An Economic Approach to Surfing
The following represents a specified depiction of a typical day of surfing for me, in a manner described using economic terminology. Although there are many definitions of surfing these days, including surfing the internet, surfing departments stores, magazine surfing, etc., we will focus on the meaning of surfing as it was originally intended, defined as “The water sport of riding the surf into shore” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, p.739) Using this, I will recount a surf trip a friend and I made to the beach a few years ago, beginning and ending at my home in Valley Center California. The Events I experienced will be depicted using primarily economic concepts. What would seem like ordinary events will be portrayed using an economic microscope of interpretation.
It is five A.M. on a scorching Saturday morning in the summer of 1998, and I am awakened by the unpleasant sound of my alarm clock. Now you may be wondering why I am crazy enough to wake up this early on a Saturday, but for the dedicated surfer it is a necessity that one must take in order to maximize utility. Utility is defined as “A measure of the satisfaction, happiness, or benefit that results from the consumption of a good” (Arnold, p. 849). The good in this case being surfing, and in order for me to be fully satisfied, receive happiness, and benefit optimally from this good, I must awake early. By awaking at five A.M., I can prepare for surfing
without other members of my family inhibiting me because they will all be asleep. Everything is quiet and peaceful, and this factor alone allows me to start my day in a sort of positive and spiritual mode.
The roads at this time in the morning are virtually empty, which enable me to arrive at the beach in approximately 20 minutes as opposed to 35 minutes during regular hours. The main concept explaining this circumstance has to do with supply and demand. At five A.M. the amount of traffic in relation to spaces available on streets and freeways is relatively small. At eight A.M. however, the amount of traffic in relation to spaces available on streets and freeways is relatively large, often causing extremely congested circumstances. Granted, my surf trip is on a Saturday, and most people have the weekend off from work, but the same economic concept applies on the weekend as it does during the week, but not as drastically.
Zaroff is extremely pleased when he gets to host Rainsford at his house, as if it's an honor to host this world renowned hunter in his home. He is so pleased when he has the chance to tell Rainsford about his new hunting style. “Dear me. Again with that unpleasant word. But I think I can show you that your scruples are quite ill founded” (26). Zaroff believes that he can change Rainsfords view on his hunting style when he reacts immediatly with great disgust.
The number of traffic accidents is likely to increase due to an earlier sunset as well as the sleep disruptions that are commonly associated with Daylight Saving Time.
General Zaroff used hunting tactics when they were eating “the last supper” at Zaroff’s house. Every time Rainsford looked up, he said, “he found him studying him, appraising him narrowly” (Connell 66). By this, the reader can tell that Zaroff is trying to notice Rainsford’s tendencies. Knowing these can make hunting him easier. Also at dinner, Zaroff explains to Rainsford that “God made him a hunter” and how his father believed that “his hand was made for the trigger” since he was ten (Connell 85). Zaroff sharing this with Rainsford is proof that this man is a talented hunter and has been for a long time. Rainsford is quite the hunter himself. So much so, that Zaroff knew who he was when he arrived. The General stated, “It is a very great pleasure and honor to welcome Mr. Sanger Rainsford, the celebrated hunter, to my home” (Connell 52). Also during the hunt when Rainsford set up the Burmese tiger pit and claiming one of Zaroff’s dogs, Zaroff tells him, “You’ve done well, Rainsford” (Connell 194). If his enemy believes that he is a great hunter, then he must be. Especially because Zaroff thinks so highly of himself. Going back to when Rainsford was
General Zaroff is described by Connell from Rainsford’s point-of-view, “Rainsford 's first impression was that the man was singularly handsome; his second was that there was an original, almost bizarre quality about the general 's face. He was a tall man past middle age, for his hair was a vivid white; but his thick eyebrows and pointed military mustache were as black as the night from which Rainsford had come. His eyes, too, were black and very bright. He had high cheekbones, a sharpcut nose, a spare, dark face--the face of a man used to giving orders, the face of an aristocrat.” (Paragraph 56). Here Connell really paints a picture in the reader 's imagination of what Zaroff’s appearance is, showing that he is tall, has a very distinctive face, and looks like a man used to giving orders to others. Later on when Rainsford and Zaroff took place in their hunting game, at one point Rainsford was hiding from Rainsford to avoid being killed. When describing what was going on from Rainsford point-of-view again, it was stated that terror was about to burst from his heart, while he was watching Zaroff smoke below the tree he was in. This really lets the reader’s mind know how much fear was going on through Rainsford during this hunting game. Here Connell really shows how his use of imagery relates to the tone of the story and how is set during
Surfing has come a long way since it was first conceived (roughly 1500 years ago). From the Polynesian “watermen” and Hawaiian Kings, to the European takeover in Hawaii and surfing's American debut in the early twentieth century and all the way through present day, surfing has had a rich history. Over the decades, surfing has fit in to a number of roles in society, but whether we surfers are seen as beach-bums or heroes (as of late), we still surf only because we love it, because the ocean’s calls us, because nothing else on this planet can create the sensation felt by riding a wave.
Britton, Veronica. "The Origins of Surfing." The Sport of Kings. N.p.. Web. 6 Dec 2013.
Surfing today has become a billion dollar enterprise. Many leading companies will sponsor huge events. Today there are many types of surfing boogie boarding and windsurfing are among them. Now thousands of boards and wetsuits are made a year. Vs the old long wooden boards people today ride boards 6 to 7 feet long. Today millions of people surf every year. Now people will surf for a living making money off of endorsement deals. With the addition of tow in surfing now surfers can ride some of the biggest waves on the
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my life the best it could be, and also knowing that it could come true, and
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being with. These qualities are implanted in me via my upbringing, culture, religious belief and life
writing, I can write when it's quiet, loud, during the day, during the night, and during
going to sleep and when I awoke in the middle of the night, I would
Tyler's Surf N' Turf, my proposed business, will be of service to both tourists and seasoned veterans of extreme sports. My business, located on the beach, will provide classes for beginners and those who want to become more skilled in the sports of surfing and skateboarding. My business will sell surfboards, skateboards, apparel, wetsuits, and other equipment th...
Thinking of surfing brought me to think about my brother who is a surfer. I reminisced about the times he and I had sat quietly in the ocean waiting to see that perfect bump in the horizon. He taught me a great lesson in surfing; you don’t always have to pick the first option because there are more opportunities to