Surfing is a popular sport around the world. In practice, considered an adventure by many, the athlete glides standing on the surface of the water with the help of a board, taking advantage of a wave that breaks. But do you know the origin of surfing?

The sport, which officially became an Olympic practice in 2021, has a long — and controversial — history. There are many contradictions and discussions regarding the origin of surfing. The fight over how surfing came about is between Peruvians and Polynesians

In this article, we are going to talk about how and where surfing came to be. We will also better explain how it spread around the world and how Brazilians began to practice it. Follow up!

There are long controversies as to what is the origin of surfing. What can be said is that, to date, there is no historical record that proves the origin of surfing. Nobody can say for sure how it was created and who was the first person to come up with the idea.

The most accepted hypotheses by researchers regarding the history of surfing is that he was born in Peru or Polynesia. Both regions are surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean

Early reports state that surfing was introduced to Hawaii by a Polynesian king. However, there are records that state that, before the Hawaiians, Peruvians used a reed canoe to glide over the waves on the beach.

In historical terms, the first written account was written by an English navigator, named James Cook, in 1778, in which he claims to be a leisure practice. But were Peruvians and Polynesians surfing for fun?

Apparently, after working at sea fishing, these men realized that it was more exciting and challenging to return to the beach standing on the hulls of the boats. However, like most of the existing reports, the origin of this information is doubtful.

When talking about where surfing was created, many people believe it was in Hawaii. What is known is that the Polynesians were great sailors, so they were able to cross the Equator and reach the Hawaiian Islands

In Hawaii, they gave rise to a civilization, adapting culture and way of life, including with regard to the practice with the waves. The activity was not restricted to a group, so women, men, young people, and children participated

While native Hawaiians were in the habit of surfing, Europeans had no idea that this practice existed. Therefore, when it comes to the origin of surfing, the descent is not European

In 1778, James Cook was traveling across the ocean aboard HMS Endeavour on a mission of discovery commissioned by the British Royal Navy. In his diary, which was taken to Europe by Lieutenant James King, there were two pages describing the experience of seeing Hawaiians taking waves on wooden planks. That was the beginning of the history of surfing on the European continent.

In Brazil, the ability to balance on a surfboard appeared in the 1930s, but it only became popular in the 1960s. The sport was mainly played in Rio de Janeiro, under the leadership of important sports figures, such as Paulo Preguiça, Jorge Paulo Lehman

We cannot fail to mention Pepê Lopes, the first Brazilian finalist in a Pipeline stage and the first Brazilian surf athlete to win a stage of the world championship of the sport.

The year 1965 marks the founding of the Rio de Janeiro State Surf Association, the first national one. Gradually, the sport became more popular and spread to regions across the country, such as Santa Catarina and Bahia.

Today, our country is on the global surf route and is the birthplace of great athletes who collect world titles. Among them are world champion Gabriel Medina and renowned athletes, such as Ítalo Ferreira, Filipe Toledo, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Adriano de Souza, Carlos Burle

For those who like to enjoy the sport, it's worth learning more about these athletes and others who have raised the Brazilian flag on beaches in various countries. In addition, if you like to practice sports, before choosing your next trip, it is worth researching more about the main national destinations suitable for this practice.

Now that you know the origin of surfing, how about taking the opportunity to surf the incredible waves of Bahia's beaches? Discover our promotional packages to schedule unforgettable tours with incredible conditions!