kind provide the opportunity to try surfing and learn its basics in a moderately small and controlled environment near or far from locations with natural surf.

==Maneuvers==
[[File:Big wave breaking in Santa Cruz.jpg|right|thumb|A surfer going for the tube|alt=Photo of surfer at bottom of wave, attempting to let tube envelop him]]
[[File:Surfing contest - oahu hawaii - north shore - oct 2015.ogv|thumb|thumbtime=6|right|Catching waves at a surfing contest on the [[North Shore (Oahu)|North Shore]] of [[Oahu]], [[Hawaii]]]]
[[File:Surfing competition at Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point, California, USA as viewed from a FPV drone.webm|thumb|Aerial views of a surfing competition at [[Salt Creek Beach Park|Salt Creek Beach]], [[Dana Point, California]].]]

Standup surfing begins when the surfer paddles toward shore in an attempt to match the speed of the wave (the same applies whether the surfer is standup paddling, bodysurfing, boogie-boarding or using some other type of watercraft, such as a waveski or kayak). Once the wave begins to carry the surfer forward, the surfer stands up and proceeds to ride the wave. The basic idea is to position the surfboard so it is just ahead of the breaking part (whitewash) of the wave, in the so-called 'pocket'. It is difficult for beginners to catch the wave at all.

Surfers' skills are tested by their ability to control their board in difficult conditions, riding challenging waves, and executing maneuvers such as strong turns and cutbacks (turning board back to the breaking wave) and ''carving'' (a series of strong back-to-back maneuvers). More advanced skills include the ''floater'' (riding on top of the breaking curl of the wave), and ''off the lip'' (banking off crest of the breaking wave). A newer addition to surfing is the progression of the ''air,'' whereby a surfer propels off the wave entirely up into the air and then successfully lands the board back on the wave.

The tube ride is considered to be the ultimate maneuver in surfing. As a wave breaks, if the conditions are ideal, the wave will break in an orderly line from the middle to the shoulder, enabling the experienced surfer to position themselves inside the wave as it is breaking. This is known as a tube ride. Viewed from the shore, the tube rider may disappear from view as the wave breaks over the rider's head. The longer the surfer remains in the tube, the more successful the ride. This is referred to as getting tubed, barrelled, shacked or pitted. Some of the world's best-known waves for tube riding include Pipeline on the [[North Shore (Oahu)|North Shore]] of Oahu, Teahupoo in Tahiti and G-Land in Java. Other names for the tube include "the barrel", and "the pit".

[[Hanging ten]] and hanging five are moves usually specific to longboarding. Hanging Ten refers to having both feet on the front end of the board with all of the surfer's toes off the edge, also known as nose-riding. Hanging Five is having just one foot near the front, with five toes off the edge.

Cutback: Generating speed down the line and then turning back to reverse direction.

Snap: Quickly turning along the face or top of the wave, almost as if snapping the board back towards the wave. Typically done on steeper waves.

Blowtail: Pushing the tail of the board out of the back of the wave so that the fins leave the water.

Floater: Suspending the board atop the wave. Very popular on small waves.

Top-Turn: Turn off the top of the wave. Sometimes used to generate speed and sometimes to shoot spray.

Bottom Turn: A turn at the bottom or mid-face of the wave, this maneuver is used to set up other maneuvers such as the top turn, cutback and even aerials.

Airs/Aerials: These maneuvers have been becoming more and more prevalent in the sport in both competition and free surfing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Guide to Surfing Airs {{!}} OMBE |url=https://www.ombe.co/guides/a-guide-to-surfing-airs |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.ombe.co |language=en}}</ref> An air is when the surfer can achieve enough speed and approach a certain type of section of a wave that is supposed to act as a ramp and launch the surfer above the lip line of the wave, “catching air”, and landing either in the transition of the wave or the whitewash when hitting a close-out section.

Airs can either be straight airs or rotational airs. Straight airs have minimal rotation if any, but definitely no more rotation than 90 degrees. Rotational airs require a rotation of 90 degrees or more depending on the level of the surfer.

Types of rotations:

* 180 degrees – called an air reverse, this is when the surfer spins enough to land backwards, then reverts to their original positional with the help of the fins. This rotation can either be done frontside or backside and can spin right or left.
* 360 degrees – this is a full rotation air or “full rotor” where the surfer lands where they started or more, as long as they do not land backwards. When this is achieved front side on a wave spinning the opposite of an air reverse is called an alley-oop.
* 540 degrees – the surfer does a full rotation plus another 180 degrees and can be inverted or spinning straight, few surfers have been able to land this air.
* Backflip – usually done with a double grab, this hard to land air is made for elite-level surfers.
* Rodeo flip – usually done backside, it is a backflip with a 180 rotation, and is actually easier than a straight backflip.
* Grabs – a surfer can help land an aerial maneuver by grabbing the surfboard, keeping them attached to the board and keeping the board under their feet. Common types of grabs include:
** Indy – a grab on the surfers inside rail going frontside, outside rail going backside with their backhand.
** Slob – a grab on the surfers inside rail going frontside, outside rail going backside with their front hand.
** Lien – A grab on the surfers outside rail frontside, inside rail going backside with their front hand.
** Stalefish – A grab on the surfers outside rail frontside, inside rail backside with their backhand.
** Double grab – A grab on the surfers inside and outside rail, the inside rail with the backhand and the outside rail with the front hand.

===Terms===
The [[Glossary of surfing]] includes some of the extensive [[vocabulary]] used to describe various aspects of the sport of surfing as described in literature on the subject.<ref>{{cite book |last=Finney |first=Ben |author2=Houston, James D. |title=Surfing – A History of the Ancient Hawaiian Sport |publisher=Pomegranate Artbooks |location=Rohnett, CA |isbn=978-0-87654-594-2 |chapter=Appendix A – Hawaiian Surfing terms |pages=94–97 |year=1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Guisado |first=Raul |title=The Art of Surfing: A Training Manual for the Developing and Competitive Surfer |publisher=Globe Pequot Press |location=Guilford, CT |year=2003 |chapter=Appendix A – Glossary of Surfing Lingo |pages=[https://archive.org/details/artofsurfingtrai0000guis/page/165 165–0170] |isbn=978-0-7627-2466-6 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/artofsurfingtrai0000guis/page/165 }}</ref> In some cases terms have spread to a wider cultural use. These terms were originally coined by people who were directly involved in the sport of surfing.

==Learning==
{{Multiple image
|align=right |direction=vertical |width=
|image1=Learning to surf with Ocean Adventures, Durban beach front. KwaZulu Natal, South Africa (20504507242).jpg 
|image2=Surfing at Currumbin Rock, northern tip of Currumbin Beach, 2020, 04.jpg
|caption2=Learning to surf
}}

Many popular surfing destinations have surf schools and surf camps that offer lessons. Surf camps for beginners and intermediates are multi-day lessons that focus on surfing fundamentals. They are designed to take new surfers and help them become proficient riders. All-inclusive surf camps offer overnight accommodations, meals, lessons and surfboards. Most surf lessons begin with instruction and a safety briefing on land, followed by instructors helping students into waves on [[Longboard (surfing)|longboards]] or "softboards". The softboard is considered the ideal surfboard for learning, due to the fact it is safer, and has more paddling speed and stability than shorter boards. Funboards are also a popular shape for beginners as they combine the volume and stability of the longboard with the manageable size of a smaller surfboard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hvsboardsport.com/howtosurf/|title=How to surf; learn to surf in one day|author=Kristian Hansen|date=20 November 2017|website=hvsboardsport.com|publisher=Hvs Boardsport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131256/https://hvsboardsport.com/howtosurf/|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref> New and inexperienced surfers typically learn to catch waves on softboards around the {{convert|7|to|8|ft|cm|order=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} funboard size. Due to the softness of the surfboard the chance of getting injured is substantially minimized.

It is possible to learn to surf without an instructor, but the process is usually safer and quicker with a surf instructor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2024 |title=Can You Teach Yourself to Surf? |url=https://independentsurfer.com/blog/can-you-teach-yourself-to-surf/ |access-date=September 28, 2024 |website=Independent Surfer}}</ref> Typical surfing instruction is best-performed one-on-one, but can also be done in a group setting. Post-COVID, there's been a shift towards online and land-based surf coaching and training.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surf industry riding high on wave of older, wealthier surfers |url=https://bond.edu.au/news/surf-industry-riding-high-on-wave-of-older-wealthier-surfers |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Bond University |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Turren |first=Com |date=2023-02-25 |title=Brave chevalier dives headlong into seedy world of online surf coaching programs (Part One)! |url=https://beachgrit.com/2023/02/brave-chevalier-dives-headlong-into-seedy-world-of-online-surf-coaching-programs-part-one/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=BeachGrit |language=en-US}}</ref> Online surf coaching is allowing surfers to learn at their own pace and convenience from anywhere. Land-based training, such as skateboard simulations, offers a way to practice maneuvers repeatedly, refining techniques with the guidance of professional coaches either in person or remotely using video analysis apps. The most popular surf locations offer perfect surfing conditions for beginners, as well as challenging breaks for advanced students. The ideal conditions for learning would be small waves that crumble and break softly, as opposed to the steep, fast-peeling waves desired by more experienced surfers. When available, a sandy seabed is generally safer.

Surfing can be broken into several skills: paddling strength, positioning to catch the wave, timing, and balance. Paddling out requires strength, but also the mastery of techniques to break through oncoming waves (''duck diving'', ''eskimo roll'' also known as ''turtle roll''). Take-off positioning requires experience at predicting the wave set and where it will break. The surfer must pop up quickly as soon as the wave starts pushing the board forward. Preferred positioning on the wave is determined by experience at reading wave features including where the wave is breaking.<ref name="learnhowtosurf">{{cite web |url=http://www.learnhowtosurf.info/how-to-surf/ |title=The quick guide on how to surf |publisher=learnhowtosurf.info |access-date=26 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831054300/http://www.learnhowtosurf.info/how-to-surf/ |archive-date=31 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Balance plays a crucial role in standing on a surfboard. Thus, balance training exercises are good preparation. Practicing with a [[balance board]], [[longboard (skateboard)]], [[Surfskating|surfskate]] or swing board helps novices master the art of surfing.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to Choose the Best Surf Skateboard: The Complete Guide |url=https://www.ridingboards.com/best-surf-skateboard/ |website=Riding Boards |access-date=8 July 2021 |date=17 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Surf Training 101: What Is a Surf Skate? {{!}} OMBE |url=https://www.ombe.co/guides/surf-training-101-what-is-a-surf-skate |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.ombe.co |language=en}}</ref> However, it's important to note that these land-based training methods have faced criticism within the surf coaching community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierson |first=Dashel |date=2023-08-09 |title=Kelly Slater Calls Out Surf Skaters for "Kookiness" |url=https://www.surfer.com/trending-news/kelly-slater-calls-out-surf-skaters-for-kookiness |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Surfer |language=en}}</ref> Concerns include the potential for developing poor surfing style and habits, such as excessive wiggling, due to training on flat surfaces which do not accurately mimic the dynamic nature of ocean waves.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why you shouldn't wiggle on a surf skate {{!}} OMBE |url=https://www.ombe.co/guides/why-you-shouldnt-wiggle-on-a-surf-skate |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.ombe.co |language=en}}</ref>

To address these limitations, training in a skate bowl is recommended. Skate bowls can offer a more realistic simulation of the centrifugal forces experienced while surfing. This type of training helps in developing better control and style by replicating the curved, wave-like shapes and motions surfers encounter in the water. Integrating skate bowl training can provide a more comprehensive preparation for the surfing experience, balancing the benefits of basic balance training with the nuances of wave dynamics.

The repetitive cycle of paddling, popping up, and balancing requires stamina and physical strength. Having a proper [[Warming up|warm-up routine]] can help prevent injuries.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chin |first=Tyler |url=https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a19528572/torrey-meister-warm-up-us-open-surfing/ |title=Warm Up So You Don't Wipe Out |date=2017-08-01 |work=[[Men's Health]] |access-date=2018-11-13 |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301134822/https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a19528572/torrey-meister-warm-up-us-open-surfing/ |archive-date=2021-03-01}}</ref>

==Equipment==
[[File:Waxing a surfboard.jpg|thumb|[[Surfboard wax|Waxing]] a surfboard|alt=Photo of a woman bent over surfboard rubbing bar of solid wax against the board with palm trees and ocean in background]]
[[File:Surf Leash.JPG|thumb|[[Surfboard leash]]|alt=Photo of plastic cord attached to a surfboard and velcroed around surfer's ankle]]

Surfing can be done on various equipment, including [[surfboard]]s, [[Longboard (surfing)|longboards]], [[Stand up paddle surfing|stand up paddle boards (SUPs)]], [[bodyboard]]s, [[Waveski|wave skis]], [[skimboard]]s, [[kneeboard]]s, [[surf mat]]s and [[tray|macca's tray]]s. [[Surfboard]]s were originally made of solid wood and were large and heavy (often up to {{convert|12|ft|cm|order=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} long and having a mass of {{convert|150|lb|kg|order=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=1}}). Lighter [[balsa wood]] surfboards (first made in the late 1940s and early 1950s) were a significant improvement, not only in portability, but also in increasing maneuverability.

Most modern surfboards are made of [[fiberglass]] foam (PU), with one or more wooden strips or "stringers", fiberglass cloth, and [[polyester resin]] (PE). An emerging board material is [[epoxy resin]] and [[Polystyrene#Expanded polystyrene (EPS)|Expanded Polystyrene]] foam (EPS) which is stronger and lighter than traditional PU/PE construction. Even newer designs incorporate materials such as [[carbon fiber]] and variable-flex composites in conjunction with fiberglass and epoxy or polyester resins. Since epoxy/EPS surfboards are generally lighter, they will float better than a traditional PU/PE board of similar size, shape and thickness. This makes them easier to paddle and faster in the water. However, a common complaint of EPS boards is that they do not provide as much feedback as a traditional PU/PE board. For this reason, many advanced surfers prefer that their surfboards be made from traditional materials.

Other equipment includes a [[Surfboard leash|leash]] (to stop the board from drifting away after a wipeout and to prevent it from hitting other surfers), [[surf wax]], traction pads (to keep a surfer's feet from slipping off the deck of the board), and fins (also known as ''skegs'') which can either be permanently attached (''glassed-on'') or interchangeable. [[Sportswear (activewear)|Sportswear]] designed or particularly suitable for surfing may be sold as ''boardwear'' (the term is also used in [[snowboarding]]). In warmer climates, swimsuits, surf trunks or [[boardshorts]] are worn, and occasionally [[rash guard]]s; in cold water, surfers can opt to wear [[wetsuit]]s, boots, hoods, and gloves to protect them against lower water temperatures.<ref name="surfhandbook.com">{{cite web|url=https://surfhandbook.com/how-to-choose-the-right-wetsuit/|title=HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT WETSUIT FOR SURFING?
|publisher=surfhandbook.com|access-date=3 February 2020|date=3 February 2020}}</ref> A newer introduction is a rash vest with a thin layer of [[titanium]] to provide maximum warmth without compromising mobility.{{clarify|how does a layer of metal provide maximum warmth without compromising mobility|date=February 2021}} In recent years, there have been advancements in technology that have allowed surfers to pursue even bigger waves with added elements of safety. Big wave surfers are now experimenting with inflatable vests or colored dye packs to help decrease their odds of drowning.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Surfer|title=Bigger and Better|url=http://www.surfermag.com/features/big-wave-surfing-innovations/|access-date=29 December 2014|work=Surfer Magazine|publisher=Surfer Magazine|date=15 September 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Cocoa Beach Surf Museum at Ron Jon Surf Shop (Cocoa Beach, Florida) 002.jpg|thumb|right|A variety of [[surfboards]]]]

There are many different surfboard sizes, shapes, and designs in use today. Modern [[Surfboard#Variations|longboard]]s, generally {{convert|9|to|10|ft|cm|order=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} in length, are reminiscent of the earliest surfboards, but now benefit from modern innovations in surfboard shaping and fin design. Competitive longboard surfers need to be competent at traditional ''walking'' manoeuvres, as well as the short-radius turns normally associated with shortboard surfing. The modern [[Surfboard#Variations|shortboard]] began life in the late 1960s and has evolved into today's common ''thruster'' style, defined by its three fins, usually around {{convert|6|to|7|ft|cm|order=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} in length. The thruster was invented by Australian [[Surfboard shaper|shaper]] [[Simon Anderson]].

Midsize boards, often called [[Surfboard#Variations|funboard]]s, provide more maneuverability than a longboard, with more flotation than a shortboard. While many surfers find that funboards live up to their name, providing the best of both surfing modes, others are critical.

:"It is the happy medium of mediocrity," writes Steven Kotler. "Funboard riders either have nothing left to prove or lack the skills to prove anything."<ref>{{cite book
  | last =Kotler
  | first =Steven
  | title =West of Jesus: Surfing, Science, and the Origins of Belief
  | publisher =Bloomsbury
  | date =13 June 2006
  | isbn =978-1-59691-051-5 }}</ref>

There are also various niche styles, such as the ''Egg'', a longboard-style short board targeted at people who want to ride a shortboard but need more paddle power. The ''Fish'', a board that is typically shorter, flatter, and wider than a normal shortboard, often with a split tail (known as a ''swallow tail''). The Fish often has two or four [[Surfboard Fins|fins]] and is specifically designed for surfing smaller waves. For big waves, there is the ''Gun'', a long, thick board with a pointed nose and tail (known as a pintail) specifically designed for big waves.

== The physics of surfing{{anchor|Physics_of_surfing}} ==
{{Multiple image
|align=right |direction=vertical |width=
|image1=Nazaré, Portugal (Unsplash 7bt4ngmSu9Y).jpg |caption1=[[Tow-in surfing]] in [[Nazaré, Portugal]]
|image2=Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal (33830450815).jpg |caption2=Giant [[breaking wave]]s in [[Praia do Norte (Nazaré)|Praia do Norte]]
|image3=Can you see the surfer? (33988985575).jpg |caption3=The [[Praia do Norte (Nazaré)|Praia do Norte, Nazaré]] (''North Beach'') was listed in the [[Guinness World Records]] for the biggest waves ever surfed.
}}

The physics of surfing involves the physical oceanographic properties of wave creation in the surf zone, the characteristics of the surfboard, and the surfer's interaction with the water and the board.

=== Wave formation ===
[[Ocean wave]]s are defined as a collection of dislocated water parcels that undergo a cycle of being forced past their normal position and being restored back to their normal position.<ref name=Talley2011 /> Wind causes ripples and [[Eddy (fluid dynamics)|eddies]] to form waves that gradually gain speed and distance (fetch). Waves increase in energy and speed and then become longer and stronger.<ref name=Scarfe2009 /> The fully-developed sea has the strongest wave action that experiences storms lasting 10-hours and creates {{Convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=3}} wave heights in the open ocean.<ref name=Talley2011 />

The waves created in the open ocean are classified as deep-water waves. Deep-water waves have no bottom interaction and the orbits of these water molecules are circular; their wavelength is short relative to water depth and the velocity decays before reaching the bottom of the water basin.<ref name=Talley2011 /> Deep water waves are waves in water depths greater than half their wavelengths.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wave Energy and Wave Changes with Depth |url=https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/physical/waves/wave-energy-and-wave-changes-depth#:~:text=Deep%2Dwater%20waves%20are%20waves,%3E%201%2F2%20L). |access-date=21 September 2024}}</ref> Wind forces waves to break in the deep sea.{{clarify|date=February 2021}}

Deep-water waves travel to shore and become shallow-water waves when the water depth is less than half of their wavelength, and the wave motion becomes constrained by the bottom, causing the orbit paths to be flattened to [[ellipse]]s. The bottom exerts a frictional [[Drag (physics)|drag]] on the bottom of the wave, which decreases the celerity (or the speed of the waveform), and causes refraction. Slowing the wave forces it to shorten which increases the height and steepness, and the top (crest) falls because the velocity of the top of the wave becomes greater than the velocity of the bottom of the wave where the drag occurs.<ref name=Talley2011>{{cite book|last=Talley |first=Lynne D. |title=Descriptive Physical Oceanography: An Introduction |date=2011 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-08-093911-7 |pages=223–244 |chapter=Chapter 8. Gravity Waves, Tides, and Coastal Oceanography }}</ref>

The surf zone is the place of convergence of multiple waves types creating complex wave patterns. A wave suitable for surfing results from maximum speeds of {{Convert|5|m/s|ft/s}}. This speed is relative because local onshore winds can cause waves to break.<ref name=Scarfe2009 /> In the surf zone, shallow water waves are carried by global winds to the beach and interact with local winds to make surfing waves.<ref name=Scarfe2009 /><ref name=Madsen1997 />

Different onshore and off-shore wind patterns in the surf zone create different types of waves. Onshore winds cause random wave breaking patterns and are more suitable for experienced surfers.<ref name=Scarfe2009 /><ref name=Madsen1997>{{cite journal |last1=Madsen |first1=P.A. |author2=O.R. Sørensen, and H.A. Schäffer |date=1997 |title=Surf zone dynamics simulated by a Boussinesq type model. Part I. Model description of cross-shore motion of regular waves |journal=Coastal Engineering |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=255–287 |doi=10.1016/S0378-3839(97)00028-8|bibcode=1997CoasE..32..255M |issn = 0378-3839}}</ref> Light offshore winds create smoother waves, while strong direct offshore winds cause plunging or large barrel waves.<ref name=Scarfe2009 /> Barrel waves are large because the water depth is small when the wave breaks. Thus, the breaker intensity (or force) increases, and the wave speed and height increase.<ref name=Scarfe2009 /> Off-shore winds produce non-surfable conditions by flattening a weak swell. Weak swell is made from surface gravity forces and has long wavelengths.<ref name=Scarfe2009 /><ref name=Edge2001>{{cite journal |last=Edge |first=Ronald |date=2001 |title=Surf Physics |journal=The Physics Teacher |volume=39 |issue=5 |pages=272–277 |doi=10.1119/1.1375464|bibcode=2001PhTea..39..272E }}</ref>

=== Wave conditions for surfing ===
Surfing waves can be analyzed using the following parameters: breaking wave height, wave peel angle (α), wave breaking intensity, and wave section length. The breaking wave height has two measurements, the relative heights estimated by surfers and the exact measurements done by physical oceanographers. Measurements done by surfers were 1.36 to 2.58 times higher than the measurements done by scientists. The scientifically concluded wave heights that are physically possible to surf are {{Convert|1 to 20|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}.<ref name=Scarfe2009 />

The wave peel angle is one of the main constituents of a potential surfing wave. Wave peel angle measures the distance between the peel-line and the line tangent to the breaking crest line. This angle controls the speed of the wave crest. The speed of the wave is an addition of the propagation velocity vector (Vw) and peel velocity vector (Vp), which results in the overall velocity of the wave (Vs).<ref name=Scarfe2009 />

Wave breaking intensity measures the force of the wave as it breaks, spills, or plunges (a plunging wave is termed by surfers as a "barrel wave"). Wave section length is the distance between two breaking crests in a wave set. Wave section length can be hard to measure because local winds, non-linear wave interactions, island sheltering, and swell interactions can cause multifarious wave configurations in the surf zone.<ref name=Scarfe2009 />

The parameters breaking wave height, wave peel angle (α), and wave breaking intensity, and wave section length are important because they are standardized by past oceanographers who researched surfing; these parameters have been used to create a guide that matches the type of wave formed and the skill level of surfer.<ref name=Scarfe2009>{{cite journal |last1=Scarfe |first1=Bradley E. |author2=Terry R. Healy, and Hamish G. Rennie |date=2009 |title=Research-Based Surfing Literature for Coastal Management and the Science of Surfing—A Review |url=http://www.jcronline.org/doi/full/10.2112/07-0932.1 |journal=Journal of Coastal Research |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=539–557 |doi=10.2112/07-0958.1|s2cid=145159559 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Table 1: Wave type and surfer skill level<ref name=Scarfe2009 />
! Skill level !! Peel angle (degrees) !! Wave height (meters) !! Section speed (meters/second) !! Section length (meters) !! General locations of waves
|-
| Beginner|| 60-70 || 2.5 || 10|| 25 || Low Gradient Breaks;{{citation needed|date=May 2019}} [[Atlantic Beach, Florida]]
|-
| Intermediate || 55 || 2.5|| 20 || 40 || [[Bells Beach, Victoria|Bells Beach]]; [[Australia]]{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
|-
| Competent|| 40-50 || 3 || 20 || 40-60 || [[Kirra, Queensland|Kirra Point]]; [[Burleigh Heads, Queensland|Burleigh Heads]]
|-
| Top Amateur || 30 || 3 || 20 || 60 || [[Pecatu#Bingin Beach|Bingin Beach]]; [[Pecatu#Padang Padang Beach|Padang Padang Beach]]
|-
| Top World Surfer || >27 || 3 || 20 || 60 || [[Banzai Pipeline]]; [[Shark Island (Cronulla Beach)|Shark Island]]
|}

Table 1 shows a relationship of smaller peel angles correlating with a higher skill level of the surfer. Smaller wave peel angles increase the velocities of waves. A surfer must know how to react and paddle quickly to match the speed of the wave to catch it. Therefore, more experience is required to catch low peel angle waves. More experienced surfers can handle longer section lengths, increased velocities, and higher wave heights.<ref name=Scarfe2009 /> Different locations offer different types of surfing conditions for each skill level.

=== Surf breaks ===
A [[surf break]] is an area with an obstruction or an object that causes a wave to break. Surf breaks entail multiple scale phenomena. Wave section creation has microscale factors of peel angle and wave breaking intensity. The micro-scale components influence wave height and variations on wave crests. The mesoscale components of surf breaks are the ramp, platform, wedge, or ledge that may be present at a surf break. Macro-scale processes are the global winds that initially produce offshore waves. Types of surf breaks are headlands (point break), beach break, river/estuary entrance bar, reef breaks, and ledge breaks.<ref name=Scarfe2009 />

==== Headland (point break) ====
A [[headland]] or point break interacts with the water by causing refraction around the point or headland. The point absorbs the high-frequency waves and long-period waves persist, which are easier to surf. Examples of locations that have headland or point break-induced surf breaks are Dunedin (New Zealand), Raglan (New Zealand), Malibu (California), Rincon (California), and Kirra (Australia).<ref name=Scarfe2009 />

==== Beach break ====
A beach break is an area of open coastline where the waves break over a sand-bottom. They are the most common, yet also the most volatile of surf breaks. Wave breaks happen successively at beach breaks, as in there are multiple peaks to surf at a single beach break location. Example locations are Tairua and Aramoana Beach (New Zealand) and the Gold Coast (Australia).<ref name=Scarfe2009 />
<gallery>
JunoBeachBeachBreak.jpg|A group of surfers surfing a beach break in [[Juno Beach, Florida]].
</gallery>

==== River or estuary entrance bar ====
A river or estuary entrance bar creates waves from the ebb-tidal delta, sediment outflow, and tidal currents. An ideal estuary entrance bar exists in Whangamata Bar, New Zealand.<ref name=Scarfe2009 />

==== Reef break ====
A reef break is conducive to surfing because large waves consistently break over the reef. The reef is usually made of coral, and because of this, many injuries occur while surfing reef breaks. However, the waves that are produced by reef breaks are some of the best in the world. Famous reef breaks are present in Padang Padang (Indonesia), Pipeline (Hawaii), Uluwatu (Bali), and Teahupo'o (Tahiti).<ref name=Scarfe2009 /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hurt|first1=Garek|title=The differences between beach breaks, point breaks, and reef breaks |url=https://www.degree33surfboards.com/blogs/gettin-pitted/14071029-the-differences-between-beach-breaks-point-breaks-and-reef-breaks|website=Degree 33 Surfboards|access-date=26 November 2017}}</ref>

==== Ledge break ====
A ledge break is formed by steep rocks ledges that make intense waves because the waves travel through deeper water then abruptly reach shallower water at the ledge. Shark Island, Australia is a location with a ledge break. Ledge breaks create difficult surfing conditions, sometimes only allowing body surfing as the only feasible way to confront the waves.<ref name=Scarfe2009 />

=== Jetties and their impacts on wave formation in the surf zone ===
{{expert needed|1=Limnology and Oceanography|reason=Contents of this section are incomprehensible. Source is paywalled |date=February 2021}} 
[[Jetty|Jetties]] are added to bodies of water to regulate erosion, preserve navigation channels, and make harbors. Jetties are classified into four different types and have two main controlling variables: the type of delta{{clarify|What is the delta in this context?|date=February 2021}} and the size of the jetty.<ref name=Scarfe2003>{{cite journal |last1= Scarfe |first1=B.E. |author2=M.H.S. Elwany, K.P. Black, and S.T. Mead |title=Categorizing the Types of Surfing Breaks around Jetty Structures |url=http://escholarship.org/uc/item/09f405bq |journal=Scripps Institution of Oceanography Technical Report |date=7 March 2003 |pages=1–8}}</ref>

==== Type 1 jetty ====
The first classification is a type 1 jetty. This type of jetty is significantly longer than the surf zone width and the waves break at the shore end of the jetty. The effect of a Type 1 jetty is sediment accumulation in a wedge formation on the jetty. These waves are large and increase in size as they pass over the sediment wedge formation. An example of a Type 1 jetty is Mission Beach, San Diego, California. This 1000-meter jetty was installed in 1950 at the mouth of Mission Bay. The surf waves happen north of the jetty, are longer waves, and are powerful. The bathymetry of the sea bottom in Mission Bay has a wedge shape formation that causes the waves to refract as they become closer to the jetty.<ref name=Scarfe2003 /> The waves converge constructively after they refract and increase the sizes of the waves.

==== Type 2 jetty ====
A type 2 jetty occurs in an ebb-tidal delta, a delta transitioning between high and low tide. This area has shallow water, refraction, and distinctive seabed shapes that create large wave heights.<ref name=Scarfe2003 />

An example of a type 2 jetty is called "The Poles" in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Atlantic Beach is known to have flat waves, with exceptions during major storms. However, "The Poles" has larger than normal waves due to a 500-meter jetty that was installed on the south side of St. Johns. This jetty was built to make a deep channel in the river. It formed a delta at "The Poles". This is a special area because the jetty increases wave size for surfing when comparing pre-conditions and post-conditions of the southern St. Johns River mouth area.<ref name=Scarfe2003 />

The wave size at "The Poles" depends on the direction of the incoming water. When easterly waters (from 55°) interact with the jetty, they create waves larger than southern waters (from 100°). When southern waves (from 100°) move toward "The Poles", one of the waves breaks north of the southern jetty and the other breaks south of the jetty. This does not allow for merging to make larger waves. Easterly waves, from 55°, converge north of the jetty and unite to make bigger waves.<ref name=Scarfe2003 />

==== Type 3 jetty ====
A type 3 jetty is in an ebb-tidal area with an unchanging seabed that has naturally created waves. Examples of a Type 3 jetty occurs in “Southside” Tamarack, Carlsbad, California.<ref name=Scarfe2003 />

==== Type 4 jetty ====
A type 4 jetty is one that no longer functions nor traps sediment. The waves are created from reefs in the surf zone. A type 4 jetty can be found in Tamarack, Carlsbad, California.<ref name=Scarfe2003 />

=== Rip currents ===
{{main|Rip current}} 
[[Rip current]]s are fast, narrow currents that are caused by onshore transport within the surf zone and the successive return of the water seaward.<ref name=Dalrymple1978 /><ref name=Smith1995 />  The wedge bathymetry makes a convenient and consistent rip current of 5–10 meters that brings the surfers to the “take-off point” then out to the beach.<ref name=Scarfe2003 />

Oceanographers have two theories on rip current formation. The wave interaction model assumes that two edges of waves interact, create differing wave heights, and cause longshore transport of nearshore currents. The Boundary Interaction Model assumes that the topography of the sea bottom causes nearshore circulation and longshore transport; the result of both models is a rip current.<ref name=Dalrymple1978>{{cite journal |last=Dalrymple |first=Robert A. |date=1978 |title=Rip Currents and Their Causes |url=https://journals.tdl.org/icce/index.php/icce/article/viewArticle/3345 |journal=Coastal Engineering |volume=1 |issue=16 |pages=1414–1427|doi=10.1061/9780872621909.085 |isbn=9780872621909 }}</ref>

Rip currents can be extremely strong and narrow as they extend out of the surf zone into deeper water, reaching speeds from {{convert|0.5|m/s|ft/s||abbr=on|sigfig=2}} and up to {{convert|2.5|m/s|ft/s||abbr=on|sigfig=2}},<ref name=Smith1995 /><ref name=Bowen1969 /> which is faster than any human can swim. The water in the jet is sediment rich, bubble rich, and moves rapidly.<ref name=Smith1995 /> The rip head of the rip current has long shore movement. Rip currents are common on beaches with mild slopes that experience sizeable and frequent oceanic swell.<ref name="Bowen1969">{{cite journal |last=Bowen |first=Anthony J. |date=1969 |title=Rip Currents: Theoretical Investigations |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research |volume=74 |issue=23 |pages=5467–5477 |doi=10.1029/JC074i023p05467 |bibcode=1969JGR....74.5467B |url=http://chinacat.coastal.udel.edu/cieg682/protect/bowen-jgr69.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612115232/http://chinacat.coastal.udel.edu/cieg682/protect/bowen-jgr69.pdf |archive-date=12 June 2010 |df=dmy-all |citeseerx=10.1.1.463.6097 }}</ref>

=== On the surfboard ===
A longer [[surfboard]] of {{convert|300|cm|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} causes more friction with the water; therefore, it will be slower than a smaller and lighter board with a length of {{convert|180|cm|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=1}}. Longer boards are good for beginners who need help balancing. Smaller boards are good for more experienced surfers who want to have more control and maneuverability.<ref name=Edge2001 />

When practicing the sport of surfing, the surfer paddles out past the wave break to wait for a wave. When a surfable wave arrives, the surfer must paddle extremely fast to match the velocity of the wave so the wave can accelerate him or her.<ref name=Edge2001 />

When the surfer is at wave speed, the surfer must quickly pop up, stay low, and stay toward the front of the wave to become stable and prevent falling as the wave steepens. The acceleration is less toward the front than toward the back. The physics behind the surfing of the wave involves the horizontal acceleration force (F·sinθ) and the vertical force (F·cosθ=mg). Therefore, the surfer should lean forward to gain speed, and lean on the back foot to brake. Also, to increase the length of the ride of the wave, the surfer should travel parallel to the wave crest.<ref name=Edge2001 />

==Dangers==

===Drowning===
Surfing, like all [[List of water sports|water sports]], carries the inherent risk of [[drowning]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hvsboardsport.com/dangerous-aspects-surfing/ |title=Is Surfing Dangerous? |date=1 January 2018 |work=HVS Boardsport |access-date=1 January 2018 |language=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813070415/https://hvsboardsport.com/dangerous-aspects-surfing/ |archive-date=13 August 2018}}</ref> Although the board assists a surfer in staying [[buoyant]], it can become separated from the user.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.surfinghandbook.com/ocean-safety.html |title=Ocean Safety |work=surfinghandbook.com |date=5 February 2009 |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021215436/https://www.surfinghandbook.com/knowledge/ocean-safety/ |archive-date=21 October 2020}}</ref> A leash, attached to the ankle or knee, can keep a board from being swept away, but does not keep a rider on the board or above water. In some cases, possibly including the drowning of professional surfer [[Mark Foo]], the leash can be a cause of drowning by snagging on a reef or other object and holding the surfer underwater.<ref name="ridinggiants">{{cite web|url=http://www.sonyclassics.com/ridinggiants/|title=Sony Pictures Classics: Riding Giants|access-date=8 November 2014}}</ref> By keeping the surfboard close to the surfer during a wipeout, a leash also increases the chances that the board may strike the rider, which could knock them unconscious and lead to drowning (especially with a hard surfboard instead of a soft surfboard). A fallen rider's board can become trapped in larger waves, and if the rider is attached by a leash, they can be dragged for long distances underwater.<ref name="ridinggiants" /> Surfers should be careful to remain in smaller surf until they have acquired the advanced skills and experience necessary to handle bigger waves and more challenging conditions. Even world-class surfers have drowned in extremely challenging conditions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Borte|first=Jason|title=Mark Foo Biography|url=http://www.surfline.com/surfing-a-to-z/mark-foo-biography-and-photos_809/|publisher=Surfline|access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref>

===Collisions===
[[File:Surfer in santa cruz 14.jpg|thumb|right|A surfer exiting a [[Closeout (surfing)|closeout]]|alt=Photo of surfer catapulted into the air with feet higher than the head at 45-degree angle to the surface]]
Under the wrong set of conditions, anything that a surfer's body can come in contact with is a potential hazard, including [[Shoal|sand bars]], rocks, small ice, reefs, surfboards, and other surfers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dangers – Hard Bottoms|url=http://www.surfingsandiego.com/hardbottoms.asp|work=Surfing San Diego|publisher=Site Tutor Inc|access-date=26 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926191201/http://surfingsandiego.com/hardbottoms.asp|archive-date=26 September 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Collisions with these objects can sometimes cause injuries such as cuts and scrapes and in rare instances, death.

A large number of injuries, up to 66%,<ref>{{cite web|title=Dangers of Surfing|url=http://www.surfboardshack.com/safety.html|work=Surfboard Shack|access-date=26 September 2012|year=2011}}</ref> are caused by collision with a surfboard (nose or fins). Fins can cause deep lacerations and cuts,<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.omnainc.com/blogs/news/skeg-cuts-the-most-common-surf-trauma-injury| title = Skeg Cuts - The Most Common Surf Trauma-Injury - OMNA_Inc}}</ref> as well as bruising. While these injuries can be minor, they can open the skin to infection from the sea; groups like [[Surfers Against Sewage]] campaign for cleaner waters to reduce the risk of infections. Local bugs and diseases can be risk factors when surfing around the globe.<ref>{{cite web|title=ANDY IRONS PASSES AWAY, CAUSE UNDER INVESTIGATION|url=http://business.transworld.net/51021/features/andy-irons-passes-away-at-age-32/|work=Transworld Business|publisher=Bonnier Corporation|access-date=26 September 2012|author=Mike Lewis|date=2 November 2010}}</ref>

Falling off a surfboard or colliding with others is commonly referred to as a ''wipeout''.
{{clear right}}

===Marine life===
[[Marine biology|Sea life]] can sometimes cause injuries ([[Bethany Hamilton]]) and even [[List of fatal shark attacks in the United States|fatalities]]. Animals such as [[shark]]s,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sharkresearchcommittee.com/unprovoked_surfer.htm |title=Unprovoked White Shark Attacks on Surfers |publisher=Shark Research Committee |access-date=20 September 2010}}</ref> [[stingray]]s, [[Weever fish]], [[Pinniped|seal]]s and [[jellyfish]] can sometimes present a danger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.surfingsandiego.com/animals.asp|title=Surf Dangers Animals|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070420125402/http://www.surfingsandiego.com/animals.asp|archive-date=20 April 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Warmer-water surfers often do the "stingray shuffle" as they walk out through the shallows, shuffling their feet in the sand to scare away stingrays that may be resting on the bottom.<ref name="go">{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2395307 |title=Doing the 'Stingray Shuffle' |date=5 September 2006|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=26 August 2015}}</ref>

===Rip currents===
[[File:Rip_Current_Warning_Sign.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Rip current warning sign]]
[[Rip current]]s are water channels that flow away from the shore. Under the wrong circumstances these currents can endanger both experienced and inexperienced surfers. Since a rip current appears to be an area of flat water, tired or inexperienced swimmers or surfers may enter one and be carried out beyond the breaking waves. Although many rip currents are much smaller, the largest rip currents have a width of {{cvt|12|-|15|m|ft|sigfig=1}}. The flow of water moving out towards the sea in a rip will be stronger than most swimmers, making swimming back to shore difficult, however, by paddling parallel to the shore, a surfer can easily exit a rip current. Alternatively, some surfers actually ride on a rip current because it is a fast and effortless way to get out beyond the zone of breaking waves.<ref>
{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1530767.stm | work=BBC News | title=Surfing's hidden dangers | date=7 September 2001 | access-date=24 May 2010}}</ref>

===Seabed===
The [[seabed]] can pose a risk for surfers. If a surfer falls while riding a wave, the wave tosses and tumbles the surfer around, often in a downwards direction. At reef breaks and beach breaks, surfers have been seriously injured and even killed, because of a violent collision with the sea bed, the water above which can sometimes be very shallow, especially at beach breaks or reef breaks during low tide. Cyclops, [[Western Australia]], for example, is one of the biggest and thickest reef breaks in the world, with waves measuring up to {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} high, but the [[reef]] below is only about {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} below the surface of the water.

===Microorganisms===
A January 2018 study by the [[University of Exeter]] called the "Beach Bum Survey" found surfers and bodyboarders to be three times as likely as non-surfers to harbor [[antibiotic-resistant]] ''[[Pathogenic Escherichia coli|E. coli]]'' and four times as likely to harbor other bacteria capable of easily becoming antibiotic resistant. The researchers attributed this to the fact that surfers swallow roughly ten times as much seawater as swimmers.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.envint.2017.11.003|title=Exposure to and colonisation by antibiotic-resistant E. coli in UK coastal water users: Environmental surveillance, exposure assessment, and epidemiological study (Beach Bum Survey)|journal=Environment International|volume=114|pages=326–333|date=14 January 2018|last1=Leonard|first1=Anne F.C.|last2=Zhang|first2=Lihong|last3=Balfour|first3=Andrew J.|last4=Garside|first4=Ruth|last5=Hawkey|first5=Peter M.|last6=Murray|first6=Aimee K.|last7=Ukoumunne|first7=Obioha C.|last8=Gaze|first8=William H.|pmid=29343413|doi-access=free|bibcode=2018EnInt.114..326L |hdl=10871/32078|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url    = https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/uoe-stt011118.php
|title  = Surfers three times more likely to have antibiotic-resistant bacteria in guts 
|author = University of Exeter
|work= Eurekalert
|date   = 14 January 2018|access-date=15 January 2018
}}</ref>

===Ear damage===
[[File:Man Wearing Molded Ear Plugs.jpg|thumb|right|Man wearing protective [[ear plugs]]]]
Surfers sometimes use ear protection such as ear plugs to avoid [[surfer's ear]], inflammation of the ear or other damage. Surfer's ear is where the bone near the ear canal grows after repeated exposure to cold water, making the ear canal narrower. The narrowed canal makes it harder for water to drain from the ear. This can result in pain, infection and sometimes [[Tinnitus|ringing of the ear]].

Ear plugs designed for surfers, swimmers and other water athletes are primarily made to keep water out of the ear, thereby letting a protective pocket of air stay inside the ear canal. They can also block cold air, dirt and bacteria. Many designs are made to let sound through, and either float and/or have a leash in case the plug accidentally gets bumped out.

=== Surf rash ===
Surf [[rash]] appears in many different ways on the skin, commonly as a painful red bumpy patch located on the surfer's chest or inner legs. A [[rash guard]] will lessen the incidence of surf rash caused by [[Abrasion (medical)|abrasion]] or [[sunburn]]. Healing ointments such as [[petroleum jelly]] can be used to treat irritated skin.<ref name="surfhandbook">{{cite web|url=https://www.surfhandbook.com/how-to-deal-with-surf-rash/|title=How to deal with surf rash?|publisher=surfhandbook.com|access-date=6 September 2020|date=6 September 2020}}</ref>

=== Spinal cord ===
[[Surfer's myelopathy]] is a rare spinal cord injury causing paralysis of the lower extremities, caused by hyperextension of the back. This is due to one of the main blood vessels of the spine becoming kinked, depriving the spinal cord of oxygen. In some cases the paralysis is permanent. Although any activity where the back is arched can cause this condition (i.e. [[yoga]], [[pilates]], etc.), this rare phenomenon has most often been seen in those surfing for the first time. According to [[Doctor of Physical Therapy|DPT]] Sergio Florian, some recommendations for preventing myelopathy is proper warm up, limiting the session length and sitting on the board while waiting for waves, rather than lying.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://magicseaweed.com/news/beginner-surfer-left-paralysed-after-suffering-rare-surfers-myelopathy/9263/| title = Beginner Surfer Left Paralysed after Suffering Rare Surfer's Myelopathy - Magicseaweed.com}}</ref>

==Surfers and surf culture==
{{Main|Surf culture}}
[[File:Shaka-sign.png|right|The [[Shaka sign]]|thumb|alt=Photo of the back of human wrist and hand. The thumb and pinkie are extended and the other fingers are folded against the palm.]]

Surfers represent a diverse [[surf culture|culture]] based on riding the waves. Some people practice surfing as a [[recreation]]al activity, while others make it the central focus of their lives. Surfing culture in the US is most dominant in [[Hawaii]] and [[California]], because these two states offer the best surfing conditions. However, waves can be found wherever there is coastline, and a tight-knit yet far-reaching subculture of surfers has emerged throughout America. Some historical markers of the culture included the [[woodie (car body style)|woodie]], the station wagon used to carry surfers' boards, as well as [[boardshorts]], the long swim shorts typically worn while surfing. Surfers also wear [[wetsuit]]s in colder regions and when the seasons cool the air and water.

During the 1960s, as surfing caught on in California, its popularity spread through American pop culture. Several teen movies, starting with the [[Gidget]] series in 1959, transformed surfing into a dream life for American youth. Later movies, including [[Beach Party]] (1963), [[Ride the Wild Surf]] (1964), and [[Beach Blanket Bingo]] (1965) promoted the California dream of sun and surf.  Surf culture also fueled the early records of the [[Beach Boys]].

The sport is also a significant part of [[Australia]]'s eastern coast sub-cultural life,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thearkatech.com/liam-hemsworth/6346/| title = Liam Hemsworth leaves 2019 with surfboard}}</ref> especially in [[New South Wales]], where the weather and water conditions are most favourable for surfing.

The sport of surfing now represents a multibillion-dollar industry, especially in [[Surf culture#Fashion|clothing and fashion]] markets. Founded in 1964, the [[International Surfing Association]] (ISA) is the oldest foundation associated with surfing formed to better improve surfing and recognized by the [[International Olympic Committee]] as the leading authority on surfing. National and international surf competitions began in 1964. In addition, [[World Surf League|The World Surf League (WSL)]] was established in 1976 and promotes various championship tours, hosting top competitors in some of the best surf spots around the globe. A small number of people make a career out of surfing by receiving corporate sponsorships and performing for photographers and videographers in far-flung destinations; they are typically referred to as freesurfers. Sixty-six surfers on a {{convert|42|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} long surfboard set a record in [[Huntington Beach, California]] for most people on a surfboard at one time.<ref>{{cite web |title=66 Surfers Set World Record by Riding on a Board at Once |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/66-surfers-set-world-record-riding-board/story?id=31921594#:~:text=They%20did%20it%20on%20a%20surfboard%20weighing%201%2C300%20pounds.&text=Over%20sixty%20people%20try%20to,now%20entered%20Guinness%20World%20Records. |publisher=ABC News |access-date=21 September 2024}}</ref> [[Dale Webster]] consecutively surfed for 14,641 days, making it his main life focus.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Douglas-Rosa |first1=Ashtyn |title=Everyday Dale Ends His Streak |url=https://www.surfer.com/news/everyday-dale-ends-his-streak |access-date=21 September 2024}}</ref>

As of 2023, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized a 26.2&nbsp;m (86&nbsp;ft) wave ride by Sebastian Steudtner at Nazaré, Portugal as the largest wave ever surfed.<ref name=":1" />

When the waves were flat, surfers persevered with sidewalk surfing, which is now called [[skateboarding]]. Sidewalk surfing has a similar feel to surfing and requires only a paved road or sidewalk. To create the feel of the wave, surfers even sneaked into empty backyard swimming pools to ride in, known as pool skating. Eventually, surfing made its way to the slopes with the invention of the [[Snurfer]], later credited as the first snowboard. Many other board sports have been invented over the years, but all can trace their heritage back to surfing.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Many surfers claim to have a spiritual connection with the ocean, describing surfing, the surfing experience, both in and out of the water, as a type of spiritual experience or a religion.<ref name="huffingtonpost">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/03/religion-of-surfing_n_5617472.html|title=The Spirituality Of Surfing: Finding Religion Riding The Waves|publisher=huffingtonpost.com|access-date=26 August 2015|date=3 August 2014}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Div col}}
*[[Artificial wave pool]]
*[[ASP World Tour]]
*[[Big wave surfing]]
*[[Dog surfing]]
*[[Duke Kahanamoku]]
*''[[The Endless Summer]]''
*[[George Freeth]]
*[[Hawaiian scale]]
*[[History of surfing]]
*[[Lake surfing]]
*[[List of surfers]]
*[[List of surfing events]]
*[[List of surfing records]]
*[[List of surfing terminology]]
*[[List of surfing topics]]
*[[Ocean wave]]
*[[River surfing]]
*[[Sandboarding]]
*[[Standup paddleboarding]]
*[[Surf break]]
*[[Surf film]]
*[[Surf forecasting]]
*[[Surf lifesaving]], [[Surf Life Saving Club]] and [[nippers]]
*[[Surf music]]
*[[Surf zone]]
*[[Surfer's ear]]
*[[:Category:Surfing by country|List of "Surfing in ..." articles]]
:*[[Surfing in Canada]]
:*[[Surfing in Madeira]]
:*[[Surfing in the United States]]
*[[Triple Crown of Surfing]]
*[[Women's surfing]]
*[[World championship tour (WCT) surfing|World Championship Tour (WCT)]]
*[[World surfing champion]]

{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name=Smith1995>{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Jerome A. |author2=John L. Largier |date=1995 |title=observation nearshore circulation: Rip currents |url=http://opg1.ucsd.edu/pdfs/smith/1995-jgro100-SmithLargier-NrShrRips.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918183502/http://opg1.ucsd.edu/pdfs/smith/1995-jgro100-SmithLargier-NrShrRips.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-09-18 |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research |volume=100 |issue=C6 |pages=10967–10975 |doi=10.1029/95JC00751 |bibcode=1995JGR...10010967S }}</ref>

<ref name="Lewis et al 2015" >{{cite report |url=https://www.coastalconference.com/2015/papers2015/James%20Lewis.pdf |title=Quantification of surfing amenity for beach value and management |date=2015 |last1=Lewis |first1=James |first2=S. |last2=Hunt |first3=T. |last3=Evans |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630162514/https://www.coastalconference.com/2015/papers2015/James%20Lewis.pdf |archive-date=30 June 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Mendonca et al 2012" >{{cite journal |url= http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1003865|last1=Mendonça |first1=Ana |last2=Conceição |first2=Juana |last3=Fortes |first3=Conceição |last4=Capitão |first4=Rui |last5=Maria |first5=Graça |last6=Neves |first6=Maria |last7=Antunes |first7=Do |last8=Antunes do Carmo |first8=José |last9=Moura |first9=Theo |date=2012 |title=Hydrodynamics around an Artificial Surfing Reef at Leirosa, Portugal |journal=Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering  |volume=138 |issue=3 |pages=226–235 |doi=10.1061/(ASCE)WW.1943-5460.0000128 }}</ref>

}}

==Further reading==
* Prabu Outbound "Surfing in Indonesia" (4 November 2022) [https://prabu-outbound.com "Booking Surfing in Indonesia"] in pangalengan & ciater Bandung, west java
* {{cite web | author=Baron, Zach | title=At Home With the Best Surfer on the Planet | website=GQ | date=15 May 2017 | url=https://www.gq.com/story/at-home-with-john-john-florence | access-date=11 December 2017}}
* Zumar Tour "Offroad Indonesia" (14 Oktober 2022) [https://zumartour.com "Booking Offroad in Indonesia"] in Lembang, Sukabumi, pangalengan & ciater Bandung, west java

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Surfing}}
{{Commons and category|Surfing}}
{{Wikivoyage|Surfing}}
* [http://www.worldsurfleague.com/ World Surf League]
* [http://www.surftotal.com/en/ Surf Total]
* [https://www.surfhandbook.com/ Surf Handbook]

{{Surfing}}
{{Sports of the World Games program}}
{{Extreme sports}}
{{Summer Olympic sports}}
{{Water sports}}
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