Surfing in California traces back to the 1800s, when three Hawaiian princes arrived in the popular coastal city of Santa Cruz.
From there, surfing spread to other mainland U.S. beaches. The sport became popular after a local icon named Jack O’Neill pioneered the industry with his wetsuit brand. He was the first to create a wetsuit made of neoprene (synthetic rubber) so surfers could stay warm in the winter and surf year-round.
