Surfers At the Forefront
Surfers have been at the forefront, involved in protecting the beaches and oceans of the world far longer than any other group of citizens. Organizations like Surfrider have been performing beach cleanups and lobbying for protective measures for decades. Surfrider members perform regular cleanups of the shoreline, a largely messy and thankless job that they have to do because other visitors who enjoy the oceans and beaches refuse to clean up after themselves.
Perhaps it takes a vested interest, close contact, to motivate people to do the right thing. Similarly, it’s falconers who make up the vast majority of those involved in the recovery of the Peregrine Falcon and other birds of prey. There may be some merit to having a vested interest, but most of the trash left on the beaches and other public natural places comes from people who likewise visit and enjoy these places. So it seems that surfers (and falconers) must still be some pretty exceptional people to step up to the plate, giving their time, labor and money into clean water, beaches, wildlife, and the world’s eco-systems.
Once again, surfers are taking the lead, this time in the form of a company called ReRip.com. This effort, stared up by two surfer chicks from San Diego, is the Craigslist of board sports. They provide classified ads to rehome surf, skate and snow boards, helping to ensure that the boards continue to be recycled, rather than ending up in a landfill. Moreover, they’re providing surfboard blanks made of BioFoam. The high performance Biofoam blanks are 50% plant based. Their production results in 36% less global warming emissions and a 61% reduction in non-renewable energy use. That’s a pretty sharp contrast to the traditional poly-resin board. Bioboard blanks give surfers good cause to buy locally shaped Bofoam-core boards rather than a pop-out from China with its long string of toxicity that eventually leads to the air and ocean.
We’re pleased to tip a hat to surfers, on behalf of a grateful planet.
