LIFE’s Favorite Vintage Surfing Photos

It’s more than the sun and the sea that makes surfing pictures so appealing. It’s also that surfers just seem to be living right. It is the rare sport that is both a pastime and a way of life. There are many quotes about the unique appeal of surfing, including this one from Frosty Hesson: “If you’re having a bad day, catch a wave.” Hesson made his name as a big-wave surfer, but the sentiment can be understood by anyone who has ever taken a refreshing dip in the ocean.

The sense of people enjoying themselves by the sea is what makes these surfing photos such a pleasure, and it’s why when you look at the best-selling photos in the LIFE print store that have anything to do with sports, you find that surfing is as popular as any.

Many LIFE photographers took their turns having a day at the beach. Some of the most wonderful photos were taken by Allan Grant, more noted as a chronicler of Hollywood. But he also swung out to nearby Malibu and captured the surf culture there. This overhead shot of riders catching a wave is LIFE’s best-selling surf print.

LIFE photographers such as Ralph Crane, Loomis Dean and Frank Scherschel turned up gems as well. All these images are wonderful. Enjoy.

Surfing, Malibu, California 1961
Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1961
Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfers, Malibu, California 1961
Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, California, 1950.
Loomis Dean/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.
Frank Scherschel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Hawaii, 1959.
Ralph Crane/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Manhattan Beach, Calif., 1965.
Ralph Crane/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Australia, 1958.
John Dominis/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Hawaii, 1963.
George Silk/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.
Frank Scherschel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961
Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Hawaii, 1959.
Ralph Crane/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961.
Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1961.
Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock

Sixteen-year-old Kathy Kohner (the real-life inspiration for the character of Gidget) rode a wave, Malibu, Calif., 1957.
Allan Grant/Life Pictures/Shutterstock