The surf boards have changed over time. They are shorter and faster today.

One former competitor says the sport has also changed. Australian Pete Townend says today’s professionals can earn big prizes and marketing agreements. Pete Townend was the world professional surfing champion in 1976.

“There's a lot of young surfers today making a million dollars a year. That is pretty good money to just go surfing in perfect waves with beautiful girls all around, right?”

The U.S. Open of Surfing was held recently in Huntington Beach. It brought together top surfers from as far away as Japan and Brazil. Spokeswoman Jennifer Lau says surfing is a worldwide sport today.

“Surfing is something that is appealing and it's a spiritual thing. You either have what we call the stoke, or you don't, and it's really about what keeps you alive.”

She says “the stoke” is the feeling you get when you are riding a great wave.

And that’s As It Is. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

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