Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

is renowned as one of the world's premier

surfing Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitable ...

destinations. Surfing underpins an important part of the Australian coastal fabric. It forms part of a lifestyle in which millions participate and which millions more have an interest. Australian surfboard-makers have driven innovation in

surfboard A surfboard is a narrow plank used in surfing. Surfboards are relatively light, but are strong enough to support an individual standing on them while riding an ocean wave. They were invented in ancient Hawaii, where they were known as ''papa he'e ...

design and production since the mid-1960s. The country has launched corporate giants such as

Billabong Billabong ( ) is an Australian term for an oxbow lake, an isolated pond left behind after a river changes course. Billabongs are usually formed when the path of a creek or river changes, leaving the former branch with a dead end. As a result ...

, Rip Curl and

Quiksilver Quiksilver is a brand of surf-inspired apparel and accessories that was founded in 1969 in Torquay, Australia, but is now based in Huntington Beach, California. It is one of the world's largest brands of surfwear and boardsport-related equip ...

No surfing is possible in many parts of

northern Australia The unofficial geographic term Northern Australia includes those parts of Queensland and Western Australia north of latitude 26° and all of the Northern Territory. Those local government areas of Western Australia and Queensland that lie p ...

due to

coral reef A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of Colony (biology), colonies of coral polyp (zoology), polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, wh ...

s subduing waves. Modern surfboard design has been shaped by both Australian and Californian developments. For many years the sport was closely associated with the surf life saving movement in Australia.

Governing body

Surfing Australia Surfing Australia is the governing body for the sport of surfing in Australia. History The Australian Surfriders Association was founded in 1963, and was renamed Surfing Australia in 1993. In 2013, for its 50th anniversary, Surfing Austral ...

is the national sporting body which guides and promotes the development of surfing.

Tournaments

Major Australian tournaments include the Men's Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour,

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast was a surfing competition in the World Surf League that was held at Coolangatta in Queensland, Australia. In August 2021 it was announced that this event would be canceled. Results See also * Roxy Pro Gold Coast * ...

(Gold Coast, Queensland), Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Bells Beach, Victoria) and the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro (Margaret River, Western Australia). Other tournaments include the Australian Boardriders Battle, Australian Open of Surfing,

Beachley Classic Beachley Classic is an event on the ASP World Surfing Tour. The event is held every year at Manly Beach or Dee Why in Sydney and has the richest prize money in Women's surfing. Results See also *Layne Beachley Layne Collette Beachley ( ...

, Breaka Burleigh Pro and the

Noosa Festival of Surfing The Noosa Festival of Surfing was established in 1992 at Noosa, Queensland by members of the ''Noosa Malibu Club'', as an amateur surfing competition called the ''Noosa Malibu Classic''. It allowed club members to invite friends to surf Noosa's ...

History

Jeff Rowley Big Wave Surfer Western Australia by Xvolution Media - Flickr - Jeff Rowley Big Wave Surfer

Surfing was brought to Australia in 1915 by Hawaiian

Duke Kahanamoku Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku (August 24, 1890 – January 22, 1968) was a Hawaiian competition swimmer who popularized the sport of surfing. A Native Hawaiian, he was born to a minor noble family less than three years before th ...

. He demonstrated this ancient Hawaiian board riding technique at Freshwater (or Harbord) in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mounta ...

, New South Wales. Kahanamoku's board is now on display in the northeast end of the Freshwater Surf lifesaving club, Sydney, Australia. In 1956, a team of lifeguards from the US introduced Malibu boards to Australia. In the 1960s, Australian surfboard designer

Bob McTavish Bob McTavish (born 1944) is an Australian surfboard designer and member of the surfing hall of fame. Overview Bob McTavish is an Australian surfboard designer who is often credited with the invention of the V-bottom surfboard and was one of ...

invented the V-bottom surfboard, which is considered instrumental to the development of shortboard surfing. Australia has produced multiple ASP world champions, such as Wayne Bartholomew, Tom Carroll,

Barton Lynch Barton Lynch (born 9 August 1963) is an Australian former professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. In 1988, he was crowned ASP World Tour Champion. He also won the 1991 Rip Curl Pro. In 1998, he was inducted into the Aust ...

Damien Hardman Damien Hardman (born 23 January 1966), known as The Iceman, is a former Australian surfer from Sydney. He won the Rip Curl Pro twice in 1988 and 1993, and was runner-up three times in 1989, 1991 and 1997, and in 1987/88 and 1991 he won the ASP W ...

Mark Occhilupo Marco Jay Luciano "Mark" Occhilupo (born 16 June 1966) is an Australian surfer and winner of the 1999 ASP World title. Occhilupo, also known as "Occy", began his professional career in the World Championship Tour (WCT) at the age of 17. In S ...

Mick Fanning Michael Eugene Fanning (born 13 June 1981) is an Australian professional surfer who was crowned champion of the Association of Surfing Professionals/World Surf League (ASP/WSL)'s World Tour in 2007, 2009 and 2013. In 2015, he survived a shar ...

Joel Parkinson Joel Parkinson (born 10 April 1981) is an Australian surfer who used to compete on the WSL (World Surf League). After twelve years competing at the elite level on the ASP World Championship Tour, a stretch that saw him win eleven elite ASP Wor ...

Stephanie Gilmore Stephanie Louise Gilmore (29 January 1988) is an Australian professional surfer and eight-time world champion on the Women's WSL World Tour (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2022). Career Gilmore's life as a surfer began at age 9 w ...

Layne Beachley Layne Collette Beachley (born 24 May 1972) is a former professional surfer from Manly, New South Wales. She won the World Championship seven times. Currently she is the chair of Surfing Australia. Surfing career At the age of 16 Beachley ...

Wendy Botha Wendy Botha (born 22 August 1965) is a four-time world surfing champion. She won her first title as a South African citizen in 1987, then she became an Australian citizen and won three more titles in 1989, 1991, and 1992. She also posed nude ...

Pauline Menczer Pauline Menczer (born 21 May 1970) is an Australian surfer. She was Women's World Champion for Professional Surfing in 1993. Surfing career Menczer started surfing aged 12 in about 1982. She won the 1988 women's amateur world title at the co ...

Chelsea Georgeson Chelsea Georgeson (now Chelsea Hedges) (born 15 October 1983) is an Australian surfer who won the world title in 2005. She won the title after beating Brazil's Jacqueline Silva in the final at the season-ending event at Honolua Bay, Hawaii ...

Sally Fitzgibbons Sally Jayne Fitzgibbons (born 19 December 1990) is an Australian professional surfer on the Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour (2009–2013). In June 2019, she was ranked No. 1 in the world for women's surfing after winning the R ...

and Mark Richards. The World Surf League incorporates three major championship titles held in Australia: the

, Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, and the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro. One of the most successful Australian surfers, Mick Fanning, has won four titles at Bells Beach, earning him the number one spot in the surfing ranks.

Culture

View south from Point Danger Lookout, Coolangatta, Queensland

The culture of surfing has grown dramatically from just being a relaxed way of living to a mainstream sport. The progression has led to research on the health benefits of surfing. The sport promotes cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and balance. These physical benefits come from the constant paddling through the water, increasing arm and back strength whilst also increasing the heart rate. Surfing also gives one a chance to think and relax in an environment that decreases stress and relaxes the muscles.

Demographics

There are approximately 2.5 million recreational surfers in Australia, 420,000 annual surf participants, 107 surf schools and 2,292 accredited surfing coaches. Over 1 in 10 Australians surf as a recreational activity.

Australian World Title holders

Men * 1977: Peter Townend * 1978: Wayne Bartholomew * 1979: Mark Richards * 1980: Mark Richards * 1981: Mark Richards * 1982: Mark Richards * 1983: Tom Carroll * 1984: Tom Carroll * 1987:

* 1988:

* 1991: Damien Hardman * 1999:

* 2007:

* 2009: Mick Fanning * 2012:

* 2013: Mick Fanning Women * 1989:

* 1990:

Pam Burridge Pam Burridge (born 1965) is an Australian surfer and one of the pioneers of women’s surfing in Australia. Born in Sydney, she entered her first surfing competition in 1977, proceeding to win various regional and national titles in the follow ...

* 1991: Wendy Botha * 1992: Wendy Botha * 1993:

* 1998:

* 1999: Layne Beachley * 2000: Layne Beachley * 2001: Layne Beachley * 2002: Layne Beachley * 2003: Layne Beachley * 2005:

* 2006: Layne Beachley * 2007:

* 2008: Stephanie Gilmore * 2009: Stephanie Gilmore * 2010: Stephanie Gilmore * 2012: Stephanie Gilmore * 2014: Stephanie Gilmore * 2016:

Tyler Wright Tyler Wright (born April 6, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in 613 NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He currently serves as dire ...

* 2017: Tyler Wright * 2018: Stephanie Gilmore

Australian surfboard shapers

Australia is a leading country in surfing and surf board design. Shaping is an important part of the innovation and progression of surfing. Australian shapers include Darren Handley who is shaper to world champions Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore. Mark Richards (four times World Champion) is an Australian surfing and surfboard shaping legend who shaped his own boards during his time on the world tour.

References

External links

* {{Australian sport Wikipedia articles in need of updating from March 2013