Duke Kahanamoku: Surfing In Australia

The art and sport of surfing is much older than some would assume. In fact, it is likely that the riding of waves has existed since human beings began swimming in the ocean. However the origins of what we now know as surfing can be directly traced to ancient polynesia, specifically the pacific islands of Hawai’i and Tahiti. Ancient Polynesians were mix of what are now southeast asian countries such as the Phillipines or Indonesia, these people travelled from southeast asia and eventually settled in the Pacific Islands and they are the original practitioner of the sport of surfing. There is no exact date for when stand up surfing came into existence but it is known that during the 15th century (1400’s) that the kings and queens of the pacific …show more content…
Duke Kahanamoku was a brilliant surfer of the early 1900’s who popularized and introduced surfing to Australia through the establishment of the Australian Surf Life Saving Movement and a camp called the “Boomerang Camp” at Freshwater Beach, Sydney, Australia. About 20 or so years later in the year 1885, surfing had grown popular in the american state of California. This was in large part due to the visit of Three Hawaiian Princes namely David Kawananakoa, Edward Keli’iahonui and Jonah Kuhlo Kalaniana’ole who surfed the waves in Santa Cruz, California. Another a large and influential player was the famous american swim instructor who came to California from Hawaii to demonstrate surfboard riding to promote the opening of the Los Angeles-Redondo-Huntington Railroad. This global spread of the sport would not be feasible if there was no appeal to the sport. There are number of things that make surfing so appealing. Many people surf because it gives them a reason to travel the world and discover the most beautiful and tropical parts of the world, it also provides a great adrenaline rush and many surfer appreciate the feeling of riding the ocean’s waves. Others appreciate the challenge and difficulty of the sport as well as the thrill it gives

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