About

Surfing is a surface water sport where a surfer is carried by a breaking wave on a surf board. The basic categories include regular stand-up surfing, knee boarding, body boarding, surf skiing, and body surfing. Further sub-divisions reflect differences in surf board designs such as long-boards and short boards. Surfers’ skills today are not only tested on their ability to control their board in challenging conditions. They are also tested on their ability to execute various manoeuvres such as turning and carving. Some of these common turns have become recognizable tricks, for example, the “cut back”, the “floater”, and “off the lip“.

Origins

Surfing started around 500 years ago by the native Polynesians in Tahiti and Hawaii. This activity was a competitive sport that the royalty used to maintain their strength, agility and command over their people in the olden days. Modern-day surfing came to America after that and became very popular amongst the young during the 1960s. The sport created a number of spin-offs/alternatives, including wakeboarding, skimboarding, skateboarding, and windsurfing, among others. Surfing has also spawn of a whole genre of films, music, magazines and etc, often showcasing beautiful people with perfect bodies, thus becoming a big influence for young people all over the world.

What attracts them

No doubt, almost everyone loves the rich, blue hues of the ocean waters and surfing has so much to offer people both visually and spiritually. Some believe that their body, mind and soul are exercised in a very fundamental and important way. Others have say that what draws them to surf is the free spirit to overcome the challenges that are posed by nature, such as the the crushing waves.

Implications

Know your limits when surfing, and be familiar with the nature of waves and tides. Ensure that the leg rope / leash is firmly secured to yourself and the board. However, it can still snap off due to strong wave crashes. A surfer needs to be confident that he/she can swim back to the beach unaided without the board. Beware of other surfers and swimmers in the sea. Only surf in designated areas and practice some etiquette in choosing your waves. Finally, be familiar with the sea you are surfing in.