Lift surfing - or elevator surfing - is a secretive subculture that swept the UK and US in the 1990s. It sees people sneak into tall buildings to ride atop elevator cabs as they speed up and down.

Try as one might, sometimes surfing is impossible on the North Shore of Oahu. Howling trades, when strong enough, can batter lineups from V-Land to Haleiwa. But for those with the means there’s still ...