Sport

Surfing has been a subject of study for a long time. It has been observed that surfing is endeared by a group of people who are closely bonded and show shared similar characteristics. Sociologist have closely studied surfing and documented evidence shows that it is a subculture that has closely shared characteristics (Kotler, 2006).  The number of surfers in United States has continued to grow along the beaches, mostly in Hawaii and other beaches in California and Florida. Surfers have been shown to represent diverse culture mainly based on the way they ride the wave.  In addition, the purpose for surfing is also different. There are those who surf for recreation purpose while for others, it is focus of their lives (Flit, 1999). As a result, surfing has not grown to a multibillion industry. It supports different sectors like manufacturing of surfing boards, clothing and fashion, foods and drinks, and many others.  There are many people who make career riding waves in the beaches.

There are volumes of literature that looks into surfing as a subculture. However, this paper will focus on work of Butts on understanding surfers motivation. He argues that if surfing is to be understood as a sociological phenomenon not only must the sub-culture and its motivations be understood, but the activity itself (Butts, 2010). This statement can realized through a review of Butts work, from the methodology he employed to the results of the study.   The main aim of Butts study was to understand surfers motive and the reasons why they get so endeared to their activities. His study was based on the presumption that is surfing was to be understood as sport-related subculture, then its motivations must be understood and also the activity itself has to be closely understood.

In his work, Butts emphasized on three main principles. First, his study was based on the case study of Florida surfers which is a little researched activity. Second, his study was aimed at documenting evidence that could be used for comparison with other findings in the world.  Although there have been many studies on surfing in Florida, little is known about elements that define the culture of surfers. There is little knowledge on why surfers have developed those elements.  Third, he shows that for one to effectively study and understand surfing, one has to become an active participant. Therefore, to understand elements of surfing subculture, he had to become one of surfers and in the course of interaction learn different elements and why they have developed.

Steven Butts was interested in Florida for a number of reasons.  More than in other beaches, surfing in Florida forms distinctive subculture that is maintained by only individuals who have learned and mastered the art of surfing. Although Florida is not known to have consistent waves in the world, it supports a large surfing community   which appears to have different subcultures.  Therefore, Butts was interested in finding out why Florida, though not having constituent waves, has supported large number surfers. He wanted to understand factors that motivates surfers and rules that government the system.

As Butts had outlined, to understand surfing, one has to become participants. Although his methodology was based on case study of Florida, he had to become a surfer and join those groups in order to understand their motivation. Therefore, he moved to Florida and for five years, he conducted formal and informal interviews, participant-observation and participated in different surfing activities. Almost all his informants were while males.

From his study, Butts reported that the two main motivation factors why individual engage in surfing is for personal satisfaction and to get a sense of belonging to a group. All surfers showed that they had a particular feeling which they could not explain but which they attained when they were surfing together, a feeling they never felt when in company of non-surfers (Hull, 1976).  This feeling of satisfaction satisfies their mind and they get psychological satisfaction. Even when waves were poor quality and surfers could not ride, they felt satisfaction being together and at no one time did they regret.  Essentially, through is personal experience as a part of the surfers, Butts was in a position to understand surfing subculture and the abstract notion of feelings that most surfers could not express.

From the study, Butts showed that becoming a surfer does not end with acquisition of a surfing board. He argued that there are other equipments that are required including leash, baggies, wax, and wetsuit. However, acquisition of all these equipments does not make one a surfer. One has to learn skills and basic language that is used by surfers to communicate. Learning skills and surfing language is a long and arduous process (Friendman, 2008 Ancey, 2009 Golon, 2010).  Butts also presents surfing as a difficult activity to learn that requires a lot of endurances. He acknowledges that only those who are willing to lick become surfer. One has to endure being smacked, drilling, or tossed around by powerful waves to become a competent surfer. This is a difficult and painful experience that requires endurance.

Butts also showed that surfing has written down rules that are supposed to govern relationship between surfers. For example, rules clearly define the extent to which novice can surf into the sea.  These rules also govern instances where two or more surfers are going for the same wave. Rule stipulate that when two or more surfers go for the same wave in the same direction,  the one who is near the peak of the wave, which is the most powerful part of the wave, can lay claim to the wave and others are supposed to back off. Snaking defines the act of taking a wave in front of another surfer. Snaking rule is applied among the surfers as it can cause outrage. Rules also stipulate that surfers should be quiet while in the water. Those who yell while surfing are labeled as kook. They can talk to each other but the level of conversation is usually kept low (Geeslin and Mathison, 1986 Lueras, 1984). Apparently this is meant to ensure that silence is maintained and new coming waves can be closely observed. Surfers also like to maintain good moment of surfing with close friends and with not outsiders (McPherson, Curtis and Loy, 1989). However, due to increase in number of surfers, pack mentality is becoming common.

Butts argued that most surfers are addicted to surfing.  From the research, he showed that most surfers are not only attracted by are addicted to surfing through their first ride.  He equates surfing to smoking where once started, it becomes difficult to quit. They never anything that can substitute their experience. Surfers are always stoked while surfing. This means that since surfing requires endurance, speed, and strength, surfers must have a high level of emotional arousal. Surfers argue that hey fee a sense of peace and tranquility while riding on waves making them have sense of time distorted, which is an uncommon experience in sports (Friendman, 2008). In short, surfers experience rapidly changing emotional states which perhaps can be used to explain their addiction to surfing.

Butts pointed out that there are many risk associated with surfing. Due to addiction, surfers are like to miss work taking on sick leave or cancel important events. There is also the risk of sharks which are common in Florida beach. However, surfers do not seek these risks and are ready to take the risk for pleasure. Perhaps it is the process of becoming a surfer that helps them overcome this process. Novices undergo the socialization process through which they acquire surfers identity. Butts work clearly proves that surfing subculture exist.

I agree with Butts statement that surfing is to be understood as a sociological phenomenon not only must the sub-culture and its motivations be understood, but the activity itself (Butts, 2010). From his work and work of others, it is evident that surfing subculture exists.  The best way to understand the elements of a subculture is to become a part of it and from within learn the elements.  His work has clearly showed that to understand surfing, it has to be taken as a subculture and he has proved that surfing subculture exist in Florida.