It wasn’t until the early 20th Century however that surfing started to take hold. A half-Irish half-Hawaiian gentleman but the name of George Freeth was shipped into California with board. He was there to show off his incredible wave riding skills to promote the Los Angeles-Redondo-Huntington railroad.

“He was there to show off his incredible wave riding skills and to promote the Los Angeles-Redondo-Huntington railroad.”

George first surfed at the now legendary Huntington Beach pier (now at the heart of Surf City USA) before travelling up and down the coast giving surf and surf-lifesaving demonstrations to amazed beach goers. This little promo stunt brought surfing into the public consciousness for the first time and fired the imagination of many.