BajaNomad

Surfing As A Sub-Culture in USA & Mexico

Margie - 5-5-2004 at 09:32 PM

Forty years ago, surfing was a definite anti-authoritarian, rebel
sub-culture on the California west coast. Over the years, the sport has become increasingly commercialized. Has surfing lost it's sub-cultural allure and become mainstream? Do Mexican surfers feel that it is a subculture, or a sport that only a few priveledged par take in ?

Your thoughts and comments, please.






[Edited on 5-6-2004 by Margie]

elgatoloco - 5-5-2004 at 11:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Margie
Forty years ago, surfing was a definite anti-authoritarian, rebel
sub-culture on the California west coast. Over the years, the sport has become increasingly commercialized. Has surfing lost it's sub-cultural allure and become mainstream?

Your thoughts and comments, please.

xxxooo


[Edited on 5-6-2004 by Margie]


No

Subculture

Margie - 5-6-2004 at 12:25 AM

Would you like to expound on your answer, Elgatoloco and tell us why you think that surfing still is a subculture, perhaps a personal outlook
on some of your experiences within the subculture.

..and, if still retains the aura of a subculture, how can it effectively deal with issues which affect both itself and mainstream society.?

Markitos - 5-6-2004 at 08:32 AM

I think most of us surf because it makes us feel good not to impress any one.
So it's still an inside the heart thing that only surfers know. So it's a culture known only to surfers


But to tell the truth I don't surf on weekends any more....... to many people enjoying the cultuer. who can blame them?

surf clubs/contests

FrankO - 5-6-2004 at 09:12 AM

What're your feeling on these? The both seem contrary to the spirit of surfing.

elgatoloco - 5-6-2004 at 11:15 AM

I think that you have to separate the actual act of surfing and the commercialization of the surfing sub-culture.

It is true that kids in North Dakota are wearing Billabong board shorts to the reservoir on summer weekends but that has not taken away the fact that surfers are still considered part of a sub-culture by most of the rest of the non surfing population.

Margie - 5-6-2004 at 06:55 PM

Okay, that's a good point, elgatoloco. Let's separate this, because now we have two different issues going on, surfing as a lifestyle and surfing as a sub-culture. I think we can all agree that suring is a lifestyle.

So, it also seems that most of us are accepting that it is still also a sub-culture. I think nowadys it is more affecting on the mainstream, more political and organized as far as the environment is concerned .

More thoughts?

The evolution of surfing, where it is headed in the future?


[Edited on 5-7-2004 by Margie]