Embedded Files
Outdoor Education…Character development through the outdoors
TASK: As you read and watch about surfing, please record notes in your Personal Responsibility workbook on slide 15.
The sport of kings
The sport of kings
Polynesian voyagers were oceanic people well versed in the ways of waves and tides. Surfing became a form of social contact with both men and women enjoying the waves. Hawaiian Kings had their own special boards and sacred surfing spots. People gathered regularly to vie for top honours, gambling everything they owned (pigs, land, even wives) on the outcome of a good ride. With the arrival of missionaries the custom and beliefs of the Hawaiian people were suppressed with the frivolous, sensual sport of surfing one of the first things to go. Surfing re-emerged thanks to the persistence of young Hawaiians who were drawn to the reefs of Waikiki.
Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic swimming champion and true ‘waterman’, is hailed as the greatest ambassador surfing has ever known. He introduced surfing by holding demonstrations on the east coast of America in 1912, Australia and New Zealand in 1915 and then boosted its popularity by demonstrating in California.
Longboarding
Longboarding
Longboards are the original kind of surfboard with Duke Kahanamoku riding 10 foot plus redwood boards. Today, modern longboards start at 9’1” and are constructed by either the traditional polyester resin over polyurethene foam or a much stronger epoxy veneer sandwich construction.
New boards range from $1000 to $1700
Traditional manoeuvres specific to longboarding include walking the board and hanging five or ten toes over the end.
Shortboarding
Shortboarding
In the late 60’s and early 70’s the average length of the surfboard went from 10 foot to 6 foot. This allowed surfers to ride in the pocket of a wave, ride faster, more aggressive and be more manoeuverable. Around this time people started to experiment with fins and found the ‘thruster’ set up of three fins to be the most manoeuverable.
New shortboards range from $800 to $1000
Bodyboarding
Bodyboarding
Prior to 1971, bodyboards were made from wood. Tom Morey designed the first mass-produced bodyboard called the ‘Morey Boogie Board’.
New bodyboards range from $50 to $500
Fins are necessary to provide adequate propulsion
Stand up paddle boarding
Stand up paddle boarding
Stand up paddle boarding originated in the Hawaiian Islands where ‘Beach Boys’ of Waikiki would stand on their longboards and paddle with outrigger canoe paddles to take pictures of the tourists learning to surf.
Boards range from 9’ to 12’+ and cost from $1800 to $2500
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