Online communities - http://www.globalsurfers.com/
I looked at Global Surfers an on-line community that provides information about surf spots all over the world. The site provides access to otherwise inaccessable point breaks and waves around the globe, from the comfort of your computer so that one can plan where and how to visit and travel to these destinations. There is a forum to comment on, ask questions about, or update any information on the different surf spots, swell/wave forecasts, video clips, photos - a person maybe interested in. The social community has aprox 1500 members.
There is a forum for people to chat, ask questions, look for surf buddies and post comments etc... Seems to be updated regularly.
People using this forum are generally surfers, looking to travel and surf in different locations around the globeEthical considerations noted on this site are the fact that there are literally heaps of photos of surfers in and out of the water, babes on thebeach who appear not to have been asked for their consent for their images to be posted online. Possibly it is the nature of the surf scene that there is no accountability by image-snapping photographers with big lenses, of individuals sunbathing or surfing.
The benefits of this type of website is that people can geographically view surf spots - which until recently were unavailable to the general landlubber. This can be a benefit to the traveler - however not to the local surfer of that region - because now there are surfers from all over the globe crowding the waves and creating tension amongst locals and visiters...
Possibly what this site lacks is accountability to the average surfer individual of that region. The traditional community of surfing provides the context of comraderie, of surfing when the waves are up in that area - not jumping on a plane to get there. There is nothing like the real thing!!
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