Surfers to face drug testing

The Guardian reports that the world of professional surfing is about to be scrubbed squeaky clean.

In the 1960s and 1970s, surfing was the counter culture's sport of choice. With the long hair and beach bum lifestyle came marijuana and LSD. But the sport is set for a radical image change as its international governing body prepares to introduce comprehensive drug testing for professionals for the first time.

Andy Martin, author of Stealing the Wave, said surfing was caught in a dilemma. "Part of its appeal is that it is counter cultural, marginal and in some way subversive and that's where the association with drugs comes in, whether real or mythic.

"How mainstream can surfing be before losing its soul?"

Martin said marijuana was a key part of community life when he lived among surfers in Hawaii around a decade ago.

"There was a view in Hawaii that marijuana smoking in particular was actually good for surfing because you increase your lung capacity with all that drawing in of the smoke," he said. "So it was good when there was a big hold down under the waves and you could stay down for longer. The more marijuana, the better the surfer.

Look for the hard-core guys to form a break-away professional circuit, replete with their own drugs testing.

Anyone found not to be under the influence will be disqualified on the spot.