Editing Surfing (section)

===California===
[[File:Essie Harris Surfs the cold waters of Morro Bay, CA 14 Oct 2009.jpg|thumb|upright|A woman holding her surfboard about to surf in [[Morro Bay, California]]]]
In July 1885, three teenage Hawaiian princes took a break from their boarding school, [[St. Matthew's Episcopal Day School|St. Matthew's Hall]] in [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], and came to cool off in [[Santa Cruz, California]]. There, [[David Kawānanakoa]], [[Edward Abnel Keliʻiahonui|Edward Keliʻiahonui]] and [[Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole]] surfed the mouth of the [[San Lorenzo River]] on custom-shaped redwood boards, according to surf historians Kim Stoner and Geoff Dunn.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dunn |first1=Geoffrey |title=Riders of the Sea Spray |url=http://www.gtweekly.com/santa-cruz-news/good-times-cover-stories/936-riders-of-the-sea-spray.html |access-date=2020-04-01 |work=[[Good Times (newspaper)|Good Times]] |date=31 March 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103121552/http://www.gtweekly.com/santa-cruz-news/good-times-cover-stories/936-riders-of-the-sea-spray.html |archive-date=2013-01-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{cbignore|bot=InternetArchiveBot}} In 1890, the pioneer in agricultural education [[John Wrightson]] reputedly became the first British surfer when instructed by two Hawaiian students at his college.<ref name=Times>{{cite news|last=Martin|first=Andy|author-link=Andy Martin (author)|title=Britain's original beach boys|newspaper=[[The Times]]|location=London|date=April 9, 2012|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/britains-original-beach-boys-3kjh2vj7l7q|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.museumofbritishsurfing.org.uk/| title = Hawaiian Royals Surf Bridlington – in 1890! - Museum of British Surfing}}</ref><ref>Malcolm Gault-Williams, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r84MBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA255 Legendary Surfers: The 1930s],  Volume 3, Lulu (2012)] - [[Google Books]] pg. 255</ref>

[[George Freeth]] (1883–1919), of English and Native Hawaiian descent, is generally credited as the person who had done more than anyone else to renew interest in surfing at Waikiki in the early twentieth century after the sport had declined in popularity in Hawaii during the latter half of the nineteenth century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Verge |first=Arthur C. |date=2001-07-01 |title=George Freeth: King of the Surfers and California's Forgotten Hero |url=https://online.ucpress.edu/ch/article/80/2-3/82/32395/George-Freeth-King-of-the-Surfers-and-California-s |journal=California History |language=en |volume=80 |issue=2–3 |pages=82–105 |doi=10.2307/25177649 |jstor=25177649 |issn=0162-2897|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Moser |first=Patrick |title=Pacific Passages: An Anthology of Surfing Writing |date=May 2008 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=9780824831554 |edition=First |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |pages=153–154 |language=English}}</ref>

In 1907, the eclectic interests of land developer Abbot Kinney (founder of Venice of America, now Venice, California) helped bring Freeth to California. Freeth had sought the help of the Hawaii Promotion Committee (HPC) in Honolulu to sponsor him on a trip to California to give surfing exhibitions. The HPC arranged through their contacts in Los Angeles to secure a contract for Freeth to perform at Venice of America in July, 1907.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Moser |first=Patrick |date=2020-09-29 |title=The Hawaii Promotion Committee and the Appropriation of Surfing |url=https://online.ucpress.edu/phr/article/89/4/500/111983/The-Hawaii-Promotion-Committee-and-the |journal=Pacific Historical Review |language=en |volume=89 |issue=4 |pages=500–527 |doi=10.1525/phr.2020.89.4.500 |issn=0030-8684|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Later that year, land baron [[Henry E. Huntington]] brought surfing to [[Redondo Beach, California|Redondo Beach]]. Looking for a way to entice visitors to his own budding resort community south of Venice where he had heavily invested in real estate, he hired Freeth as a lifeguard and to give surfing exhibitions in front of the [[Hotel Redondo]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Moser |first=Patrick |title=Surf and Rescue: George Freeth and the Birth of California Beach Culture |date=June 28, 2022 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-08652-6 |edition=First |location=Urbana, Illinois |pages= |language=English}}</ref> Another native Hawaiian, [[Duke Kahanamoku]], spread surfing to both the U.S. and Australia, riding the waves after displaying the swimming prowess that won him Olympic gold medals in 1912 and 1920.<ref>[https://olympics.com/en/news/the-legend-of-duke-kahanamoku-the-father-of-modern-surfing-and-double-olympic-ch The legend of Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing and double Olympic champion in Antwerp] (accessed 29 April 2022)</ref>

Mary Ann Hawkins, inspired by Duke Kahanamoku's surfing during the late 1920s, developed a lifelong passion for surfing. In 1935, her family relocated to [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], providing her with opportunities to further immerse herself in surfing and paddleboarding.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Moser |first=Patrick |title=Waikīkī dreams: how California appropriated Hawaiian beach culture. |publisher=Urbana: University of Illinois Press. |year=2024 |isbn=978-0-252-05678-9 |location=English |publication-date=2024}}</ref> On September 12, 1936, Hawkins achieved a historic milestone by winning [[California|California’s]] first women’s paddleboard race at the Santa Monica Breakwater. She continued to dominate the sport,<ref name=":02" /> winning numerous competitions, including the women’s half-mile paddleboard race and the [[Venice Breakwater]] event in 1938, both held on the same day.  
	
Hawkins was also a pioneer in tandem surfing, a discipline that highlights synchronized surfing between two individuals on a single board. She gained further recognition in 1939 when she performed exhibition [[paddleboarding]] and tandem surfing displays at various [[Southern California]] beaches, inspiring a new generation of women surfers.<ref name=":02" /> 
	
In January 1939, Hawkins was appointed head of the women’s auxiliary group of the Santa Monica Paddle Club and rose to vice president by January 1940.<ref name=":02" /> Her surfing peers frequently lauded her achievements, with "Whitey" Harrison describing her as "the best tandem rider." Throughout her career, Hawkins exemplified grace and athleticism, leaving an indelible mark on the history of women’s surfing and paddleboarding.
	
In 1975, a professional tour started.<ref name="Woman of the Year">{{cite web | title=Woman of the Year | website=Surfing Walk of Fame | url=http://www.surfingwalkoffame.com/woman/Oberg.html | access-date=11 December 2017 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806224253/http://www.surfingwalkoffame.com/woman/Oberg.html | archive-date=6 August 2017 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> That year [[Margo Oberg]] became the first female professional surfer.<ref name="Woman of the Year" />
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