I need some negative points about surfing for my English Class?

Question

I kow it sounds weird

Answer 1

A negative point not mentioned yet is that surfing is subject to the weather. No swell, no surfing...

Answer 2

The constant salty taste in your mouth.

Answer 3

Sharks are hardly an issue. You're 15 times more likely to get killed by a falling coconut than by a shark.

I'd say the most negative part may be the frequency of injury. I recently did a psych paper on the motivations for surfing, and one article I read came to the conclusion that:

"Surfers are prone to acute injuries as well as conditions resulting from chronic environmental exposure. Sprains, lacerations, strains, and fractures are the most common types of trauma. Injury from the rider's own surfboard may be the prevailing mechanism.  Jellyfish stings are common as well. Seabather's eruption is a pruritic skin reaction caused by exposure to nematocyst-containing coelenterate larvae. Additional surfing hazards include stingrays, coral reefs, and, very rarely, sharks. Otologic sequelae of surfing include auditory exostoses, tympanic membrane rupture, and otitis externa. Sun exposure and skin cancer risk are inherent dangers of this sport."

Out of 540 surfers polled, there were 817 cases of injury, with 433 of those cases being chronic disability, (i.e. a more serious injury). So every surfer experienced some injury at least once, and more than half the surfers experienced a serious injury. So that may be a negative point, however the fear of getting injured, at least for me, only pushes me to keep going and catch that bigger wave. So its a mixed bag. (The study was done in Australia, if you need to cite it let me know and I'll find the article.)

Also while doing my psych paper, I found that surfing can be mildly addictive to certain personalities (personalities of sensation seekers, among other things) and that may cause a negative (or positive) effect on an individuals life.

A girlfriend a couple years ago broke up with me, saying that I loved my surfboard more than I loved her. Which, of course, was rediculous. I loved the ocean more than I loved her.

Also I agree with John, there's a lot of yuppies out there and kooks who bring their 2000$ stand up paddle board with their 600$ graphite oar strapped to their 90 thousand dollar SUV and call themselves surfers. Its funny, but annoying (more so to John probably because I bet he remembers a time when everyone was cool). So definately with over 20 million surfers globally and a 20 billion dollar surf industry, the culture has definately been skewed.

Answer 4

Some off the top of the head

Possible injury (getting slammed into the sand/reef, getting hit from your own surfboard after eating it, getting hit by another person's surfboard after they ate it/ditched their board), drowning, skin / eye damage from the sun, territorial surfers (seen fights happen after drop-ins a bunch), dependent on conditions (winds picking up in the afternoon could turn perfect conditions to c**p, waves aren't always up / possible long lulls with sometimes weeks straight of zero surf, it happens even here in hawaii), the hobby could get expensive if you're into bigger surf and you're not fortunate enough to be a sponsored rider (chances are higher to deal with board breaks, and boards are certainly not cheap)

Hope this helps you out :)

edit: Gas prices also if the beach isn't within biking distance. A good chunk of my paycheck goes to gas.. especially since most of my longest drives are trips to the beach, especially in the winter. h**l, I think I spend almost as much on gas as I do on food. Sad times we live in for us surfers who don't live right next to the beach...

Answer 5

Theres nothing negative about surfing, surfing is the ****!

Answer 6

sharks

kooks

crabs (they bite your feet like a******s)

jellyfish

mexicans playing soccer in the water

drowning

and of course

Mermaids

Answer 7

LOCALISM

Answer 8

Well there are sharks in the water....you could fall off and get hurt....you could drown....you could get caught in the tide....you could get a sunburn...thats my answer(s)

Answer 9

That's like negative aspects of Mother Theresa. Oh well, I guess there are a few. there are way too many yuppie kooks in the water anymore, who do not respect the ocean, the beach, other surfers, or even each other. They live in  multi-million dollar houses, and act like they invented the sport because they bought some the latest technology popout. They wear wetsuits in 70 degree water on an 80 degree day. Their kids will break your ankles if you get in their way while they are skimboarding. they run loose and wild all day, and throw their trash on the beach, and act like we all owe them something.

Okay, that's the 'cultural' down side. It can be dangerous. I have had breaks sprains and cuts and come home from the beach looking like I did three rounds with Evander Holyfield. When you are really zone out during a great session, you forget about: going to work, showing up for meals, the fact that your (Wife, Mom, Girlfriend) expected you to pick her up an hour ago.

No matter how cool your newest, most favorite stick is, one just got delivered to the surf shop, that looks like it would be just what you were looking for, just  for those (Smaller, Bigger, Mushier, Glassier) days. And, it's only $650!

For older guys, there are some days that you can't keep your feet underneath you if you stapled them the the doggone board!  And, also for old guys, days when the water must be THICK or something, because you shouldn't be out of breath after paddling out to the line-up.

After 42 years of surfing, I can't find a bunch or REAL negatives, but i hope these help.

Answer 10

Rocks and shoals.  Sharks.  Drowning.  Hypothermia.  Fuel costs to the beach.  bacteria from water.

Answer 11

It brings out the worst and more aggressive side of some people. But it can also bring out a more peaceful side.

Answer 12

Ive gotten stiches by getting hit from my own surfboard!

Answer 13

You can die.