Surfing between the local and the global: identifying spatial divisions in surfing practice

Abstract

Geography emphasises the spatial influence on human identity; however, this influence is often seen as exclusively terrestrial in nature. This paper focuses on a group of individuals for whom geographical identity is both terrestrial and littoral in constitution. It introduces how surfers' identities are not only defined by the terrestrial coingredience of the shores that support their surfing activity, but also by the littoral space of the surf zone itself. However, due to advances in transport, communication and surf forecasting, surfers are increasingly global in their search for waves. The paper goes on to demonstrate the effect of this mobility on surfer identity. It outlines how mobility dislocates surfer identity from its 'surf-shore' moorings and produces in its place a routed but rootless 'trans-local' surf identity. The paper examines the tensions and contradictions that arise between these spatially divided surfing practices before commenting on how surfers' shared affiliation to the littoral zone may offer the potential to reconcile them.

Muddying the waters: What urban waterways reveal about bluespaces and wellbeing

“…More mundane environments associated with wellbeing include blue dimensions, for example beaches (Collins et al, 2007), rivers (Volker and Kistemann 2013), spas (Little 2013) and island communities (Coleman and Kearns 2015). Watery pursuits including swimming (Foley, 2017;Ward, 2017) and surfing (Anderson, 2014) are suggested to have benefits beyond 'dry' physical activity. UK census data shows coastal populations are healthier, particularly benefitting deprived communities which tend to have poorer physical and mental health (Wheeler et al, 2015).…”

Lifestyle sports delivery and sustainability: clubs, communities and user-managers

“…In addition the lifestyle sport community is transient as many studies have noted (Anderson, 2014;Edensor & Richards, 2007;Roberts, 2011;Wheaton, 2010). The young and often aspirational nature of the community means that if those core figures move on, the future of an entire site can be jeopardised.…”

Maintaining Masculinities in Japan’s Transnational Surfscapes: Space, Place, and Gender

“…Apart from sporadic mentions and contributions in English, little has been comprehensively written about Japan's diverse surfing histories, cultures, destinations and transnational networks either in English (Clark, the Introduction of Hough-Snee & Eastman, 2017). There are varied and complex histories that comprise global surf culture today, involving co-constituting and conflicting local and global tendencies (Anderson, 2014;Comer, 2010;Laderman, 2014;Usher & Kerstetter, 2015). Such dynamics play out in relation to multiple social identity axes of gender, race, ethnicity, class, age, (dis)abilities, religion, and sexuality .…”

“…Our study of Japan fits well with how surf tourism and surf culture are being examined outside North American, Australasian, and Western European contexts (for a summary, see the Introduction of Hough-Snee & Eastman, 2017). There are varied and complex histories that comprise global surf culture today, involving co-constituting and conflicting local and global tendencies (Anderson, 2014; Comer, 2010; Evers, 2017; Laderman, 2014; Usher & Kerstetter, 2015; Wheaton, 2013). Such dynamics play out in relation to multiple social identity axes of gender, race, ethnicity, class, age, (dis)abilities, religion, and sexuality (Thorpe & Olive, 2016).…”