Surfing with a Purpose
Turn Passion into Action
When you think about surfing you may think of beautiful barreling waves, white sand beaches and carefree days spent soaking up the sun and paddling into perfect waves. However, the surf culture of today is developing into something far beyond this, surfers all over the world are using their boards to make genuine, long-lasting changes for the environment and their communities, transforming their passion into action to protect the sport and communities that they love so much.
Many surfers have started initiatives to promote environmental awareness such as beach clean-ups and surf therapy for vulnerable young people and veterans. Leading the change are well-known surfers like Rob Machado, Stephanie Gilmore and Kelly Slater, who support conservation initiatives, create sustainable companies and fund initiatives that use surfing to empower the next generation of young surfers and they use their success to promote environmental awareness, let's see how surfers are making a difference
Famous Surfers Making a Difference
Kelly Slater: 11x World Champion and Environmentalist
Kelly Slater is one of the world’s best surfers and he has used his popularity to be one of the sport's most vocal environmentalists, he co-founded an organisation called Outerknown, which is a sustainable clothing company that uses eco-friendly materials, circular design, and ethical production to lessen its influence on the environment. Kelly Slater also uses his position to advocate for causes like plastic pollution, climate change and ocean conservation, encouraging supporters and other athletes to think about their effects on the environment.
Stephanie Gilmore: 8x World Champion and Ocean Advocate
Stephanie Gilmore brings her purpose to her influence over the surfing community as she is one of the most accomplished female surfers in history, she has used her position to promote environmental preservation and gender equality in sports, by encouraging sustainable surfing practices and marine conservation by joining forces with international organisations such as Project Zero and the Surfrider Foundation. She promotes an inclusive, environmentally conscious surf culture where protecting our oceans is as important as having fun in them.
John John Florence: 3x World Champion and Environmentalist
John John Florence has done lots of work in creating environmental awareness amongst the surfing community, he has made documentaries that discuss the need to look after marine habitats, his deep concern for the oceans of the world developed as he grew up along Oahu’s North Shore. He actively participates in conservation programs and uses his global platform to spread awareness about ocean plastic, coral reef damage, and the value of sustainable living.
Rob Machado: Surf Legend and Environmental Hero
This surf legend started the Rob Machado Foundation, the foundation's main goals are to establish refill stations to reduce the use of plastic bottles, provide clean water access and waste-reduction initiatives to schools and coastal communities and inspire youth to take care of the ocean.
Even surf therapy has gained a lot of global recognition as organisations are using the ocean as a form of healing and therapy for underprivileged communities, people with disabilities and even veterans. Programs like Waves for Change and The Wave Project are helping youth and individuals overcome trauma, anxiety and social isolation through the healing power of the sea. Surfing has become a lifeline, not just a lifestyle.
Turn your Passion into Action
These World Champion surfers have used their spotlight on the global stage to influence the surfing community to turn their passion into action through environmental movements, surf therapy programs and protecting our coastlines. You do not have to have global limelight to make a difference, we can all take small actions to protect the waves we surf and here is how:
1. Join or Organise a Beach Clean Up
Cleaning your local beach is one of the easiest and most effective ways to give back and look after the ocean. After a surf session just get some friends together and pick up the trash on your own, or participate in community cleanups organised by groups like Trash Heros here in Bali. Each piece of trash collected preserves the beauty of our beaches and enhances the protection of marine life.
2. Support sustainable surf brands
Surf brands like Patagonia Surf and Outerknown are producing eco-conscious surf equipment, by purchasing boards that are made of bio-based or recycled materials, or purchasing wetsuits that use natural rubber or limestone and even clothing made using low-impact and fair trade methods you can protect your shorelines.
3. Volunteer with Surf Therapy programs
Whether you are helping with an organisation, motivating the surfers as a volunteer or pushing them onto a wave as a surf guide there is a place for you to help out in surf therapy organisations. Organisations such as Waves for Change, Operation Surf, The Wave Project, and Surfability UK use the ocean to help people in need and expose them to the healing powers of the ocean.
4. Reduce your Carbon footprint
Small micro habits can have a significant impact, just making small changes to your daily activities like reducing your use of single-use plastics, doing lift clubs to the beach, wearing sunscreen that is safe for reefs and eating more plant-based foods can help preserve our oceans and its marine life. The more we protect the waters we surf, the less harm we do on land.
Kima Surf X Sustainability
Mass tourism has had major negative influences on Bali and resulted in significant waste issues, we at Kima Surf are following sustainability and environmental consciousness practices. We've implemented measures including encouraging visitors to conserve water and energy, utilising reusable containers and prohibiting single-use plastics in our kitchens. We also employ energy-efficient LED lights throughout our campgrounds and regularly clean up the beach. We have 30 rooftop solar panels powering our Canggu facility daily, reducing CO2 emissions by around 16,000 kg yearly. We take pride in contributing to the solution and every little effort matters.
Surfing is a sport, a lifestyle and a means to connect with the ocean, our surrounding surf communities and most importantly ourselves. Surfers have started to transform their love for the sport into action to protect the waves they love so dearly. Through sustainability, surf therapy, and environmental action surfers are changing their daily activities to minimise their carbon footprint.
Come and connect to the ocean in a sustainable and eco-friendly way with Kima Surf. It's important to make waves as well as catch them.
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