History: Were the vikings our surfing founding fathers/mothers?

Ancient proto-Polynesians own the narrative but what if...

Oh my, oh boy, oh my. I am half lounging in a very fine bed right now because it is ten o’clock at night though the sun has not yet set and won’t for a few short hours. Then it will rise a few short hours after that because I am in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen!

I have never been here before but have been wildly fascinated since youthful days spent reading Søren Kierkegaard and imaging.

Søren Kierkegaard!

All of his philosophy is the absolute best, or at least all his philosophy that my addled brain can understand. Like either/or.

Either/Or! (buy here!)

And I have given two book book readings lately in promotion of Cocaine + Surfing (buy here in Australia! Here on Audible! Here in America!) where a few questions have been asked on the origins of surfing and my claim that it was Peru.

“But what if…” they say “…but what if the Portuguese explorers were riding waves too?”

And I tell them that those ancient Peruvians pre-date European expansionism. “But but but… what about the vikings?”

It would be an easy search, considering today’s technology, to know if the ancient Peruvians predate these proud vikings but I have never done it so don’t.

I would imagine the ancient Peruvians predate everyone but Mesopotamians but, again, what do I know? And I am jet-lagged.

But!

I went swimming tonight in that salty Danish brine at eight o’clock at night and there were no waves but the water was perfect and so was the warm wind.

Do surfers actually need waves?

Does history even matter?

Just kidding, Matt Warsahw! I’m super jet-lagged!

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mundus
mundus
8 years ago

I don’t know, but it must have taken a lot of waveriding skill to get those ships safely to the beach on the west coast of Ireland, Scotland, etc, Plus the cold water!

Lemon Next to the Pie
Lemon Next to the Pie
8 years ago

Well, (having semi-documented Viking heritage), this here Viking is happy to finally be semi-acknowledged.

And you’re wrong Nick. Us Vikings would take out those Pacific Islanders, due to better weapons and armour. Sure the armour might be a bit uncomfortable in the heat, but our metal forged weapons plus bows and arrows are a step-up on spears. (Note, I say this as someone who didn’t have to face too many Islanders while playing union or league growing up).

Nick Carroll
Nick Carroll
8 years ago

I’m a Viking, do you think I’m happy about it?

Krill
Krill
8 years ago
Reply to  Nick Carroll

Liar. You are a tulip farmer at best

surfmom
surfmom
8 years ago

We could all just have a little viking club here on BG.. wouldn’t that be neat! Got family in Norway!

Swaveanddeboner
Swaveanddeboner
8 years ago

I was horrendously overcharged for the book at Brisbane airport but thought fuck it, I liked Welcome to Paradise…plus the book title garnered a cheeky grin from the cute sales girl and a few minutes of conversation, so there’s that. Fun read.

Mapski
Mapski
8 years ago

Take a walk through Copenhagen Central Station if you want to step back in time. Masterpiece.

Nick Carroll
Nick Carroll
8 years ago

The ancient Vikings would have cut those Peruvian fishermen sixty thousand new arseholes.

But then would have had their puzzlingly pointy heads bashed in by the proto-Polynesians.

Nick Carroll
Nick Carroll
8 years ago
Reply to  Nick Carroll

by the way where’s my fucking copy of this book? I want to review it, along with the classic surfploitaion novel “Cute And Deadly Surf Twins”, by the great Patrick Morgan.

Jimmy the Saint
Jimmy the Saint
8 years ago

Guinness > Carlsburg

channelbottom
channelbottom
8 years ago

I think they’re both owned by the same company these days.
Look for a Guiness / Carlsberg collab beer out soon.

Audit In Progress
Audit In Progress
8 years ago
Reply to  channelbottom

I will NOT look for that, Chan.

Jimmy the Saint
Jimmy the Saint
8 years ago

Rapists, pillagers and monk killers! Responsible for setting up that shithole Dublin too!

Jimmy the Saint
Jimmy the Saint
8 years ago

Dane Reynolds, Dane Gudaushas… I think you are onto something!

channelbottom
channelbottom
8 years ago

Why have my harmless links on the last article been modded?
Don’t you like Bo Selecta?

NEGATRON
NEGATRON
8 years ago
Reply to  channelbottom

Since I’ve turned back on the picture/links function every second post goes to the Mod “pending” box….

channelbottom
channelbottom
8 years ago
Reply to  NEGATRON

Fair enuff.
I figured it was merely an automatic thing.
…but thought I’d kick up anyway because I’m just like that.

FL Skunk Ape
FL Skunk Ape
8 years ago

It’s Warshaw


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