Myth-making in Australian Sport History: Re-evaluating Duke Kahanamoku's Contribution to Surfing

Abstract

This article argues that the foundation story of Australian surfing history, the claim that Hawaiian swimming champion Duke Paoa Kahanamoku introduced surfboard riding in 1914–15, is a myth—understood not as an outright falsehood but as an accentuation of one version of the past over others for culturally determined reasons. Overlooked in the exaggerated emphasis on Kahanamoku's contribution is prior surfboard riding in Sydney. This article examines new evidence of Australian surfing history, reassesses Kahanamoku's contribution, and analyses the myth as a cultural discourse reflecting its cultural appeal and articulation with Kahanamoku's strong social memory.