Shield-Surfing

So you wanna know about shield-surfing, eh? Well, you've definitely come to the right place! The name's Selmie Snowbound, former shield-surfing champion, and owner of "Selmie's Shield-Surfing Lodge", so I'm definitely the one to ask! Ok, now that that shameless self-promotion is out of the way, let's get down to brass tacks. In a chickaloo nutshell, shield-surfing is exactly what it sounds like: a sport where people surf down inclines on shields.

— Selmie "Snowbound" Agoc, shield-surfing expert

plain text transcript

So you wanna know about shield-surfing, eh? Well, you've definitely come to the right place! The name's Selmie Snowbound, former shield-surfing champion, and owner of "Selmie's Shield-Surfing Lodge", so I'm definitely the one to ask! Ok, now that that shameless self-promotion is out of the way, let's get down to brass tacks. In a chickaloo nutshell, shield-surfing is exactly what it sounds like: a sport where people surf down inclines on shields.
-Selmie "Snowbound" Agoc, shield-surfing expert

Shield-surfing is an extremely popular sport in Hyrule that has been around for decades and involves racing down slopes (or with the aid of a creature) for the fastest times on a shield (or surfing board). While the true inventor of the sport is unknown, it was popularized by Central-Hylians and has since become a cultural phenomenon.

History

No one is entirely sure who first invented shield-surfing as a sport, but the concept of riding on shield started with the Gerudo, who regularly ride on their shields while attached to sand seals for transportation. Sand seal-racing, a Gerudo sport that involves racing with sand seals through a track for the fastest time, has been around since well before Hylians picked up the concept, but its validity as a variation of shield-surfing continues to be disputed to this day.
Regardless, shield-surfing, as it is commonly regarded, began to be taken seriously as a sport in Greater Hyrule in 30 E.A. when a famous surfer by the name of Falmark "Shield-Breaker" Esuo successfully raced down Hebra Mountain for the first time. Before then, shield-surfing was considered a children's hobby, something to do to pass the time on a grassy knoll when there was nothing better to do a best, and a complete waste of a perfectly good shield at worst. After Falmark's incredible feat, one that no one thought possible due to the Hebra's steepness and propensity for taking travelers' lives, enthusiasts wishing to emulate Falmark have taken to Hebra to try their own luck in the racing scene.
While shield-surfing in Hebra continued to gain traction, it was still a dangerous affair that claimed the lives of those who underestimated the dangers of the region. many lives were lost on the trek up the mountain, and even those who made it took a huge risk in coming down, where a single mistake could send you tumbling to your demise. But then, in 009 E.A., a racer by the name of Selmie Snowbound came onto the scene. Not only did she completely smash Falmark's infamous "2:05" record with her own of "1:58", as well as introduce the idea of using a Hylian knight's shield to surf, Selmie recognized how dangerous the sport was and took steps to make it safer for everyone. Over the next decade, she nearly single-handedly placed makers around the mountain to help travelers figure out where to go, and she maintained two lodges and a racing course to ensure that her fellow racers had a controlled environment to practice in, making her one of the most famous and important figures in shield-surfing history.

Execution

While the most famous location for shield-surfing is Hebra, races can take place all over. All that is needed is a steep enough slope with a smooth enough surface, some flags, and a referee with a reliable method of tracking time. The course is usually set up with between two checkpoints, the distance between them depending on the difficulty and type of race, and each individual racer must run through the course three times. The average time between each run becomes the racer's official time, and after every racer has had their run, the fastest time wins.

Components and tools

While the standard and most famous equipment is the shield, in recent years, specially designed surfing boards have become more popular. While there are many racers, old and new, who maintain that shields are better, the surfing board has gained traction for being customizable to suit each individual's needs and preferences, more durable on rougher terrain, and most importantly, cheaper and easier to obtain. Shields, especially metal ones, do have an advantage over their mostly wooden board-counter parts in Hebra in that they hold together better in the cold, wet environment, but nonetheless, boards are a viable option for those who cannot afford to get a proper shield.

Observance

The most famous races take place in Hebra, Tabantha, Akkala, and, if one counts it, Gerudo.

Hebra

The Hebra Mountain Races are the most famous and participated in races to this day, and snow-surfing is considered the quintessential form of shield-surfing. The Hebra races are located in the Byron Snowfield and are observed by Selmie Snowbound using a course that she herself designed for both beginners and advanced racers alike. Racers are encouraged to use whatever route that they see fit to get the fastest times possible, and anything goes as long as they stay on their shield/board and make it to the finish line at the Sturndia Hot Spring. The racing season here starts in mid-Hyra and ends on the last week of Autona.

Tabantha

In Tabantha, there are two races: the child-friendly Stable Race, hosted by the Rito Stable, and the more extreme Hole Race. The Stable Race racecourse is a steep but short slope that is perfect for beginners, and the race itself is an annual winter event that children from Rito Village like to participate in alongside their Hylian counterparts.
The Hole Race takes place on West Drena Twin Mountain, and while the course is shorter than Hebra's, it has one particular quirk that makes it an experts-only race. The finish line for the very end of the course is located behind a giant hole, and the goal of the race is to clear the course as quickly and as stylishly as possible without falling into the hole. Unlike other races, the only thing that disqualifies a participant is falling into the hole, and racers are encouraged to clear the whole in fancy and inventive ways. Racing times are converted into points, and points are also rewarded for style; the racer with the most points by the end of the race wins. These races take place on the last three days before Spring.

Akkala

The Akkala Hill Surfing Race is a race that takes place on the North Akkala Foothills. This is the only (undisputed) official race that is not a snow-surfing race, and it is the most popular among board-surfers. Taking place smack in the middle of Akkala's rainy season in the summer, the course runs from the top of the foothill near the East Akkala Stable to the base just before the Spring of Power. While an otherwise straightforward course, horses run wild in the middle of it, so half the challenge is avoiding them on your way down.

Gerudo

It continues to be disputed if the Gerudo Sand Seal Race counts as shield-surfing since it involves the use of an animal and does not take place on a slope, but it is nonetheless a popular, shield-riding based sport. There are two variations of the sand seal race: traditional and the Grand Prix.
The traditional races are reminiscent to most shield-surfing races: racers run through a course individually for the fastest times. Unlike other races, however, because the course is flat, it utilizes a checkpoint system. Each racer must go through every checkpoint along the course as quickly as possible, and missing a checkpoint counts as an automatic disqualification.
The Grand Prix is a series of races that pits ten races against each other at the same time as they race along a track. There are five laps around the track, and the racer that crosses the finish line first on the last lap wins. Traditional races are held every week year-round, and the Grand Prix season starts in early Spring and ends on the Summer Solstice.