Everything you need to know about AERIAL SURFING in under a minute

December 1975: Kevin Reed, Santa Cruz – Hailed as originator of aerial surfing, earned first published aerial photograph with cover of Surfing Magazine.
Early 1980’s: Davey Smith, Santa Barbara – Originator of the floater and aerial proponent, was pushing the level with his crew down in SoCal.  
July 1984: Martin Potter, South Africa – Pottz blew up with his pro debut as a 15-year-old grom phenom taking the Surfing Magazine cover with the first completed air shot.
Late 1980’s: Matt Archbold, San Clemente – San Clemente became a hotbed for the progressive surfing movement, and Archy was leading the pack with his innovative approach.  
September 1989: Christian Fletcher, San Clemente – Won the Body Glove Surfbout at Lower Trestles, earning himself a payday of $31,725, marking the first time a professional competition had been won based almost exclusively on aerial surfing.  
1992: Kelly Slater, Puerto Escondido – In Taylor Steele’s video Momentum, Slater and friends revolutionized aerials and the progressive surfing movement at the highest level, highlighted Slater’s backside method grab air ending the opening segment.
July 1994: Jason “Ratboy” Collins, Santa Cruz – During the 1993 Coldwater Classic Expression Session, a young local kid split the peak with Kelly Slater, went left toward the cliff at The Lane, and completed a backside helicopter air reverse that was easily a decade ahead of its time, ushering in a new era of progressive surfing.  The sequence was featured on the first ever fold-out cover of that month’s Surfer Magazine.  
December 1999: Kelly Slater, Oahu, Hawaii – During his Pipeline Masters quarter-final heat against good friend Rob Machado, Slater attempted a “rodeo flip,” the first ever seen at this level of competition, completing the rotation but falling upon landing, blowing open the doors of possibility.  
Summer 2000: Aaron “Gorkin” Cormican, San Clemente – Honing his skills at home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, this kid came to the west coast and on the Lowers left pulled the first documented “Gorkin Flip,” a variation of Slater’s rodeo where he comes back out of the rotation before finishing the second revolution.  
2006: Dane Reynolds and Jordy Smith – These two are pushing the level of aerial surfing now and for the decade to come, so be ready!