Editing Surfing (section)

==Surfers and surf culture==
{{Main|Surf culture}}
[[File:Shaka-sign.png|right|The [[Shaka sign]]|thumb|alt=Photo of the back of human wrist and hand. The thumb and pinkie are extended and the other fingers are folded against the palm.]]

Surfers represent a diverse [[surf culture|culture]] based on riding the waves. Some people practice surfing as a [[recreation]]al activity, while others make it the central focus of their lives. Surfing culture in the US is most dominant in [[Hawaii]] and [[California]], because these two states offer the best surfing conditions. However, waves can be found wherever there is coastline, and a tight-knit yet far-reaching subculture of surfers has emerged throughout America. Some historical markers of the culture included the [[woodie (car body style)|woodie]], the station wagon used to carry surfers' boards, as well as [[boardshorts]], the long swim shorts typically worn while surfing. Surfers also wear [[wetsuit]]s in colder regions and when the seasons cool the air and water.

During the 1960s, as surfing caught on in California, its popularity spread through American pop culture. Several teen movies, starting with the [[Gidget]] series in 1959, transformed surfing into a dream life for American youth. Later movies, including [[Beach Party]] (1963), [[Ride the Wild Surf]] (1964), and [[Beach Blanket Bingo]] (1965) promoted the California dream of sun and surf.  Surf culture also fueled the early records of the [[Beach Boys]].

The sport is also a significant part of [[Australia]]'s eastern coast sub-cultural life,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thearkatech.com/liam-hemsworth/6346/| title = Liam Hemsworth leaves 2019 with surfboard}}</ref> especially in [[New South Wales]], where the weather and water conditions are most favourable for surfing.

The sport of surfing now represents a multibillion-dollar industry, especially in [[Surf culture#Fashion|clothing and fashion]] markets. Founded in 1964, the [[International Surfing Association]] (ISA) is the oldest foundation associated with surfing formed to better improve surfing and recognized by the [[International Olympic Committee]] as the leading authority on surfing. National and international surf competitions began in 1964. In addition, [[World Surf League|The World Surf League (WSL)]] was established in 1976 and promotes various championship tours, hosting top competitors in some of the best surf spots around the globe. A small number of people make a career out of surfing by receiving corporate sponsorships and performing for photographers and videographers in far-flung destinations; they are typically referred to as freesurfers. Sixty-six surfers on a {{convert|42|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} long surfboard set a record in [[Huntington Beach, California]] for most people on a surfboard at one time.<ref>{{cite web |title=66 Surfers Set World Record by Riding on a Board at Once |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/66-surfers-set-world-record-riding-board/story?id=31921594#:~:text=They%20did%20it%20on%20a%20surfboard%20weighing%201%2C300%20pounds.&text=Over%20sixty%20people%20try%20to,now%20entered%20Guinness%20World%20Records. |publisher=ABC News |access-date=21 September 2024}}</ref> [[Dale Webster]] consecutively surfed for 14,641 days, making it his main life focus.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Douglas-Rosa |first1=Ashtyn |title=Everyday Dale Ends His Streak |url=https://www.surfer.com/news/everyday-dale-ends-his-streak |access-date=21 September 2024}}</ref>

As of 2023, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized a 26.2&nbsp;m (86&nbsp;ft) wave ride by Sebastian Steudtner at Nazaré, Portugal as the largest wave ever surfed.<ref name=":1" />

When the waves were flat, surfers persevered with sidewalk surfing, which is now called [[skateboarding]]. Sidewalk surfing has a similar feel to surfing and requires only a paved road or sidewalk. To create the feel of the wave, surfers even sneaked into empty backyard swimming pools to ride in, known as pool skating. Eventually, surfing made its way to the slopes with the invention of the [[Snurfer]], later credited as the first snowboard. Many other board sports have been invented over the years, but all can trace their heritage back to surfing.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Many surfers claim to have a spiritual connection with the ocean, describing surfing, the surfing experience, both in and out of the water, as a type of spiritual experience or a religion.<ref name="huffingtonpost">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/03/religion-of-surfing_n_5617472.html|title=The Spirituality Of Surfing: Finding Religion Riding The Waves|publisher=huffingtonpost.com|access-date=26 August 2015|date=3 August 2014}}</ref>