What is Surfing?
Surfing is a water sport where an athlete performs manoeuvres on a wave while standing on a board.
By whom, where and when was Surfing invented?
Surfing is believed to have been practised by fishermen in ancient times in Peru and later, in around 400 AD, across Polynesia.
James King, who served under explorer Captain James Cook, wrote about surfing in Hawaii after Cook's death in 1779.
Lifeguard George Freeth, born in Hawaii but based in California, became one of the pioneers of modern surfing by cutting a traditional 5m hardwood board to create a more manageable vessel.
He and Duke Kahanamoku, a three-time Olympic swimming champion, helped spread the sport across the United States with Kahanamoku taking it to Australia and advocating the sport be added to the Olympic Games.
A century later, his wish was granted.
What are the rules of Surfing?
In competitive surfing, between two and four athletes contest a heat where they have between 20 and 30 minutes to catch the best waves possible.
Observing usual surfing etiquette, only one surfer can ride a wave at a time with the one closest to the peak having right of way.
The athletes are marked out of 10 for each wave they ride by a panel of judges with only the two best rides - based on the difficulty, variety and type of manoeuvres as well as their power, speed and flow between manoeuvres - counting for each surfer.
Surfing and the Olympics
Surfing made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 in 2021 with a men's and women's competition each featuring 20 athletes. The athletes used shortboards as per most international competitions.
Brazil's Italo Ferreira became the sport's first Olympic champion, beating home favourite Kanoa Igarashi to take gold.
Then Carissa Moore of the United States - hailing from Hawaii - took women's gold ahead of South Africa's Bianca Buitendag.
Best Surfers to watch
The United States and Australia have long been the powerhouse nations in surfing although Brazilian male surfers have proven formidable in recent years.
As well as reigning Olympic champion Ferreira, Brazil boasts the likes of three-time world champion Gabriel Medina, Felipe Toledo and Joao Chianca. But with a absolute maximum of three spots per nation at Paris 2024, there is intense competition for places.
Hawaii's John John Florence will hope to make a second Games, while 11-time world champion Kelly Slater - who will be 52 when Paris comes around - hopes to become an Olympian in what would be his last competition.
Stephanie Gilmore has eight world titles to her name although she faces competition for an Australian Olympic berth from the likes of two-time world champion Tyler Wright and rising star Molly Picklum.
Surfing Competition Rules at Paris 2024
There will be 24 men and 24 women competing in surfing at Paris 2024 with Teahupo'o Beach in Tahiti, French Polynesia the venue.
There is a maximum of two surfers per event per nation although Kanoa Igarashi's victory at the 2022 ISA World Surfing Games took Japan up to three men's spots. Similarly, Kirra Pinkerton won the women's final to earn an extra women's berth for the United States. Extra berths are also available at the 2024 ISA World Surfing Games.
The first round of competition is non-elimination with the top surfers going directly to round three while the rest go into round two where athletes will be eliminated.
From round three onwards, it is head-to-head elimination all the way through to the final.
