It seems that some sports are dabbling in the green arena but as surfers we would like to see surfing become “The Bench Mark” in sustainable event management for all others to follow.
Climate Wave have started a facebook cause page “Support surfing events to go Green” to gauge the reaction of surfers to the possibility of their sporting competitions going green.
Surfers and surfing have a love/hate relationship with the natural environment. Our beautiful oceans provide endless hours of recreation which we drive and fly to, taking our petro chemical surfboards and wetsuits. I have spoken to many surfers over the years who are extremely frustrated with this fact and crave a greener future for the sport they love.
Now we’re not saying that green surf comps are a new thing, Rip Curl have been leading the charge at the famous Bells Beach Pro surfing event for many years. “We try to have greener events every year, but there is no “green” guideline coming from the ASP.” (Association of Surfing Professionals) Interview with Julie Thimbaud, Rip Curl Planet Officer. As mentioned in her interview, with guidelines drawn up we feel surfing competitions can be green and more successful while educating the public and attracting new sponsors. The follow on will also help the surf industry develop their other green initiatives .
Billabong have started greening aspects of their competition with Kerry Wright Director of Cleaner Climate providing environmental management for the Billabong JBay Pro in South Africa in 2010.
And all the major surf industry companies have their charitable arm. Quiksilver has their Foundation and have done some amazing work with “Quiksilver Crossing”
We know there is a great need to move away from the use of petro chemicals so let’s show our support to the surfing industry!
Join this cause and help surfing to become a sustainable sport. So come on…get on Board!
working for the planet
Greg Howell
Thanks to Martin Tullemans for the photo of Quiksilver Pro in full flight.