It’s International Surfing Day. These Are the World’s Best Surfers.

International Surfing Day is an unofficial holiday but is still important. It was only first established in 2005 and lands on the third Saturday of June. While most non-surfers don't know about this holiday, it's super celebrated in surfing circles. To celebrate International Surfing Day, let's discover some incredible talent. These are the world's best surfers.

Starting our list strong, we have Duke Kahanamoku. He was one of the first competitive surfers in the world, popularizing the water sport worldwide. Not only was he an incredible surfer, but also a five-time Olympic medalist in swimming.

Another surfer you should know about for International Surfing Day is Kelly Slater. He's one of the best surfers of all time, winning the Laureus World Sports Awards category of Action Sportsperson of the Year. He's also the oldest surfer still competing in the World Surf League.

Italo Ferreira is one of the best surfers in the world. Born in Baía Formosa, in Rio Grande do Norte, he learned how to surf at a young age, getting his first surfboard at 12 years old. Some of his major achievements include winning the 2020 Olympics Gold Medal, the 2019 World Surf League Champion, and the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games Champion.

Age means nothing in the surfing world. Even teenagers can beat seasoned surfers. Caitlin Simmers is one of these incredible teens. She's been competing since 2018 when she was only about 12 to 13 years old. Simmers was the 2024 World Surf League Champion.

Hailing from South Africa, Shaun Tomson is best known for his 1977 World Surfing win. He competed from 1969 – 1990. Although he no longer competes, he is still active in the surfing world and is an author and environmentalist.

Would you continue surfing even after surviving a shark attack and losing a limb? Well, Bethany Hamilton did. She was a rising star in the surfing world, competing as young as 8.

Winning a world championship once in anything is quite the accomplishment, but three times? And before you even turn 35? That's legendary! John John Florence is a beast while on the water. Not only has he won the World Champions three times, but earned the Triple Crown of Surfing Champion five times.

Next on our list is an amazing Costa Rican surfer, Brisa Hennessy. She achieved fourth place at the 2024 Olympic Games. Hennessy was only 18 when qualified for the World Surf League Championship Tour and was the first Costa Rican to do so.

Another world championship surfer on our slideshow is Lisa Andersen. Over her surfing career, she's won four world titles. Her best year was in 1997. Lisa Andersen started surfing at 15 and quickly became good.

Rob Machado is a famous free surfer, who also competed professionally. He competed from 1993-2001 on the World Surf League Championship Tour. He's also dabbled in film, playing himself in the animated film, "Surf's Up."

During the 1970s, it would be hard to find someone who didn't know Michael Peterson. He was an incredible surfer known for his deep tube riding skills.

Last but not least is Laird Hamilton. Not only is he a surfing champion, but so incredibly talented that he co-invented tow-in surfing. He's been active since 1970.