Surf Polo - Water Polo on Surfboards
Surf Polo or Surfboard Water Polo is a variation of Water Polo, a unique and relatively new sport that combines elements of water polo and surfing. The sport is essentially beach water polo on surfboards.
The sport was invented by Louis Kahanamoku, the brother of the inverter of surfing Duke Kahanamoku. It was first played in the 1930s and 1940s at Waikiki beach in Hawaii, probably as an activity for the surfers on flat days. Games of surf polo continue to be played in Hawaii today.
In this sport, players use surfboards instead of swimming in a pool, which adds an extra level of challenge and excitement. It is a fun and exciting sport that combines the thrill of surfing with the strategy and teamwork of water polo. It is still a relatively new sport, but it is growing in popularity, particularly in coastal regions with strong surfing cultures.
The game is typically played between two teams, each consisting of five players, including a goalkeeper. The games start by throwing the ball in the center of the field and competitors from each team race to get the ball. The surfboards are used to move around the playing area and to pass the ball to other players. The objective is to score goals by throwing the ball into the opposing team's net, while also preventing the other team from scoring.
Surfboard Water Polo is played in the ocean or other natural bodies of water, and the playing area is typically marked out using buoys or flags.
River surfers from Calgary Canada have also played an indoor version of surf polo to keep fit in the Winter when the rivers freeze over.
Surf polo is also another name for Beach Polo, polo played on horseback on the sand.
Similar Sports
- Beach Water Polo — an open water version of water polo played on a smaller field with four players per team.
- Canoe Polo — players in kayaks attempt to score by throwing or hitting a ball through a goal suspended two meters above the water.
- Surfing — participants stand on a surfboard, and use the waves for propulsion.
- Water Polo — a team sport played in swimming pools, the aim is to pass the ball over the water and into the goal net.
- Inner Tube Water Polo — a variation of water polo that is played while sitting on inner tubes in a pool.
- Kayak Football — participants in kayaks attempt to get a small soft football into the end zone.
Related Pages
- About Paddling Sports
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports
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