ABSTRACT
There are many publications dealing either directly with or providing insights into various aspects, locations and periods of surfing’s history, from academic theses to popular biographies.1 This chapter draws on these texts to provide a brief historical background to the development of contemporary surfing culture, and an account of the issues and themes that helped shape its current forms. This involves a brief outline of the ancient surfing culture of the Hawaiian islanders, its decline and modern renaissance as a tourist attraction, and its development as a post WW2 youth subculture in California and Australia. In keeping with the original empirical research that informs this volume, there is a particular focus on developments in Australia.
