Surf culture is the culture and lifestyle surrounding the sport of surfing, originating during the 1950s and 1960s but which continues to this day not only along the coast, but inland as well as the surf lifestyle continues to invade all facets of teenage culture. Surfing culture and lifestyle can also be found in all the other board sports such as skate, snow, wake and just recently, the ever popular skim boarding. Surf culture is multifaceted. Today, surf culture involves the constant search for waves, whether locally or internationally as well as the multiple ways in which surfing is part of one's life. This may include surf clothing brands, surf gear and styles, surf music preferences, literature, films, language, etc. In addition, localism or territorialism is a huge part of surf culture. Today, surfers come from all walks of life but teenaged boys are the most likely fans of this counterculture.

Identity as a member of the surf counterculture is shown through the surf clothing and surf gear that participants wear. Many of these surf clothing brands can now be found online or in the mall but the true original surfer will find surf gear in many different places to set himself apart from all the other surfers and to be admired by other surfers as someone with originality and style. Style has always been a big part of the surf culture, even going as far as having it's on fashion look geared directly at the board sports market. Many of these clothing styles are not only board sport fashionable, but they also surf practical purposes with reinforcements in the structure of the clothing specifically for board sport activity.

Along with surf clothing, surf gear accessories are mandatory for the complete surf look. These include entire surf industries with brands specifically marketed towards board sports enthusiasts. Surf Watches, Shoes, Hats, Belts, Socks, Body Scents, and more can be found on many online websites and distinguish the elitism of the sport of surfing.

If there is any generalization in the sport of surfing and all board sports, it is the fanatical enthusiasm of its devotees. Surfer Magazine, founded in the 1960s when surfing had gained popularity with teenagers, wrote that if surfers were working and someone yelled "Surf's up!" the office would suddenly empty out to go surfing. Other aspects of the 60's surf culture include the woodie, bikinis and other beach wear, such as boardshorts or baggies. Surfers created the skateboard to be able to continue the feel of surfing on land and as a perfect way to transport themselves from their home to the beach. Today, the number of boardsports has since grown. Also, surfing has its own slang, which coincides with cali talk. Words like "tubular" and "gnarly" are associated with both.

In today's world, surfing has hit many different teenagers with the advent of the Internet. Now the can access any surf information, the latest surf gear and trends, and who are the biggest stars of the surfing world. If there is any generalization in the sport of surfing and all board sports today it's that almost anyone, anywhere can emulate the counterculture surf lifestyle all it takes is an attitude of rebellious slash and tear mentality and the right surf clothing and gear. Mandatory is the ability to at least do one of the board sport activities but since there are so many today, you can usually pick up one and be able to excel at the sport right from your home town.