The history of surfing on the east coast began in Virginia Beach! James M. Jordan, Jr. has the distinction of being the first man to ride a surfboard on the east coast. The surfboard, which was a gift from his uncle Walter F. Irwin in 1912, was made in Hawaii, of redwood, stood about nine feet tall and weighed 110 pounds. It could only be used on larger waves produced by hurricanes or nor-easters, and the townspeople as well as the guests of the hotels considered "Big Jim's" surfing ability an exciting feat of skill.

Today, Virginia Beach is home to the East Coast Surfing Championships, and offers many great "breaks" year-round. If you forget your board at home, you can rent one form many of our local surf shops:

• 17th Street Surf Shop: 17th Street & Pacific Ave. (757) 422-6105
  The gran'daddy of surf shops, 17th Street offers a wide variety of boards, gear and swimwear.
  

• RK's Surf Shop: 16th Street & Pacific Ave. (757) 428-7363
  RK's has everything you need to enjoy your vacation on the beach, renting surf and boogie boards - in-line skates and bicycles. RK's also features a huge selection of swimwear and clothing for stepping out at night.
  

• Wave Riding Vehicles: 1900 Cypress Ave. (757) 422-8823 - Surf Report 428-1877
  The largest manufacturer of surf boards in the region, WRV features a huge showroom and plenty of helpful folks to help pick the right board for you.