Subcultural Praxis via Sparking Journeys: Self-Transformation and Embodied Experiences Among Hard Adventurers

Hard adventure tourism, characterized by high risk and physical challenge, is a recognized context for personal transformation. However, the process through which this transformation occurs, particularly the synergistic interplay between the social context of the subculture and embodied experience, remains underexplored. This ethnographic study, employing participant observation and in-depth interviews with 23 hard adventurers, investigates this process. Our findings reveal that self-transformation unfolds through three distinct phases of the self: (1) the controlled self, developed as the subculture disciplines the body through rigorous preparation; (2) the radial self, performed and validated through shared bodily practices within the subcultural group; and (3) the fragmented self, sustained by the subcultural community that keeps the embodied identity alive. The study demonstrates that the hard adventure subculture actively shapes, gives meaning to, and reinforces the very embodied practices that drive personal change, with transformation strengthening both the self and social bonds.