Adventure Sports
Surfing
Explain surfing and its types.
Surfing is riding a moving wave towards the shore, with or without a board. Waves are mainly in the ocean, but also in lakes and rivers (standing waves, tidal bores) and artificial wave pools.
It was central to ancient Polynesian culture and was seen by British explorers at Tahiti in 1767. George Freeth is called the father of modern surfing. The International Surfing Association governs it; professional contests began in 1975 (Margo Oberg, first female professional). It joined the Olympics at Tokyo.
Types: stand-up surfing (long-board and short-board), body surfing or body boarding, surf matting (inflatable mats) and tow-surfing (towed into big waves by a watercraft).
Boards: a long board (about 10 feet) is slower and steadier, good for beginners; a short board (about 6 feet) is lighter and easier to turn, for experienced surfers.
Related sports: paddle boarding and sea kayaking (no waves needed), kite surfing and windsurfing (wind powered).
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