Numerous species of animal appear to enjoy being carried by the force of a wave, including penguins and various marine mammals, such as dolphins and seals. The joy of riding a wave has been likened to sex, which perhaps explains the elation felt by enthusiasts when the "surf's up". Surfing is traditionally a male dominated sport, however more and more female surfers are taking to the water. Surfers of all persuasions share a passion for the shape of the wave, placing particular value in the tunnel formed by the wave when its top spills forward as a curtain of water. Riding inside this "tube" is a highly sought after experience, which is said to momentarily slow one's sense of time.

Surfing's unique relationship with nature afforded it a mythic quality, which set the stage for its commercial simulation.Pierce Julius Flynn, PJ. (1987) Waves of Semiosis: Surfing's iconic progression. The American Journal of Semiotics. Vol.5, Issue. 3/4. However, there remains a vital core to the culture, which is both local and global in scope. These "hard core" members of surf culture are united in their dedication to the sport's essential practice of riding waves. A disciplined surfer will check local surf conditions at dawn when the wind is calm, having already assessed the day's prospects based upon weather reports, swell predictions, and tide tables.