Photo questions if Wrightsville Beach is birthplace of East Coast surfing

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Wrightsville Beach has been known as the birthplace of surfing on the East Coast, but that may no longer be true. Surfing historian Skipper Funderburg discovered an illustration that questions where the birthplace of surfing really was.

“She absolutely does not have enough supporting evidence to defend her as a real event,” said Funderburg.

In 2006 Funderburg discovered a wood-cut illustration of a girl surfing at a New Jersey beach, named “Sandwich Island Girl.” The illustration dates back to 1888, which is more than two decades before Wrightsville Beach was declared the birthplace of East Coast surfing.

But Funderburg says there is no proof that this girl actually existed, so Wrightsville Beach remains the birthplace of the sport.

“Everything we’ve found so far is just legend, that’s all. There’s nothing authentic there,” said Funderburg.

In 1909, Wrightsville became the birthplace of surfing on the East Coast. People visited the entire North Carolina coast for its booming surfing, boating and water sports.

“It’s just a love for water, more than it being surfing itself,” said Chris Siebbeles, who has been surfing at Wrightsville Beach for more than a decade. Siebbeles says it is a way of life here.

“I’d definitely say from here up, towards the Outer Banks, it’s just like the culture. Even if you don’t surf, you still go to the beach, you know surfers, you know about surfing and stuff like that,” said Siebbeles.

Funderburg says they have built the sport from the ground up at Wrighstville Beach. He says it stuck because of the diverse beach access, but mostly because of the culture.

“Just the culture of the people. The culture of the people, loving all of this,” said Funderburg.

Funderburg says the culture will always make Wrighstville Beach the birthplace of surfing along the Atlantic Coast.