It was first practiced by Hawaiian kings, but surfing has always been about pushing the limits, looking for the thrill, and being at one with nature. Surfing in the modern age has been pegged as a slacker lifestyle choice, but those initial desires still resonate with surfers today.

 

15^th century surfing in Waikiki, Oahu was considered a magical activity, reserved for shamen who believed they could assuage the water gods and ride a plank of wood over the crashing waves in death-defying maneuvers. By the start of the 20^th century, the sport of surfing started attracting tourists. In 1907, George Freeth, an accomplished Hawaiian surfer, came to Redondo Beach, California to show off his skills as a publicity stunt. He stayed in California, continuing to surf and lifeguard, and encourage a small and selective surfing community.

 

All that changed when the film Gidget came out in 1959. Suddenly, surfing was all the rage and California was the place to be. Surf fans and gremmies (wannabe surfers) hit the beach and started a phenomenon. The Beach Party movies starring Frankie and Annette followed in the 1960s, and surfing became mainstream. Bikini-clad girls and moondoggie clones all grabbed their wooden longboards and dove into the waves.

 

Even music started to be influenced by surf culture. Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, and Dick Dale and the Deltones all became famous with their surf-inspired sound. Dale Velzy and Hap Jacobs, both California surfers, developed their own balsa boards, allowing surfing to be open to everyone. But gremmies better beware if they tried to surf on a “Locals Only” beach. There weren’t any official signs, but die-hard surfers were very territorial, regardless of their laid-back lifestyle.

 

Surf fashion took its cue from the temperature of the water. Warm, tropical oceans required only a pair of simple board shorts. The colder waters of North Bay California needed a little more protection. Body Glove and O’Neill filled the need with their neoprene wetsuits developed in the 1950s, allowing surfers to ride the waves in any water they wanted to without fear of freezing.

The popularity of surfing brought out an entire industry of surfwear clothing companies. Initially, surfers would hit the waves in a pair of swimming trunks and a Hawaiian shirt, or even a pair of cutoff jeans and a t-shirt. Hang Ten was the first company that created board shorts specifically for surfing, and the look quickly became mass market. They broadened their line into general fashion wear, and were following by other manufacturers such as Op, Lighting Bolt, and Jams.

In the 80s, surf-inspired street wear was ubiquitous. Labels sprung up everywhere - Gotcha, Quiksilver, Rude Dog, T&C, PCH, Maui & Sons, and array of others looked to bring surf culture to the masses. They each tried to find their fashion niche - Vans were known for their brightly patterned canvas surf shoes, and Jams made unusually long surf shorts. It didn’t even matter if you lived anywhere near the beach.

Surf fashioned followed the laid back surf lifestyle. Flip flops were the shoes of choice, t-shirts sporting surf logos were easily taken off when the right wave came by, and board shorts allowed you to always be ready to jump in the water. The only other things that were needed were hair bleached by the sun, and bronzed skin shiny with suntan oil.

Girls wore the boys’ fashion items in the 80s with unisex styles like t-shirts, Jams shorts, and Vans sneakers. The 90s saw a new line of styles for girls-only, with labels like Roxy and Girlstar, spun off from established surf labels like Quiksilver and Gotcha, respectively.