Surfing was an important part of ancient Polynesian culture way before it was first observed by European visitors. The ancient wave riders rode boards made from timber.

When surfing was first exported to California young surfers worked out that they could use old candles to rub over the deck of their boards to give their bare feet more traction. From this humble idea, young surfers began mixing different waxes and chemicals together to produce the perfect material for ease of application and grip. This early development lead to surfers being able to pull of more radical moves on a board than previously achieved. More grip under foot means bigger turns, steeper drop-ins and control on faster waves.