The Avid Surfer. The Avid Surfer is both a couch surfer and a host. He/she has built up a network, traveled the world and established a process of selecting a couch to surf on.
"You go through this list and look for someone who: 1. Has a completely filled out profile including photos. 2. Has many good positive references. 3. Speaks your own language. 4. Has the right kind of couch you are looking for (you read their couch descriptions). 5. Has a profile that appeals to you (similar interests, interesting personality, etc…)." (Jesse Allhands, Madison, Wis.)
I have extensively hosted and surfed--although probably more surfing than hosting. I've hosted in Sydney and Canberra, and surfed in Estonia, France, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Paraguya, Uganda, and Australia. And I spent 4 months socializing frequently with the large social group formed through the CS website in Buenos Aires." (Kate Evans, Canberra, Australia)
The friendships an Avid Surfer forms can be anywhere from a one time encounter to a life long friendship.
“Sometimes the friendship with your new [CouchSurfer] is awkward but usually it warms up pretty quickly. Other times you completely click with your [CouchSurfer] and become bffs for the day.” (Gregory Cooper, Little Rock, Ark)
The Host Surfer: The Host Surfer is a very important part of the community because they supply the couches to be surfed on. Host Surfers are more comfortable with hosting guests than surfing themselves. They enjoy the experience of showing guests their city and acting like a tour guide.
“I hosted about 70 people in my home. But my experience as surfer still be kinda few.” (Analucia Wanzeller, Belem Para, Brazil)
The Host Surfer has many good times, but experiences some cultural differences.
“Thanks god, I really had few bad experience. The most embarrassing situations that I really think is talking about hygienic. I live in a very humid region in the north of Brazil. And here, we take a lot of shower during the day. And sometimes the [CouchSurfers] forget to do this.... And their smell is kinda horrible sometimes ... (hahahahaha!!) It is definitely very very embarassing!!!” (Analucia Wanzeller, Belem Para, Brazil)
The Sexy Surfer: The Sexy Surfer users the CouchSurfing service as a dating site. They enjoy surfing and hosting members of the opposite sex. They are often spotted on couchsurfing.org by having a “sexy” full body picture on their profile.
“I never send request for new members with just one picture, or guys that just receive girls, or new members with none references or that aren't in any community group for meeting people.” (Analucia Wanzeller, Belem Para, Brazil)
“Someone I heard of for one nights stand for have sexy with a Chinese girl.” (Miya Li Xuhui, Shanghai, China)
There are other Sexy Surfers who use CouchSurfing for its intended purpose but coincidentally form a romantic relationship.
“I also once formed a romantic relationship with a [CouchSurfer] whom I stayed with for several days and for a while we would try to meet up whenever we're close to each other.” (Gregory Cooper, Little Rock, Ark)
The Non-Surfer: The Non-Surfer is a member outside of the community. They think the CouchSurfing community is unsafe and creepy. They are apprehensive to join the community and think only weird people do, or people who are looking for sexual relations. Non-Surfers describe the community as “Europe,” “weird people,” “freeloaders,” “budget travel,” “scary” and “sketchy.”
“[CouchSurfing] is a cheap way to travel for hippies OR an easy way to get robbed if you do it.” (anonymous Qualtrics survey respondent)
“It seems fun but could be sketchy maybe.” (anonymous Qualtrics survey respondent)
The Couch Abuser: The Couch Abuser loves the fact that CouchSurfing is free. They use CouchSurfing when they travel to save money and do not respect their CouchSurfing hosts. They live by their own rules and come and go as they please.
A Couch Abuser story:
“I knew that my roommate had mentioned inviting another group of couch surfers to stay with us but seeing as it was nearly 2 a.m. we begin to think that they had decided to continue driving through the night. Around 3:30 a.m. I heard my roommate's phone ringing on end and proceeded to answer it (the roommate was always a heavy sleeper). As it turns out, the second group of couch surfers had finally arrived and was waiting outside. I went downstairs to let the two young women in and was utterly surprised to see that they had brought a cat with them. They had not deemed it important to mention to my roommate during any conversation that they were bringing a cat along. Animals were not allowed in our apartment per management's request, but the apartment in general was not animal-friendly (three-floors with railings just big enough for a cat to climb between the bars). We had to move the first group of couch surfers that had been sleeping in our living room on the first floor upstairs into a spare futon where we had originally planned to let the second group of couch surfers stay. This way, the cat would not be in any danger. The second set of couch surfers left quickly in the morning almost silently while the first group stayed as I cooked breakfast for everyone in the apartment.” (Jesse Koehler, Madison, Wis.)
