Surfing and Neocolonialism in Costa Rica

Inspired by the book, Empire in Waves: A Political History of Surfing by Scott Laderman, our goal is to further our understanding of the joined legacies of colonialism and surfing, two topics rarely discussed in tandem. Polynesian peoples first invented surfing as they traversed the Pacific Ocean, and later appropriated by American colonists when they first arrived in the Hawaiian islands. Now, some two hundred years later, surfing is a large global industry, estimated in 2017 to generate over $50 billion dollars in global revenue every year. This revenue reaches both large corporations and local economies through a variety of channels, including travel, lodging, retail clothing sales, merchandise, and surfboard sales, and even housing markets in places that find themselves near waves.

The commodification of waves has had a profound impact on local communities across the globe, bringing large cultural and economic change, and this research project aims to learn more about that impact in a town called Pavones in southern Costa Rica. Pavones is a short drive from the Costa Rica - Panama border and sits on the Pacific seaboard. Home to some of the most coveted waves in Central America, due to its prime positioning in between the Northern and Southern Pacific Oceans, Pavones has become a hotspot for surf tourism in the last couple of decades.

We conducted a qualitative study on the Southeast corner of Costa Rica. Our research is based on semi-constructed interviews with locals and other tourists. We conducted interviews in shops, restaurants, on the streets, and at the beach. The goal of conducting these interviews was to help answer our research questions 1) How has the influx of surf tourism affected the local economy of Pavones? 2) How do residents perceive the economic and cultural changes that surf tourism brings to the area? 3) How can someone be a more ethical surf tourist?

As individuals who are all passionate about learning about foreign biomes, cultures, and peoples, tourism has played a large role in all of our lives. Specifically, surfing has been a valuable vessel in those explorations, as well as an incredible way to connect with nature and our oceans. Surfing has united people around the world in their love for our oceans and its boundless intricacies and natural beauty. This connection is however easily corrupted by the capital and social inequities perpetuated by colonialism and post-colonial international relations.

Thank you to the Keller family for supporting this project. We are grateful that we got to connect with many people during this trip to discuss surfing and tourism. Costa Rica is a beautiful place and we would also like to thank everyone willing to talk with us about their surfing experience.