Surfing is a surface water sport.
The participant is carried along the face of a breaking wave as it approaches shore, usually on a surfboard. In addition to surfboards, surfers make use of kneeboards, body boards (aka boogie boards), kayaks, surf skis, and their own bodies. Surfing-related sports, such as paddleboarding and sea kayaking, do not require waves. Other derivative sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing rely on wind for power.
*taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfing