SURF project?

Question

i want to do my semester project on surfing.

i did one on it last semester by making a brochure and an imovie about how to match your surfing skill with certain beaches.

i want to do one on surfing again, but with what this time? any ideas about surf projects? i have to be able to write a good amount about it.

i live in hawaii so i got all i need to work with it. beaches + boards are not a problem. all i need is ideas.

thanks in advance!!

Answer 1

You already got some great suggestions, so I don't think I can offer much more. I love history (heck, at 55 I am becoming historic myself). The evolution of 'modern' surfing might be neat, because there are lots of old heads still around, who can tell you what happened in the forties and fifties. The evolution of board building materials, and 'surf culture'. And of course the short board revolution, psychedelic designs (and drugs) and returning Vietnam vet surfers. Right on up to polystyrene and epoxy pop-outs and yuppies in the line-up. You have a ton of material. I wish I was in Hawaii, I could surf, and act as your technical adviser. Good luck!

Answer 2

Something I'm really interested in the evolution of surfboard design - starting from the old traditional ones that were used in Hawaii, to the hollow plywood ones used in Australia in the 1930's and were designed mainly for paddling and lifesaving, to the balsa boards of the 1950's, the lighter foam and fibreglass Malibu style boards of the 60's, then the shortboard revolution of the late 60's, started by people like George Greenough and Bob McTavish where all kinds of experimental designs came out from spoons and knee-boards, to eggs and double enders. The shorter boards allowed people to get into the barrell for the first time and surf places like pipeline that had previously been deemed un-rideable. Later the fish, or twin-fin was developed to help people totally rip up smaller waves by being very short and loose in the tail, but with a lot of volume and a flat rocker. Other bottom/fin configurations including the channel bottom and the bonza bottom came along before Simon Anderson blitzed the competition winning the Bells Easter Classic in giant surf at Bells Beach on his newly designed 3 fin board, or thruster.

Nowadays it seems quad fins and even 5 fins are becoming very popular.

This would be a good project because you could incorporate a bit of Hawaiian culture and history, and how it has influenced the rest of the world, like when Duke Kohonomoku first demonstrated surfing to Australia in 1914 in front of an awestruck crowd at Sydney's freshwater beach after winning the world swimming championsips. You could also interview a few local shapers. Some of the older ones will have seen the whole pregression since the 60's and will have first hand experience of making all the varous types of board. They'll be able to tell you about what's good and bad about each one and why, what they were designed for, what sort of waves they suit, etc

hope that helps

Answer 3

Many have no clue as to how difficult it is to make a surfboard, From choosing a blank, shaping it, artwork, and glassing. After making a few of my own, I have enormous respect for builders. There's a lot of information available and you have the luxury to interview and film many board builders in Hawaii. Good luck.

http://www.surfersteve.com/polystyrene.h...

Answer 4

Maybe do it on the influence of surfing on Hawaiian culture.  Contrast the old traditional surfing culture with the new one.  You could talk to people like Buffalo and then compare that generation with the Wolfpack and h*i.  Of course they don't like to be shown in that light.

Answer 5

why don't you just go talk to a shaper,glasser, and boardartist and ask to watch them work on boards.

Film it as they go and sit down and interview them.

If they aren't busy most shapers are happy to do things like that, because most of them love their jobs and can go on for hours about it.