The Global Surfer Survey Launch

Today, the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group has launched The Global Surfer Survey, a project designed to find out more about surfers as well as the important roles they play in society. With an estimated 35 million participants worldwide, surfing is a global activity that is rapidly growing in popularity as evident by the inclusion of surfing for the first time in the Tokyo Olympic Games. The benefits of surfing for mind, body and soul are also being increasingly recognised. 

The Global Surfer Survey, developed by the UNSW BSRG with the support of Surfing NSW, aims to improve understanding about surfers on a range of topics. This online survey aims to collect information on surfers from all over the world including their demographics, type of surfing, frequency of participation in surfing, how often they make rescues and the opinions of surfers on a range of physical, social and environmental issues. 

Insights derived from the survey will be used for a range of research purposes including quantifying the impact of surfers on global drowning prevention through the conduct of bystander rescues, and the impact that performing rescues has on surfer themselves. Previous research co-authored by UNSW BSRG members in both Australia and Europe has shown that surfers regularly perform bystander rescues and most feel that they have saved a life. 

Surfer perspectives on climate and environmental issues including sharks, water quality and beach erosion is also another topic to be explored through the results of the survey. 

The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete and can be found at www.globalsurfersurvey.com and is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Please share it!

If you’re interested in contributing to the expansion of the Global Surfer Survey by promoting the survey to your networks or translating the survey into another language, please get in touch!