Spirit of Surfing is a movement started by surfer Peter Cuming in 1995. It's organised as the Spirit of Surfing Trust and promotes harmony among surfers and respect for the ocean, the land, and indigenous culture.

In October 1998 at Margaret River

Margaret River, Western Australia

Margaret River is a town in the South West of Western Australia, located in the valley of the eponymous Margaret River, south of Perth, the state capital. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River....

 the group erected a Tribal Law plaque, explaining surfers' rules of right-of-way and respect.

In 2000 when Nat Young

Nat Young (surfer)

Robert Harold "Nat" Young is an Australian surfer and author.Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Young grew up in the small coastal suburb of Collaroy. In 1964, he was runner-up in the Australian junior championship at Manly, and two years later was named world surfing champion in 1966. He won the...

 was seriously assaulted in a "surf rage" incident at Angourie he gave $12,000 he got for a television interview to the movement.

Through 2000 to 2002 at Bells Beach the group consulted with local surfing groups, aboriginal traditional owners and the local council to have erected stones reading "Respect the Ocean", "Respect the Land", "Respect each Other", as a local interpretation of the surfing spirit.

The group has deliberately not accepted industry logos or sponsorship on the basis that it would dilute their message.

External links

• Article by Neal Miyake, showing the Tribal Law plaque and text (just past half-way down)