Kitten Surf Van Adventure

About this drawing

A kitten surf van like this one is ready for a day of waves. Surfing comes from Polynesia, and in old Hawaii it was a big deal: chiefs rode very long, heavy wooden boards, while everyone else used shorter ones.

In the early 1900s, Hawaiian swimmer Duke Kahanamoku showed off surfing in California and Australia, and crowds loved it. Later came foam and fiberglass boards, which were much lighter, so many more people could learn to stand up and glide across the water.

To get their boards to the beach, surfers started putting racks on the roofs of cars and vans. A board rides upside down and is tied tight with straps so the wind cannot push it around. Today surfing is huge in California and Hawaii, and many beaches offer lessons for kids. It even joined the Olympic Games at the Tokyo event held in 2021.

Before paddling out, surfers watch the ocean to see where the waves are breaking and whether there are strong currents. Beginners start on big foam boards, which float well and are softer if they bump into you. Lifeguards on many beaches mark safe zones for learning with flags.

• surf van
• surfing
• kitten
• beach
• summer