SOCIAL VALUE OF WAVES

T.AL AZZAWI

Professeur agrégéMaster of Sociologie

Consultant for EUROSIMAIndependent searcher

Andy DAVIS

Andy DAVIS

Fontain La Corugna, SPAIN

The Internet source comment: « surf statues in La Coruna, why? it's not obvious »

The iconic surfer, Steamer Lane,

California

Surfer statue in California: it seems to be obvious: why?

PLAN

� - INTRODUCTION� - 1. Surfriding: different kind of surfers, and different perceptions of the spots

� - 2. Waves in local political strategies.

� - 3. Mechanism of distinction of a spot.

� - 4. Different actors and tensions around patrimonialisation.

� CONCLUSION.

INTRODUCTION: the concept of

heritage

� - l'engagement interdisciplinaire du concept� - appliqué au champ sportif: pose la question

de la légitimité

MATERIAL AND IMMATERIAL HERITAGE

Well estabished as a part of the common Culture that we must forward to new generations

Historians, Archeolgists

The intelligentsia (experts,teachers, journalists)

A local, national or world-wide population

Politicians, institutions

Boons, works of art, richnesses of the Humanity

Patrimonialisation process:« Distinction»

Maecenas, private patrons

Actions:ConservationRestoration Touristical management

The last french sociological

inquiries

- Colloque in PAU(FRANCE) in september 2011 about the patrimonialisation process of natural spaces

- Main topics: � The diversity of heritages� The social value of natural spaces� The heritage value and the institutions

The patrimonialisation process

« The patrimonialisation can be definite as appropriation processes developped by several actors or social groups . They increase some objects values (remembrance, aesthetics, singularity) permitting these objects to conqueer the quality of heritage.(...)

Blockhaus remaining of second world war (Charente maritime, FRANCE)

Is it an heritage?

Evolution of the concept

The patrimonialisation process has been related with very recent objects. Now the limits between past and present are low. The new heritage elements are more and more varying:

- nature

- monuments

-vernacular

- landscape

- local culture

Saint palais sur mer beach (Charente Maritime, FRANCE)

Unknown touristical landscapes

Gallician beach (SPAIN)

Different sociological methods

- Interactionnism (E.GOFFMAN, Chicago School)

- Structuralism (C.LEVI STRAUSS)

- Functionnalism (B.MALINOWSKY)

- Déterminism (P.BOURDIEU, P.CHAMPAGNE)

Heritage: a definition

- Can be considered by a human community a cultural object whose values are linked in the past and the present. It concerns concrete elements or practices that we want to preserve and transmit.

The process of

patrimonialisation applied to

surfriding (E.AMOUGOU,2011)

- The discover (P.VIERTEL)

- The certification ( French Fédération1964, sport denomination)

- The geographical roots(Hawaï,Polynesy... and else)

- The mediatisation(magazines,books)

- Celebration (big events, Surf Fesivals)

- Transmission(schools and clubs)

13

THE DEFINITIONS OF SURFRIDING

• From a fashion sport practice to several surf practices.

14

SURFRIDING AS A RESEARCH OBJECT

SURFRIDING MEANS

A federal sport (J.DEFRANCE, P.PARLEBAS)

An outdoor activity (C.POCIELLO)

An action sport (D.LEBRETON, A.LORET, A.STRILER)

A boardcross actvity (EUROSIMA)

A beach activity, with a touristical value (C.GUIBERT)

A free and rebel activity (A.S.SAYEUX)

Sport institutions Medias

Economy

POLITIC

A glamorous sport

ARTS

An inspiration

1 The surfers in France

- 1.A. The surf among other sports France.- 1.B. Different surfriding styles.-1.C. The spots: economical and conflicts ressources.

The surf among the other sports

- 43rd rank in France (0,5%) IPSOS 2007 and around 8000 competitors

- Windsurfing at the 41th rank

- Skate board at the 35th rank

- Climbing at the 30th rank

- Kite surf at the 47th rank

Sport practice in Europe(Source : European

Observatoire of Sport Employment / 2005)

1 Finland 12 %

2 Sueden 22,2 %

3 Danemark34 %

4 Irland 16,3 %

5 Nethelands 29,5 %

6 United Kingdom 15 %

7 France 25 %

The social space theory

(P.BOURDIEU)

- For professions and political opinions

- For lifestyles and ludic activities

- Also applied to all the Cultural studies

19

Social space (P.BOURDIEU1979)

Economical capital +

Cultural capital +

economical capital less

cultural capital less)

Specialized worker

High schoolProfessors, teachers, ingeneers

Children teachers

Public sector manager

Tradesman

Industry manager

Chairman

Private sector manager

Medical and social serviceCulture business employees

craftsman, art gallerists

Trade employees

Department or office employees

ingenieers

Doctors, lawyer

Qualified worker

Journeyman, agricultural worker

Little traders

Farmers

Assistant manager,secretary

jobless

journalist

20

P.BOURDIEU's postulates

- There is a correlation between professionnal space and cultural practice space

- The upper classes dictate the « good » tastes and the norms.

21

What's surfriding?

- a spiritual, cultual practice

- a recreation

- a sport

The Bishop Museum

22

economical capital +

cultural capital less

cultural capital +

Just the body to practice

Technologisation

MotorisationEcologisation

BODYSURF cloth to the beach

Bodyboard flipperless

Minimalibu de type « bic

Tow in in different size waves

THE SURFS

6'0 trifinshortboard

Hawaïan, stand up and canoe

No fin board, woodboards, expert bodysurf

Retro surfboards, unleash riding

longboardsBodyboard : a good level with a quality morey

Low cost Bodyboard with flipper

Self learning

Particular teacher, private surfschools

Learning thanks to friends, family, associations

Learning in a FFS club

Shortboard intermédiaire de loisir

THE SURFRIDING SPACE (AL AZZAWI 2010)

23

The involvment degrees of

surfers

1: the surf absolute lifestyle

2: surfing as a passion

3: surfing as a sport

4: surfing is a ponctual beach activity

Sessions frequency

More than 250/year

Between 150 and 250

Between 50 and 150

From 12 to 50

Choice of the studies or the job

No job or a volonteer precariousness

A job cloth to the beach or studies concerning sport/surf

No influence on the choice

No influence on the choice

Family involvment

Avoiding couple and childs

Couple with concessions

No influence No influence

Different ways to practice surf

- The verbal definitions of surfing influence the way to practice

- The level and the way to practice determine the choice of a spot..

- The level, the fact to be local and the elderness settle the place at the peac.(cf.O.TREY1994, A.S.SAYEUX2009, AL AZZAWI 2010).

Practicing philosophies

(C.POCIELLO 1995)

Tourists

Competitors

Purists

Will to practice every day

Slowness, hésitation

Speed, energy

Aestetes, cult of coolness

Read VSD mag in june « spécial glisse »

Reading « surfer's journal » or « Desillusion »

Reading « surf session » and specialzed websites

Little easy waves, hot water, summer season only

Little and big wave, curly waves, technical spots

All kind of wave

Punctual practice

Various boards, retro shapes

Hawaïan traditionnal watersports

Direct relation with a shaper, important quiver important, a majority of shortboards

Mini malibu, BIC, bodyboard

Main stream surfCounter

culture surf

Free surf on a secret spot (Charente Maritime,

FRANCE)

Surf culture/heritage

CULTURE +

CULTURE less

material immaterial

Surfboard

Living place

Magazines Collection

Surfmovies DVD

Car: break or mini van

SUP, funboards, kayaksurf...

Style

Technical level

surftrips

Ocean knowledge

Knowledges about surf history

Ability to shape

Ability to teach surfing

Surfmovies as a culture

The spots exploitation stakes

- When they are discovered

- After debates between surfers, federal sport movment, politicians.

- After an economical evaluation( possible big events, bankable image?).

Possible conflicts on a spot

Involve shoartboarders and:

- bodysurfers-bodyboarders-kneeboarders- mini malibu/eggs-longboards-SUP

Concerns all the surfers and:- wave-ski- funboards- jet ski- kite surf- (body boards)

Surfers and:- Lifeguards- swimming tourists- mayoralty- French surfing federation- ASP, WQS, WCT- polluting persons

Surfers VS surfers Surfers VS other nautic apparatus(cf. O.TREY 1994)

Surfers VS other beach users

2 The waves in stake locally

� Thèse of C.GUIBERT(2005, Nantes)� Original title: « The surf univers and the

political stategies in Aquitaine: surftowns without surfers? »

Hossegor (FRANCE)

Conclusions of C.GUIBERT

- A.The surf is a « malleable »concept for each social actor.

- B.In a lot of surftowns, the « purists » are not considered, in the seaside appointment (parking,access, showers,etc.) .

- C.The surfer's welcome can be different, and is adapted to the identity of the spot, to his wave value.

- D.We observ huge differences between the welcom of pro surf, surfschools and free surf..

Exemple of two french towns

Surf as a tradition

ANGLET BIARRITZ

longboard

Historical beach town

Côte des Basques

Mediatisation of the 60's

Surf as an heritage

Biarritz surf festival

Architecture from the french Empire

Modern town

Recent beach and surftown

A lot of schools and clubs

The surf as a competition sport

shortboard

Surf as education for young childs

Limits to these conclusions

- They are based on a 2000-2005 survey , only in the south of the french atlantic coast.

- The french massification of surfing generates surfers who have access to institutions and politics more and more.

- The growth of some associations change the strategies of the international brands.

The 5 social values of a spot

- 1. Sportive, recreation site, for everybody, local or not (heritage?).

- 2.Place for the transmission of surf techniques, and surf educationnal values (modesty,effort, respect of the nature, priority rules).

- 3.Place where touristical activities and appointment can be developped (the image becomes bankable in touristical and communication strategies).

- 4.Possibility to host pro-level surfers and events (again bankable image).

- 5.Conflicts place between surfers and beach users.

The wave value

- Beachtowns lord mayors: if the wave attracts wealthy tourists, consumers, big events.

- The major brands: frequency, shape of the curl, infrastructures to host a competition.

- Surfers (beginners): easyness,accessibility, proximity of the surfschools.

- Purists surfers : perfect wave shape, secret spot, low frequentation.

- Competitors: idem except the frequentation.

An unknown example

La Bouverie (Charente maritime, FRANCE)

-

A decisive event

The overcrowded Pontaillac

3. The mechanism of legitimation

and distinction

Mechanism Distinction of a wave

Legitimation

items - frequency of the swell-shape of the wave-speed of breaking- accessibility.- temperature of the water

- history- international competition -mediatisation (ex: Belharra)- proximity of the surfers with the economical and political power.- surfguide good fame-surfbooks good fame

The distinction theory

( P.BOURDIEU,1979)

- Created after a sociological survey (1979)

- Applied to the surf sphere (Al azzawi 2010)

- Consequences: market sementation (cf.Sport Guide august 2011).

�

4. The waves : a recognition in stake

4.A.Low recognition: 1887, 1906,1930: « natural monument »..

4.B. The tensions between differents heritage zonage actors .

4.C. Recognition obstacles

AN EXAMPLE IN SWEDEN

Demonstration in march 2008 for Mölle wave

4.A. A «�NATURAL�»monument

-The wave/spot is a natural monument means: « landscape, or part of the territory as perceived by the population, whose characteristic results from natural factors or/and human interrelations ».

4.B. The initial tensions

between several social actors

development conservation

Departments,regions

Major brands and their beach-events

Fédérations sportives

Tourists Surfers

Competitor Surfers

Purists Surfers

Ecological associations

Natural heritage defenders

industries

4.B. The multiplication of the

tensions

DEVELOPMENT CONSERVATION

Concerted management

touristical exploitation

Educative use

Political use

commercial exploitation

?Mediatical use

4.C. Recognition: step by step...

- a)First struggle experiences (France : 1990's).- b)Structuration as associations, boards constitution; international exchanges- c)Ecological survey, constitution of a capital of scientifical knowledges..- d)Citizen concertations, links with the political power.- e)Mediatical struggle, image war (cf.SFE's manager CV).- f)Field of enquiry: balance between classical and static heritage, and sociallinkfull heritage (who allows projects and dynamics).

CONCLUSIONS:obstacles for

clear strategical arguments

- What's surf inside the global Culture? A subculture? A counterculture? A youthculture? Is it easy to accord him UNESCO recognition? Who are the other pretenders in2011?- Why oceanic landscapes are legitimate, lawfull?- Patrimonialisation : a complex process, including several actors, and and strategical planification.Who's really influent?- Tension between natural/cultural qualities of a site.- The notion of Culture is relative (cf. Denis CUCHE 2010)

What's the good analysis speed?

...............

BIBLIOGRAPHY: books

� - Surf Atlantique: les territoires de l'éphémère J.P.AUGUSTIN (1995)

� - L'univers du surf et stratégies politiques en Aquitaine. C.GUIBERT (2006)

� - Surfeurs, l'être au monde. A.S.SAYEUX (2008)

� - Les surfs: d'un pratique à la mode à des modalités de pratique. T.AL AZZAWI(2010).

� - L'image de la surfeuse T.AL AZZAWI (2012).

� - Les cultures sportives C.POCIELLO (1995).

� - Sciences sociales et patrimoine E.AMMOUGOU (2010).

� - La notion de culture en sciences sociales D.CUCHE (2004).

� - La distinction P.BOURDIEU (1979).

� - Les règles de l'art P.BOURDIEU (1981).

� - Sociologie de la culture Y.LAMY/M.BERRA (1991)

� - Révolte consommée J.HEALTH/A.POTTER (2010)

BIBLIOGRAPHY: articles

- C.GUIBERT:

Hossegor : « le surf » ou « l'élégance » ? Une double identification territoriale, Annales de la Recherche Urbaine, n°100, « L'avancée en âge dans la ville », Juin 2006, p.89-96.

Politiques de communication et identifications territoriales différenciées. Les usages politiques des vagues et de l'univers du surf par les municipalités de la côte Aquitaine. Téoros, Vol. 25-2, Québec. Eté 2006, p.62-71.

Les usages politiques du snowboard dans les stations de montagne françaises : entre intérêt économique et

dédain culturel, Revue Européenne de Management du Sport, n°15, Voiron, PUS. Octobre 2006, p.31-

44.

Le premier âge du surf en France : un sport socialement sélectif, Science et Motricité, n°61, vol. 200 7/2, de Boeck Université., Eté 2007, p.89-100.

Le surf au Maroc : les déterminants d'une ressource politique incertaine, Sciences Sociales et Sports, n°1, L'Harmattan. Septembre 2008, p.115-146.

THANK YOU!

T.AL AZZAWI

taha75@orange.fr06 78 15 26 33