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Florida’s history of surfing actually started in the early 1930’s with a few Virginia Beach lifeguards, namely John Smith and Babe Braithwait, renting concession stands at the beaches and demonstrating the sport with Hawaiian surfboards. Bill and Dudley Whitman, well regarded as Florida’s first surfers, were bellyboarding in Miami Beach at the same time. After noticing the Hawaiian surfboard, Bill Whitman built the first Hawaii-style surfboard in Florida out of sugar pine. The Whitman brothers also constructed the first Blake style hollow board. Gauldin Reed was also a pioneer surfer in Florida, located at Daytona Beach. The true popularity of the sport permeated Florida in the years following World War II. Pensacola and Cocoa Beach, with active military bases, brought military surfers to Florida, who settled and started generations of active surfers.
Later on, in the 1960’s, more landmarks in Florida surfing history occurred. After starting in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, Ron DiMenna started the legacy of the Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach, Florida in 1963. This surf shop spans over two acres and carries a vast array of surf equipment and surfwear unlike anywhere else. Ron Jon has put a lasting mark on Florida surfing, with three more locations: at Fort Lauderdale, at Festival Bay, Orlando and at the Orlando International Airport. In 1967, the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) started, with Florida a major contributor in terms of surfing talent and 10 separate districts in the organization.
Competitions dominate the surfing community in Florida for several decades, when at last in 1992, a native Cocoa Beach surfer becomes Florida’s first and the overall youngest world champion – Kelly Slater. Kelly would go on to win the Association of Professional Surfers World Championship six times.
Later on, in the 1960’s, more landmarks in Florida surfing history occurred. After starting in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, Ron DiMenna started the legacy of the Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach, Florida in 1963. This surf shop spans over two acres and carries a vast array of surf equipment and surfwear unlike anywhere else. Ron Jon has put a lasting mark on Florida surfing, with three more locations: at Fort Lauderdale, at Festival Bay, Orlando and at the Orlando International Airport. In 1967, the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) started, with Florida a major contributor in terms of surfing talent and 10 separate districts in the organization.
Competitions dominate the surfing community in Florida for several decades, when at last in 1992, a native Cocoa Beach surfer becomes Florida’s first and the overall youngest world champion – Kelly Slater. Kelly would go on to win the Association of Professional Surfers World Championship six times.
