ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the promise and problems associated with technization of surfing to reinvigorate an old debate that seems to have been obliterated by a pervasive societal acceptance of technological progress in many other spheres of existence. It explores the technological era and the evidence of the possible shift towards a sustainability era, which must be rooted in normative societal goals driven by human intention. The chapter presents a framework for defining and discussing technology in the present tense, which involves explaining technological determinism and its associated dangers. It explains a coevolving technology, environment, and society (TES) framework to situate an examination of the role technology could play in ushering in a new sustainability era. The chapter also discusses the four dimensions of technology such as physical, climatology, Internet communication technologies (ICTs), and artificial surfing, critical to understanding surfing and its evolution.
