Surfers and public sphere protest: Protecting surfing environments

Abstract

This chapter examines the significant protest activities and public sphere campaigns surrounding resistance of surfers to the development perceived by surfers as inappropriate within the surfing environment and actions to protect these resources. It defines the surfing public sphere, protest and the enclosure and externalisation of the commons. The chapter identifies types of protest events in which surfers have engaged. This is followed by a case study of public sphere action where an ill-fated cruise ship development proposal on the Gold Coast, Australia is examined. The joining of surfers for a paddle out in the public space of the waves for the purpose of influencing cultural values and political decisions can be considered a public sphere, especially if there is media coverage of the event. The four ways of protest link with the four primary elements of Surfing Capital identified by Lazarow et al., which are: wave quality, wave frequency, environmental matters and socio-cultural issues.