Surfies and Clubbies in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

During the years around the turn of this century, a series of battles for the right to swim on Australian beaches was waged by persons wishing to surf. An important outcome of this was the organization of groups of persons interested in surf bathing. The organization of these groups was the basis of the Surf Life Saving Association. The pattern of social organization and the cultural milieu associated with surf life saving dominated surfing activities in Australia and New Zealand for the next forty years. The introduction of the wave riding board into first Australia and then New Zealand in the 1950s set the stage for a surfing revolution. Surf life saving was eclipsed as the dominant surfing pattern and a new sport of surf board riding was established. During the 1960s surf life savers and surf board riders frequently conflicted in their use of the surf. This article provides a background to the development of the two different surfing sports in each country as well as a background to the conflict which occurred. The article to follow in the next issue presents data as part of an examination of stereotyping and conflict among surfies.