Decolonizing surf tourism: alternatives to development, surfer subjectivity, and surfscape commons governance

Abstract

the design, orchestration, and completion of this research project. As a 17-year foreign resident surf tourist of Costa Rica, it is impossible to separate this work from the communities and surfscapes that have come to define me as a surfer-researcher. I am beholden to the surf communities of Playa Jaco/Hermosa, Malpais/Santa Teresa/Hermosa, and Matapalo de Osa in particular for incubating my surf addiction and nurturing my evolution as a student-participant of Costa Rican surf culture.To the community of Barra de la Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico, for being a beacon of light in reminding me that decolonial alternatives are indeed possible in community-based surf tourism governance. To the local surfers of Matapalo and Witch's Rock in Costa Rica for sharing waves and stories to support this research. And to the community of Playa Hermosa de Santa Teresa de Cobano, thank you for saying 'yes' to exploring alternatives to development in the place we all love so dear. Special thanks to field research team members