Young surfers finding their wave: telling the tale of enskilment in surf places.

This paper seeks to contribute to the growing body of literature focused on the recreational activity of surfing. Investigations into how young people learn to surf are rare, particularly those that focus on the pedagogical aspects involved in learning the practical 'know-how' required to surf in particular places and under specific environmental conditions (tide, wind, swell, currents, terrain). How do young people learn where and when a break will be worth a surf? When to duck dive under a broken wave or when to paddle further out? Recent research suggests that a process of enskilment, a form of knowledgeable practice, may provide pedagogical insights into how young people are developing the practical know-how to be able to surf skilfully and safely in particular places. This research used narrative methodology as an alternative way to investigate and represent these complex (and often tacit) aspects of a human learning experience, and findings are presented in the form of a set of short stories. This paper draws from that research to provide important insights into the phenomenon of how young people learn to surf with the intention of improving formal coastal experiences such as those in the leisure and education fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]