Soul Surfing
Thanks to Chuck for pointing out a mistake in my spelling of soul that I would normally pass off as being Australian and an Engineer. So, I will get off track this week as I have decided to outline the differences of both words and attempt to delve into the mystery or lack there of, for the use of the term "soul surfing".
"Sole or soul? Do not confuse the spelling of sole and soul, which sound similar. There are several words spelled sole: one means "the underside of the foot or of a shoe," and can also be used as a verb meaning "put a sole on a shoe"; another is a noun denoting a fish; a third is an adjective meaning "only" or "exclusive" (as in the sole reason, sole responsibility). Soul is a noun meaning "a person's nonphysical aspect or spirit," "spiritual depth," or simply "a person," as in heart and soul, a novel that lacks soul, not a soul to be seen. Soul is also used in such compounds as soul-destroying, soul mate, soul music, and soul-searching." (wikipedia)
Soul Searching: "deep and careful consideration of inner thoughts, especially about a moral problem." (Cambridge Dictionary)
Soul Surfing: "...generally used to describe the type of riding practiced by a non-commercial, non-competitive surfer; a "pure" surfer; a surfer who rides for personal enrichment only... ...the origins of "soul surfing" are rooted in the late 60's, as the sport or "art," or "dance-form," or "lifestyle," as surfing was variously described at the time threw itself headlong into the counterculture." (surfline.com)
In a brief search of the internet I stumbled upon some interesting sites, including this one entitled: "The Seven Levels of Surfers - a guide to surfing Soul". After reading this article I tried to categories myself to see just where I sit in the eyes of the author. Looking back over the last 10 years I can automatically cancel out Level 7, 6, 3, 2, and 1 for obvious reasons although having many of their traits. I then find myself caught between Level 5, the Amateur and Level 4, the weekender.
The amateur is described as a person who “loves to surf for its own sake; the simple pleasure of riding the wave is enough". The author caries on to state that "Amateurs almost always use boards from small custom shapers that are local to their break. Amateurs have Stoke and use it frequently." I feel that before venturing to Portugal I fitted well within this Level, but at present the "Weekender" as described as "the guy who goes to the beach to surf on weekends or his odd vacations days but may not put the highest priority on making time for surfing compared to other pursuits such as family, work or some other Art." My current geographic location restricts me from fulfilling my need to surf and I find myself falling solidly into the status of a "weekend warrior". He continues stating that "Weekenders have Stoke but sometimes don't get to show it as often as they would like”, so I am leaning more towards the authors classification of a weekender; in the end who really care.
People surf for a number of different reasons but in general surfers are all just out there to have fun and enjoy them selves, when this enjoyment is removed so is the stoke and the spirit that proves that surfing is more than just a sport.
Useful Links: A few other articles/sites that I came across that are worthy of a mention are:
"Sole or soul? Do not confuse the spelling of sole and soul, which sound similar. There are several words spelled sole: one means "the underside of the foot or of a shoe," and can also be used as a verb meaning "put a sole on a shoe"; another is a noun denoting a fish; a third is an adjective meaning "only" or "exclusive" (as in the sole reason, sole responsibility). Soul is a noun meaning "a person's nonphysical aspect or spirit," "spiritual depth," or simply "a person," as in heart and soul, a novel that lacks soul, not a soul to be seen. Soul is also used in such compounds as soul-destroying, soul mate, soul music, and soul-searching." (wikipedia)
Soul Searching: "deep and careful consideration of inner thoughts, especially about a moral problem." (Cambridge Dictionary)
Soul Surfing: "...generally used to describe the type of riding practiced by a non-commercial, non-competitive surfer; a "pure" surfer; a surfer who rides for personal enrichment only... ...the origins of "soul surfing" are rooted in the late 60's, as the sport or "art," or "dance-form," or "lifestyle," as surfing was variously described at the time threw itself headlong into the counterculture." (surfline.com)
In a brief search of the internet I stumbled upon some interesting sites, including this one entitled: "The Seven Levels of Surfers - a guide to surfing Soul". After reading this article I tried to categories myself to see just where I sit in the eyes of the author. Looking back over the last 10 years I can automatically cancel out Level 7, 6, 3, 2, and 1 for obvious reasons although having many of their traits. I then find myself caught between Level 5, the Amateur and Level 4, the weekender.
The amateur is described as a person who “loves to surf for its own sake; the simple pleasure of riding the wave is enough". The author caries on to state that "Amateurs almost always use boards from small custom shapers that are local to their break. Amateurs have Stoke and use it frequently." I feel that before venturing to Portugal I fitted well within this Level, but at present the "Weekender" as described as "the guy who goes to the beach to surf on weekends or his odd vacations days but may not put the highest priority on making time for surfing compared to other pursuits such as family, work or some other Art." My current geographic location restricts me from fulfilling my need to surf and I find myself falling solidly into the status of a "weekend warrior". He continues stating that "Weekenders have Stoke but sometimes don't get to show it as often as they would like”, so I am leaning more towards the authors classification of a weekender; in the end who really care.
People surf for a number of different reasons but in general surfers are all just out there to have fun and enjoy them selves, when this enjoyment is removed so is the stoke and the spirit that proves that surfing is more than just a sport.
Useful Links: A few other articles/sites that I came across that are worthy of a mention are:
posted by GRUB at 10:00 pm
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