A water sport in which athletes ride breaking ocean waves on a buoyant board, judged on style, power, and difficulty.
Origin and rules
Surfing originated in ancient Polynesia, with strong roots in Hawaii where it was central to native culture. Modern competitive surfing was organised in the 20th century. Riders paddle out, catch a breaking wave, and ride it across the face.
How it plays
Heats typically last 20 to 35 minutes. Surfers ride their best two waves, judged from 0 to 10 on commitment, manoeuvres, power, speed, and flow. Heats may run in head-to-head, three-, or four-person formats.
Competition
The World Surf League runs the elite Championship Tour at major breaks worldwide. The ISA World Surfing Games is the top international amateur event. Surfing debuted at the Olympics in Tokyo 2020, held in Tahiti for Paris 2024.
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Surfing starts with S and ends with G. Browse other sports along the same letter.
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