A new hypothesis has emerged, challenging the belief that surfing originated in Polynesia.

Over the years, new evidence and findings have emerged that determine that surfing originated in West Africa or Polynesia, where it developed recreationally, but certainly also from a spiritual point of view, taking place in different rituals.

Now a new idea has emerged that challenges everything we knew until now. This stems from an Italian surfer, writer, and historian named Nicola Zanella, who questioned the origins of surfing based on a theory he developed after visiting a Buddhist temple in Kunming, the capital and largest city of Yunnan province in China.

During his visit, Zanella observed a sculpture created in the late 19th century using a technique known as bas-relief, which involves carving figures into walls to create a three-dimensional effect. The historian noticed something quite peculiar about this particular sculpture: it depicts a group of Buddhists engaged in various activities. Among them, one of the Buddhists is shown surfing on a fish—an image that, frankly, could be a mere coincidence.

However, the origin of these Buddhist figures is what makes them most unique, as they come from Hangzhou, a city world-renowned for having one of the longest tidal waves in the world, on the Qiantang River. This fact undoubtedly adds to the sculpture's mystique, as its origins trace back to celebrations held during the Song Dynasty, which lasted from 960 to 1279.

The surfer and scholar of past events mentions that his discovery should not necessarily be considered the beginning of surfing, since Surfing has occurred in different parts of the world and at different times, and comparing the times of its beginnings would be somewhat complicated; however, what is clear is that there is currently no reference that proves this activity to be older.

Written by: Enrique Hernández

General Management: Marco Montero