Kelly Slater has been stepping onto podiums for three decades. Considered the GOAT by many, Slater has a long list of wins under his belt, including 11 World Titles and 8 Pipe Masters Events, to name a few. He also holds the record for both the youngest and oldest surfer ever to win the WSL men's world title, at ages 20 and 39, respectively.

4 / 33 Fotos

Andy Irons -

Andy Irons was one of the greatest surfers of all time. His rivalry with Kelly Slater was one of the most entertaining in the sport. Irons won the World Championship three times (in 2002, 2003, 2004) and was a four-time Triple Crown of Surfing Champion.

5 / 33 Fotos

Lisa Andersen -

A four-time world surfing champion, Lisa Andersen is one of the greatest in the sport. The American surfer dominated the mid-'90s, and in 2002 she was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame.

6 / 33 Fotos

Gabriel Medina -

Gabriel Medina was the first-ever Brazilian world champion. He won the title in 2014, and then again in 2018 and 2021. Medina was also the first to land a backflip in a surfing competition.

7 / 33 Fotos

Gabriel Medina -

The perfect pose for an almost perfect score. Photographer Jerome Brouillet was able to register the excitement of Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina after he scored 9.90 in the fifth heat of the men's surfing round three at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He ended the rounds in third place and got the bronze medal.

8 / 33 Fotos

John John Florence -

Hailing from Oahu, Hawaii, the grom-turned-pro dominated the sport from a young age. He won two back-to-back world titles, in 2016 and 2017. The 5-time Triple Crown of Surfing Champion also proved time and again that he rides his home breaks on the North Shore like no other.

9 / 33 Fotos

Filipe Toledo -

Like Medina, Filipe Toledo was also part of the 'Brazilian Storm' that took over the world surfing scene in the 2010s. The two-time world champion is a force to be reckoned with in the water.

10 / 33 Fotos

Tom Curren -

All surfers looked up to Tom Curren in the '80s. With three world titles under his belt, Curren remains one of the greatest of his generation, and indeed in the history of the sport.

11 / 33 Fotos

Adriano de Souza -

Adriano "Mineirinho" de Souza is also one of the best to come out of the generation that included names like Medina and Toledo. The 2015 world champion is one of the greatest.

12 / 33 Fotos

Mark Richards -

Australia's Mark Richards, aka MR, not only has three world titles, but he actually revolutionized the industry. MR is known for developing the Twin-Fin board design. Up until then, surfboards had a single fin.

13 / 33 Fotos

Grant Baker -

Grant "Twiggy" Baker is a three-time big wave world champion. The South African surfer won the titles in 2014, 2017, and 2020.

14 / 33 Fotos

Gerry Lopez -

The Hawaiian surfing legend, also known as "Mr. Pipeline," is one of the greatest surfers from the '70s.

15 / 33 Fotos

Carissa Moore -

With five world titles under her belt, Carissa Moore is one of the best surfers of the last decade.

16 / 33 Fotos

Tom Carroll -

The Aussie surfer is one of the best goofy-footed surfers in the history of the sport. The two-time world champion is one of Australia's most decorated surfers.

17 / 33 Fotos

Greg Long -

The surfer from San Clemente, California, is one of the greatest big wave surfers. Greg Long has won multiple events, including the Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay and the Red Bull Titans of Mavericks. He is the most decorated surfer in the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.

18 / 33 Fotos

Stephanie Gilmore -

Hailing from New South Wales, the Aussie surfing phenomenon is the most decorated female surfer in the world. Stephanie Gilmore has won eight world titles (so far)! Indeed, she's an inspiration for girls and women in the sport.

19 / 33 Fotos

Rob Machado -

Rob Machado was part of the iconic surf crew known as 'Momentum Generation' (another notable member included Kelly Slater). Machado is an inspiration for free surfers all around the globe.

20 / 33 Fotos

Ross Clarke-Jones -

The Australian big wave surfer is approaching 60, but he is not slowing down. Ross Clarke-Jones is known for surfing some of the biggest and most dangerous waves in the world.

21 / 33 Fotos

Dane Reynolds -

The American surfer is known for his aggressive and powerful style. Best known for his free surfing, Dane Reynolds riding waves is a joy to watch.

22 / 33 Fotos

Shane Dorian -

Like Kelly Slater and Rob Machado, Shane Dorian was also part of the 'Momentum Generation.' The Hawaiian surfer is currently one of the best big wave riders in the world.

23 / 33 Fotos

Sunny Garcia -

The Hawaiian surfer found great success in the late 1990s and 2000s. Garcia became the ASP WCT World Champion in 2000.

24 / 33 Fotos

Mark Occhilupo -

Aussie goofy-footer legend Mark Occhilupo, aka "Occy," had an impressive backhand surfing technique. He rose to fame in the '80s and in 1999 he won the world title.

25 / 33 Fotos

Bethany Hamilton -

The Hawaiian surfer is best known for surviving a shark attack in 2003, where she lost her left arm. Despite the traumatic experience, Bethany Hamilton returned to competitive surfing. Her story is truly inspirational.

26 / 33 Fotos

Michael Peterson -

Michael "MP" Peterson was an Australian surfer who dominated the scene in the '70s. His tube riding and carves influenced modern surfing. MP struggled with undiagnosed schizophrenia and substance abuse. He passed away at age 59 from a heart attack.

27 / 33 Fotos

Taj Burrow -

Taj Burrow is one of Australia's best-known surfers, and indeed a very good one. Fans will remember the two times he defeated Kelly Slater in finals: at the 2007 Billabong Pro in Jeffrey's Bay, and then at the Billabong Pipeline Masters in 2009.

28 / 33 Fotos

Shaun Tomson -

The South African surfer won the 1977 World Championship. Tomson took a professional approach to the sport by training daily to become the best. A Jewish athlete, Tomson was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.

29 / 33 Fotos

Rabbit Bartholomew -

Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew was one of the best surfers to come out of Australia. He has also been involved in the sport outside the water. Rabbit was CEO and president of the Association of Surfing Professionals (now WSL).

30 / 33 Fotos

Christian Fletcher -

The pioneer of aerial surfing from California drew inspiration from skateboarding in how he approached wave riding. The bad boy of surfing is known for his rebellious attitude and radical surfing style.

31 / 33 Fotos

Cheyne Horan -

The Aussie surfer is a legend of the sport. Cheyne Horan was inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame in 1986.

Sources: (Surfd) (Surf Hub) (WSL)

32 / 33 Fotos

0 / 33 Fotos

Mick Fanning -

Getty Images

1 / 33 Fotos

Eddie Aikau -

Getty Images

2 / 33 Fotos

Layne Beachley -

The Australian surfer was huge in the '90s. Also known for her rivalry with American surfer Lisa Andersen, Beachley managed to win six consecutive world titles!

Getty Images

3 / 33 Fotos

Kelly Slater -

Getty Images

4 / 33 Fotos

Andy Irons -

Getty Images

5 / 33 Fotos

Lisa Andersen -

A four-time world surfing champion, Lisa Andersen is one of the greatest in the sport. The American surfer dominated the mid-'90s, and in 2002 she was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame.

Getty Images

6 / 33 Fotos

Gabriel Medina -

Gabriel Medina was the first-ever Brazilian world champion. He won the title in 2014, and then again in 2018 and 2021. Medina was also the first to land a backflip in a surfing competition.

Getty Images

7 / 33 Fotos

Gabriel Medina -

Getty Images

8 / 33 Fotos

John John Florence -

Getty Images

9 / 33 Fotos

Filipe Toledo -

Like Medina, Filipe Toledo was also part of the 'Brazilian Storm' that took over the world surfing scene in the 2010s. The two-time world champion is a force to be reckoned with in the water.

Getty Images

10 / 33 Fotos

Tom Curren -

All surfers looked up to Tom Curren in the '80s. With three world titles under his belt, Curren remains one of the greatest of his generation, and indeed in the history of the sport.

Getty Images

11 / 33 Fotos

Adriano de Souza -

Adriano "Mineirinho" de Souza is also one of the best to come out of the generation that included names like Medina and Toledo. The 2015 world champion is one of the greatest.

Getty Images

12 / 33 Fotos

Mark Richards -

Getty Images

13 / 33 Fotos

Grant Baker -

Grant "Twiggy" Baker is a three-time big wave world champion. The South African surfer won the titles in 2014, 2017, and 2020.

Getty Images

14 / 33 Fotos

Gerry Lopez -

The Hawaiian surfing legend, also known as "Mr. Pipeline," is one of the greatest surfers from the '70s.

Getty Images

15 / 33 Fotos

Carissa Moore -

With five world titles under her belt, Carissa Moore is one of the best surfers of the last decade.

Getty Images

16 / 33 Fotos

Tom Carroll -

The Aussie surfer is one of the best goofy-footed surfers in the history of the sport. The two-time world champion is one of Australia's most decorated surfers.

Getty Images

17 / 33 Fotos

Greg Long -

Getty Images

18 / 33 Fotos

Stephanie Gilmore -

Getty Images

19 / 33 Fotos

Rob Machado -

Rob Machado was part of the iconic surf crew known as 'Momentum Generation' (another notable member included Kelly Slater). Machado is an inspiration for free surfers all around the globe.

Getty Images

20 / 33 Fotos

Ross Clarke-Jones -

The Australian big wave surfer is approaching 60, but he is not slowing down. Ross Clarke-Jones is known for surfing some of the biggest and most dangerous waves in the world.

Getty Images

21 / 33 Fotos

Dane Reynolds -

The American surfer is known for his aggressive and powerful style. Best known for his free surfing, Dane Reynolds riding waves is a joy to watch.

Getty Images

22 / 33 Fotos

Shane Dorian -

Like Kelly Slater and Rob Machado, Shane Dorian was also part of the 'Momentum Generation.' The Hawaiian surfer is currently one of the best big wave riders in the world.

Getty Images

23 / 33 Fotos

Sunny Garcia -

The Hawaiian surfer found great success in the late 1990s and 2000s. Garcia became the ASP WCT World Champion in 2000.

Getty Images

24 / 33 Fotos

Mark Occhilupo -

Aussie goofy-footer legend Mark Occhilupo, aka "Occy," had an impressive backhand surfing technique. He rose to fame in the '80s and in 1999 he won the world title.

Getty Images

25 / 33 Fotos

Bethany Hamilton -

Getty Images

26 / 33 Fotos

Michael Peterson -

Getty Images

27 / 33 Fotos

Taj Burrow -

Getty Images

28 / 33 Fotos

Shaun Tomson -

Getty Images

29 / 33 Fotos

Rabbit Bartholomew -

Getty Images

30 / 33 Fotos

Christian Fletcher -

Getty Images

31 / 33 Fotos

Cheyne Horan -

The Aussie surfer is a legend of the sport. Cheyne Horan was inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame in 1986.

Sources: (Surfd) (Surf Hub) (WSL)

Getty Images

32 / 33 Fotos

The greatest surfers of all time

From the '70s to the present day

13/11/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Sports

Surfing went from being an underground sport to an Olympic one in a matter of years. Today, surfing is a multi-billion dollar industry that attracts new blood every year. With so much competition and with the stakes so high, it's not easy to reach the top, let alone remain there. Some surfers, however, managed to do just that.

In this gallery, we look back at the history of surfing and bring you some of the greatest in the sport. Some of these athletes excelled competitively, while others made other contributions to the surfing world. Regardless, these athletes all deserve a spot on the list of the greatest. Click through to meet them.