No item of clothing is more synonymous with surfing than boardshorts. They are the ultimate symbol of casually attired freedom. If the rest of the population is sweating through summer in clingy workwear or suits, surfers are down at the beach in their ‘boardies’; riding waves, shooting the breeze and catching rays.   

Over the years, boardshort design has changed dramatically. Wild technicolour combos, jet-black power statements, polka dots, skull-prints, denim and wetsuit pants have all had their time in the sun. Meanwhile, styles have ranged from torturously short and tight, to wide-legged and below the knee. The style cycle has been rinsed and repeated more than once.         

In the surf industry the battle for control of the board-short market has always been fierce. While a smattering of brands like Platts and Katin emerged in the 60s, the boardshort battle really ramped up, in the early 70s with the evolution of nylon and velcro and the arrival of brands like Quiksilver. Today, the global beachwear and swimwear market is estimated to be in the vicinity of $30 billion. That’s a whole lot of cash floating on the ocean.

We scanned the pages of Tracks from the 70s to the mid 90s in search of iconic boardshort ads. Enjoy the scroll.