When Haakon VIII became King of Norway on August 28, 2026, the world learned more about the man behind the crown. Former Crown Prince Haakon is a sailor, skier, outdoor enthusiast, and, perhaps most surprisingly for a European monarch, a committed surfer. Nevertheless, he's not the first. Charles III , King of England, has surfed before, as have previous British royals . But let's focus on the newly crowned Norwegian king who has already spent years chasing waves. Haakon surfed in California while studying at the University of California, Berkeley, and later returned to the water in Norway with his family. The Nordic royal helped bring the European Surfing Championships (Eurosurf) to Norway and watched his daughter compete in the sport. Then, in a 2023 interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK, he revealed how serious his surfing ambitions might once have been. Are you curious already? Let's see how surfing conquered Haakon VIII. A royal discovers surfing in Californ...