In 2016, the east coast of Australia became the stage that marked the union of the ancient marine cultures of Peru and Australia. At the heart of this exchange was the Caballito de Totora – a Peruvian reed board, the oldest known surfboard, ridden by Carlos Ucañan, a skilled Peruvian surfer with roots and traditions from the Moche culture spanning 500 generations.

The Caballito holds a significant place in the history of surfing. Its origins trace back to 3,000 B.C. in northern Peru (the cradle of the Moche culture), near the resort town of Huanchaco, where surfing on the Peruvian ‘reed board’ is currently a way of life for fishermen and traders. The construction of this vessel is a testament to engineering, crafted by hand with hundreds of reed blades assembled meticulously. It requires unique skill and precision to craft and surf.

Carlos “Huevito” Ucañan and a group of Peruvians were invited to perform exhibitions with the Caballito de Totora during February and March of that year. The delegation was led by Felipe Pomar, Peru’s first world champion and ambassador of the Huanchaco World Surfing Reserve. This cultural journey began at Bondi Beach, Sydney, and continued northward, passing through Crescent Head to Noosa, before concluding at the Golden Coast. In total, it lasted three weeks and was jointly sponsored by Peru’s largest surf website, Olas Peru.

The idea of bringing the Peruvian ‘reed board’ to Australia stemmed from the efforts of Andy and Megan McKinnon, who were working to have the Gold Coast recognized as a World Surfing Reserve. This wonderful encounter was immortalized by the Surf World Museum on the Golden Coast with the first Caballito de Totora in Australia on display.

While “Huevito” elegantly surfed the waves in the Moche style in Australia, the ancient Caballito became a symbol of the enduring spirit of surfing, connecting distant coasts and cultures through a shared love for the ocean. This historic event not only celebrated the past but also paved the way for future encounters, reminding us that, regardless of distances, the love for surfing unites people in an eternal bond with the sea.