Surfing a school sport?

Honolulu, 04.10.2011. Surfing is now an official school sport in Hawaii. Of course, riding the waves is a national sport on the Pacific island. Ever since Duke Kahanamoku - the father of modern surfing - set an example, millions of people on beaches all over the world have imitated him. But it will only be taught on an equal footing with football, basketball, volleyball and swimming from spring 2013 in the US state where surfing was invented. Governor Neil Abercrombie announced the decision on Monday at a press conference right next to the Kahanamoku monument - Waikiki Beach with its sun worshippers and surfers in the background.

Since 2010, the IfSS at the University of Kassel has also offered a surfing course as part of its sports studies program. Once again this year, some students from the University of Kassel had the pleasure of completing a slightly different module at a surf camp as part of their sports studies. The surfing excursion began with the question: 'What does happiness mean? If we asked ourselves this question again, each of us would answer something different.... It is a flow experience in the here and now - a feeling of freedom - that makes incredible moments seem like eternities or simply something completely different. But what is the connection to surfing? It's simple: the hormones responsible for the feeling of happiness - serotonin, dopamine and endorphins - are released and cause this indescribable feeling, which also arises when surfing. Arriving in France, we looked forward to an exciting and instructive week with bright eyes and joyful faces. A summery 30 degrees awaited us on the southern French Atlantic coast. A surf camp in the middle of an idyllic pine forest, just one dune away from the sea, provided us with a pleasant, feel-good atmosphere. Cap de l'Homy' is an excellent spot for learning to surf. The days consisted of a two/three-hour practice session followed by a theory session with the surf team and students, as well as a daily "stand-up" training session in the dry, which gave us confidence for the take-off in the water. The pedagogical perspectives of 'risk', 'body experience' and 'performance' appear to be particularly noteworthy and relevant in the context of beginner surfing training. We felt this very clearly on the day with the biggest waves. Learning the diving technique pushed most of our group to their limits. The powerful waves instilled in us the utmost respect for the force of the water. We all felt what it means to take a 'risk' in the context of a natural sport. Despite this borderline experience, we were rewarded with new successes every day. The feeling for your own body, the optimal timing, the decision for the right wave at the decisive moment and the standing up movement on the board are conditions that are responsible for riding a wave. The feeling is indescribable and you simply have to experience it for yourself. At the end of our trip, we could all feel what it means to be 'happy'.