Kitesurfing: Action, (Inter)action and Mediation

374 Pages·2013·6.68 MB·English

Kitesurfing: Action, (Inter)action and
Mediation

Jarret Geenen

A thesis submitted to
Auckland University of Technology
in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

2013
School of Communications
Table of Contents

Attestation of Authorship ................................................................................................ vii
List of Figures ................................................................................................ viii
List of Tables ................................................................................................... xi
Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................... xii
Ethics Approval .............................................................................................................. xiii
Abstract ......................................................................................................................... xiv

1 Introduction: Kitesurfing: Action, (Inter)action and Mediation ............. 1
1.1 Introduction: Kitesurfing, Action, (Inter)action and Mediation ......................... 1
1.2 Rationale of the Study ........................................................................................ 2
1.3 Why Kitesurfing? ............................................................................................... 4
1.4 Why Multimodal Mediated Theory? .................................................................. 7
1.5 Aims of the Thesis ............................................................................................ 10
1.6 Overview of the Thesis ..................................................................................... 12
1.7 Conclusion: Kitesurfing, Action, (Inter)action and Mediation ........................ 17

2 Literature Review: Lifestyle Sport, Space and Time ............................ 18
2.1 Introduction: Lifestyle sport, space and time ................................................... 18
2.2 Lifestyle Sport: Literature Review ................................................................... 19
2.2.1 Toward a mediated discourse perspective................................................. 36
2.3 Space and Time: Literature Review ................................................................. 39
2.4 Conclusion: Literature Review of Lifestyle Sports and Space and Time ........ 49

3 Literature Review: Multimodal Mediated Theory ................................ 51
3.1 Introduction: Multimodal Mediated Theory ..................................................... 51
3.2 Mediated Discourse Theory ............................................................................. 65
3.3 Conclusion: Multimodal Mediated Theory ...................................................... 76

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4 Design of Study ..................................................................................... 78
4.1 Introduction: Design of Study .......................................................................... 78
4.2 Methods of Collection ...................................................................................... 78
4.2.1 Participant-observation ............................................................................. 78
4.2.2 Tripod supported video-camera ................................................................ 79
4.2.3 Line-mounted GoPro cameras................................................................... 80
4.2.4 Still images ................................................................................................ 81
4.2.5 Observational notes ................................................................................... 82
4.2.6 Interviews .................................................................................................. 83
4.3 Data Table ........................................................................................................ 84
4.4 Participants ....................................................................................................... 86
4.5 Site Selection and Personal Background .......................................................... 87
4.5.1 Ethnography and site selection.................................................................. 89
4.5.2 Understanding site selection: Methodological reflexivity ........................ 91
4.6 Site Access and Participant Recruitment .......................................................... 93
4.6.1 Site access, participant recruitment and field relations ............................. 96
4.6.2 Site access, participant recruitment and field relations: Methodological
considerations .......................................................................................... 101
4.7 Data Collection: Participatory Observation.................................................... 105
4.8 Typical Day .................................................................................................... 108
4.9 Conclusion: Design of Study .......................................................................... 111

5 Methodology ....................................................................................... 112
5.1 Methodology: Introduction ............................................................................. 112
5.2 Participant-Observation .................................................................................. 113
5.3 Mediated Discourse Analysis and Multimodal (Inter)action Analysis .......... 116
5.3.1 Mediated action ....................................................................................... 117
5.3.2 Mediational means .................................................................................. 122
5.3.3 Practice .................................................................................................... 123
5.3.4 Touch/response-feel ................................................................................ 124
5.3.5 Transcription ........................................................................................... 125
5.4 Conclusion: Methodology .............................................................................. 127

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6 Kitesurfing as System of Mediated Action: Exhibiting four
Characteristics ..................................................................................... 129
6.1 Introduction: Kitesurfing as a System of Mediated Action ............................ 129
6.2 Characteristics of Systems of Mediated Action: Theoretical Development .. 134
6.2.1 System of mediated action: Serving socio-cultural, economic, industrial,
commercial, educational, or creative functions....................................... 136
6.2.2 System of mediated action: Changing in direct connection with
mediational means/cultural tools ............................................................ 140
6.2.3 System of mediated action: Developing embedded systems .................. 149
6.2.3.1 System of mediated action: Specialised practices as embedded systems .
............................................................................................................. 151
6.2.4 System of mediated action: Same actions belonging to/creating different
practices................................................................................................... 154
6.3 Mediated Actions as Specialised Practices within a System of Mediated
Action: An Example ....................................................................................... 161
6.3.1 Frames 1-7: Riding on a starboard tack .................................................. 166
6.3.2 Frames 8-9: Heel-side transition ............................................................. 169
6.3.3 Frames 10-11: Power-stroke ................................................................... 172
6.3.4 Frames 12-21: Completion of the heel-side transition ............................ 174
6.3.5 Frames 22-25: Riding on a port tack ....................................................... 177
6.3.6 Practices within the system of mediated action ...................................... 178
6.4 Conclusion: Four Characteristics of the System of Mediated Action ............ 178

7 Actionary Pertinence: Space to Location ........................................... 180
7.1 Introduction: Actionary Pertinence ................................................................ 180
7.2 Space, Location, and Locational elements ..................................................... 181
7.3 Considering Location ..................................................................................... 183
7.3.1 Stable locational element ........................................................................ 184
7.3.2 Predictable locational element ................................................................ 185
7.3.3 Contingent locational element................................................................. 185
7.4 Locational Elements: Categorical Relation, Spatial Stability and Relativity
Factors ............................................................................................................ 186
7.5 Location: Possibility, Safety and Favourability ............................................. 188
7.6 Kitesurfing Location: Te Haruhi Bay (Shakespear Regional Park) ............... 192
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7.6.1 Te Haruhi Bay: Safety ............................................................................. 192
7.6.2 Te Haruhi Bay: Favourability ................................................................. 198
7.7 Kitesurfing Location: Orewa Beach ............................................................... 206
7.7.1 Orewa Beach: Safety ............................................................................... 207
7.7.2 Orewa Beach: Favourability ................................................................... 208
7.8 Conclusion: Actionary Pertinence .................................................................. 212

8 Theoretical Conceptualization of the Mediational Interrelationship
Exemplified in Kitesurfing ................................................................. 214
8.1 Introduction: Some Theoretical Background of Mediation............................ 214
8.2 Mediational Means: Always and Only In-Use ............................................... 218
8.3 Mediational Interrelationship: An Example ................................................... 222
8.4 Conclusion: Mediational Interrelationship ..................................................... 236

9 Learning to Kitesurf: Creating Mediational Means ............................ 237
9.1 Introduction: Creating Mediational Means .................................................... 237
9.2 Learning to Kitesurf: Touch/Response-Feel .................................................. 239
9.3 Creating Mediational Means: Learning a Backroll ........................................ 244
9.4 Creating Complex Mediational Means ........................................................... 253
9.5 Conclusion: Creating Mediational Means ...................................................... 260

10 Discussion: Participation as Methodological Tool ............................. 262
10.1 Introduction: Participation as Methodological Tool ...................................... 262
10.2 Lifestyle Sports: Methodological Background ............................................... 262
10.3 Lifestyle Sports: Towards Localisation and Mediated Action ....................... 269
10.4 Lifestyle Sports: Participation as Methodological Tool ............................... 271
10.4.1 Lifestyle sports: Kitesurfing as system of mediated action ................... 284
10.4.2 Lifestyle Sports: Space to Place ................................................................. 286
10.4.3 Lifestyle sport: Interrelationship of mediational means......................... 287
10.4.4 Lifestyle sport: Learning a new system of mediated action ................... 288
10.5 Conclusion: Participation as Methodological Tool to Analyse Lifestyle Sports .
........................................................................................................................ 288

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11 Conclusion: Kitesurfing, Action, (Inter)action and Mediation ........... 290
11.1 Introduction to Conclusion: Kitesurfing, Action, (Inter)action and Mediation ...
........................................................................................................................ 290
11.2 Kitesurfing as a System of Mediated Action: Generalizable Findings .......... 291
11.3 Kitesurfing Location and Actionary Pertinence: Generalizable Findings ...... 293
11.4 Mediational Interrelationship: Generalizable Findings .................................. 298
11.5 Learning to Create Mediational Means: Generalizable Findings ................... 301
11.6 Kitesurfing: Action (Inter)action and Mediation, Answering the Research
Questions, Limitations, Strength, Future Directions ...................................... 304
11.6.1 Aim of study and research questions ..................................................... 304
11.6.2 Limitations of the study ......................................................................... 306
11.6.3 Strengths of the study ................................................................................. 307
11.6.4 Future directions..................................................................................... 308
11.6.5 Concluding remarks: Kitesurfing, action (inter)action and mediation 309

References ................................................................................................. 311

1 Appendices .......................................................................................... 335
1.1 Appendix: Ethics Documentation........................................................................ 335
1.1.1 Ethics Approval Letter .................................................................................. 335
1.1.2 Participant Information Sheet ....................................................................... 337
1.1.3 Participant Consent Form ............................................................................. 340

1.2 Appendix: Supplemental stills from video data ............................................. 342
1.2.1 Turning on cameras ...................................................................................... 342
1.2.2 Preparation for launching.............................................................................. 343
1.2.3 Thumbs up (let go of my kite) ...................................................................... 344
1.2.4 The Waionui Inlet (South Head) ................................................................... 345
1.2.5 Other events .................................................................................................. 347
1.2.6 Participation as methodological tool: an example ........................................ 348
1.2.7 Locations ....................................................................................................... 349
1.3 Appendix: Sample interview excerpts ................................................................. 354
1.3.1 Interview Excerpt: Early stages of kitesurfing ............................................ 354
1.3.2 Interview Excerpt: Describing locations....................................................... 354
1.3.3 Interview Excerpt: Antecedent Systems of Mediated Action ....................... 356
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1.3.4 Interview Excerpt: Deciding when to go kitesurfing .................................... 356
1.3.5 Interview Excerpt: The importance of equipment ........................................ 357

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Attestation of Authorship

I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person (except where
explicitly defined in the acknowledgments), nor material which to a substantial extent has been
submitted for the award of any other degree or diploma of a university or other institution of
higher learning.

....................................................................................................................

Jarret Geenen
July, 2013

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List of Figures

Figure 4.1: Set up .................................................................................................. 79
Figure 4.2: Kiter at a distance ............................................................................... 80
Figure 4.3: Kiting in small surf ............................................................................. 80
Figure 4.4: Example of line-mounted GoPro perspective ..................................... 81
Figure 4.5: Set up area at TeHaruhi Bay ............................................................... 82
Figure 4.6: View of Shoal Bay, Auckland City .................................................... 82
Figure 4.7: Interview ............................................................................................. 84
Figure 4.8: Talking during rest period .................................................................. 84
Figure 6.1: Kite design .......................................................................................... 137
Figure 6.2: Control systems .................................................................................. 138
Figure 6.3: Boards ................................................................................................. 138
Figure 6.4: Other equipment ................................................................................. 139
Figure 6.5: Using the handle ................................................................................. 139
Figure 6.6: Using the handle differently ............................................................... 140
Figure 6.7: Example social actor kitesurfing and mediational means .................. 146
Figure 6.8: Raley ................................................................................................... 150
Figure 6.9: Wakestyle ........................................................................................... 153
Figure 1: Wakestyle, another example .................................................................. 154
Figure 6.11: Body dragging .................................................................................. 155
Figure 6.12: Toe-side riding .................................................................................. 156
Figure 6.13: Heel-side riding ................................................................................ 159
Figure 6.14: Jumping ............................................................................................ 160
Figure 6.15: Heel-side transition ........................................................................... 164
Figure 6.16: Riding on a starboard tack ................................................................ 167
Figure 6.17: Switch to toe-side ............................................................................. 170
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Figure 6.18: Frame 10 ........................................................................................... 173
Figure 6.19: Frame 11 ........................................................................................... 174
Figure 6.20: Frames 12-21, Completion of the heel-side transition ..................... 175
Figure 6.21: Riding on a port tack after transition ................................................ 177
Figure 7.1: Panorama of Te Haruhi Bay at mid to low tide .................................. 200
Figure 7.2: Te Haruhi Bay at mid tide .................................................................. 201
Figure7.3: Te Haruhi Bay at mid to high tide ....................................................... 202
Figure 7.4: Orewa Beach....................................................................................... 207
Figure 7.5: Orewa Beach south end ...................................................................... 210
Figure 8.1: Jumping and the mediational interrelationship ................................... 224
Figure8.2: Riding .................................................................................................. 226
Figure 8.3: Riding (frame differentiation) ............................................................ 227
Figure 8.4: Leash ................................................................................................... 229
Figure 8.5: Load and pop ...................................................................................... 233
Figure 9.1: Backroll - attempt 1 ............................................................................ 245
Figure 9.2: Backroll - attempt 2 ............................................................................ 247
Figure 9.3: Backkroll - attempt 3 .......................................................................... 249
Figure 9.4: Backroll - attempt 2 con't ................................................................... 259
Figure 10.1: Let go of my kite .............................................................................. 269
Figure ii: Turning on GoPro camera ..................................................................... 342
Figure iii: Turning on GoPro camera 2 ................................................................. 342
Figure iv: Getting ready to launch ........................................................................ 343
Figure v: Getting ready to launch 2 ...................................................................... 343
Figure vi: Thumbs up for launch ........................................................................... 344
Figure vii: Thumbs up for launch 2 ...................................................................... 344
Figure viii: On the way to Waionui Inlet .............................................................. 345
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