Discovered: Oldest surf picture ever!

This surf picture is 120 years old! Has anything changed?

This image was apparently taken in 1890 and in the private collection of a Manchester man who lived in Hawaii by the name of Herbert Smith. It has been in his family for 120 years but they have decided to sell so we get to see.

The striking thing, I think, is the way these old Hawaiians are standing. To me they look exactly like surfers today. The kind of purposeful laziness, the head facing camera but not really caring, even the angles of the boards. Not too stiff, not too loose.

Also, it looks very fun out the back.

And surfing really is a wonder. It is ancient but part of me thinks it has always been the same. Sure the boards change but surfers, I suppose. Surfers seem like they’ve always been the same. It is, anyhow, what my head has been chewing on for the last few months as I punch out next book about the grandest love affair of all.

Happy Valentine’s day dear cocaine and surfing and happy Valentine’s day to you!

 

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Ghostface Braddah
Ghostface Braddah
9 years ago

I’ve surfed that left and it only breaks that big maybe 10-20x per year. It’s a super fun wave, but lots and lots of water fleas.

Kenneth Noisewater
Kenneth Noisewater
9 years ago

Neat

Nick Carroll
Nick Carroll
9 years ago

God it sounds like an advertising line from my youth: “Times change, but deep down, people don’t”

This better not turn out to be some gigantic Mancusian Hoax.

Ami Lost
Ami Lost
9 years ago

More fake news bought into by the media. Clearly that is Maurice Cole standing next to the canoe.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…

Dooma
Dooma
9 years ago

Board A is a Firewire Omni and board B is a Firewire Sweet Potato.

Tom House
Tom House
9 years ago
Chas Smith
Chas Smith
9 years ago
Reply to  Tom House

Ha! That is actually funny but proves the point! Now it’s The Inertia’s turn!

Tom House
Tom House
9 years ago
Reply to  Chas Smith

How long until The Inertia buys Surfer and Beachgrit and Stab and, uh, Tracks I guess?

Chas Smith
Chas Smith
9 years ago
Reply to  Tom House

3 days!

?uzzled
?uzzled
9 years ago
Reply to  Chas Smith

Cash in

Doobalachy
Doobalachy
9 years ago

Don’t be scared chas , name and celebrate


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