Surfing Lifestyle

When the surfing culture first reached it's zenith, surfers were thought of as beach bums, or bunnies if you were female, ne'er do wells, slackers and any other number of names that meant you were lazy. At the time, predominantly the 50's and 60's, building your life around finding the perfect wave or spending every available moment on the beach, was not the proper thing to do. Wearing a tie and holding down a 9-5 job was the way it was supposed to be. Of course, now we know a little differently. But what wasn't appreciated back then was that some people were not meant to follow the traditional roles and instead wanted to make a connection with nature, living their life in harmony with the sea and their surroundings. Others enjoyed the travel to new venues to search for bigger and better surf. Now of course there are many who wish to make it a career choice and become professional surfers, combining their love of the sport with the capacity to earn a living. Competition can be fierce and the amount of work needed to reach the top ranks is greatly admired by many. For those who love the lifestyle yet don't reach the ranks of the exalted few there is the option of setting up a surfing school or resort - sharing their love of surfing with those who have yet to learn.

There has been some fierce debate about whether the desire to make money out of surfing is indeed compatible with the surfing lifestyle, with it's laid back non-capitalistic view. But that isn't the issue it once was and within the surfing lifestyle are a number of sub-groups, each following their own path. Soul surfer's are those who find surfing and the lifestyle that goes with it, to be more of a spiritual journey. They feel a deep connection with the sea and it's inhabitants and want to live in a way that conserves and preserves the natural wonder. Others see it as a business opportunity just like any other and follow the more traditional path, seeking to earn a good living from it, much the same way as in any other line of work. With the growing number of people becoming surfers it is a growing business and one that can and will be exploited for some time. And as with any other sport, there are those with a competitive streak who will devote their lives to becoming the best at it, traveling all over the world and entering the growing number of competitions with ever increasing purses for those with the skill and talent to win. Whichever group you fall into, a surfing lifestyle can be quite wonderful and can give back in many ways - with the benefits to health due to the physical activity - with opportunities to travel and experience new and different sights and cultures -and with the calming and relaxing effect it can bestow.

Once you discover the true delights of surfing there is the danger that you too will become a surfer dude - addicted to finding that perfect break, that perfect tube, that perfect wave.

Learn more about Surfing Lifestyle or Women Surfers