Tag Archives: sustainable surfing

Solitude amongst the Circus

By Lauren | Published: December 17, 2011

A few snap shots of the past five weeks on the North Shore of Oahu, amongst the surfing circus, but still plenty of solitude:


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Transparentsea day 4

By Lauren | Published: October 6, 2011


This was our distance for the day, over sea rather than land

We expected big weather–wind and rain —on day four. There was a front approaching from the north, bringing rare weather to Southern California for this time of year.

We had a quick surf after camping at the beautiful beachfront Emma Wood grounds. The sun emerged and the oily smooth surf started to show signs of wind arriving. Gentle peaks and chops moved in from the Santa Barbara Channel so we prepared the kayaks. In order to miss most of the oncoming storm front we needed to make perhaps the longest leg of the trip, at least 35 miles from Emma Wood to Leo Carillo, past the slightly sketchy Point Mugu military base.

The trip was beautiful and surprisingly warm. It was stunning to watch the colors and shades of the water change as blankety clouds unfurled and then dissipated, to watch turquoisy blues fade to emerald greens and then reemerge as an ineffable amalgamation of the two. Cruising about 7 miles offshore, we surfed along small swell lines with pods of common dolphins and a variety of sea birds.

At one point an unmarked helicopter strated circling around our five crafts. It kept going for 25, 35, 45 minutes. Then another helicopter came out, took the first helicopters position encircling us and the first helicopter flew away. It definitely felt like they were trying to communicate something. Dave switched his radio to another channel and finally made contact with them–The U.S. Navy, as it turned out. We saw a bright orange boat coming quickly from the shoreline straight toward us so we quickly put on our life jackets just to assure that we were as seemingly law abiding as possible. We weren’t sure if we had inadvertently broken some law, or if they were just harassing us. The orange boat stopped abruptly and insisted that we pull sail and wait exactly where we were—not to move any further. The captain informed us that the U.S. Navy was conducting live missile testing for the next 15 minutes and that we were required to wait until the testing had completed. So we waited, watching all around for explosions or signs of some militaristic destruction, but nothing we saw.

About 20 minutes later massive gray jets flew overhead, erupting in sounds that seemed to violently rip open the sky. It was a stark contrast to the gentle lapping ocean sounds and occasionally ruffling of my sail overhead. A sound uniquely human in scope, from sky to sea. I couldn’t help to wonder how the dolphins we had just had the pleasure of sailing with were affected. So sensitive to sound with their finely tuned echolocation capabilities, were these explosive sounds hurting their ears, too? What else does the military base here, so close to so many humans and countless marine species, do to this beautiful ocean? What else does it empty into these bountiful waters? Do we as taxpayers support our military conducting such experiments into delicate marine ecosystems– potentially threatening endangered and threatened species? I couldn’t help but wonder.

We sailed onward, making good time. The wind died down for awhile, so we peddled a bit and had a snack. We were starting to think that we wouldn’t make it to shore before dark. Just as the sun was beginning to set a steady wind hit our sails, a perfect homecoming wind, sending us easily onto the beach in time to watch the sun sink below the horizon with our ground crew. To see their smiling, welcoming faces on the beach after each long day of sailing ( today took about 7 hours) is really like being welcomed home in each destination.

It’s a beautiful feeling to celebrate each evening with friends at the edge of the sea.

 

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Sustainable-er Surfboards

By Lauren | Published: January 18, 2011
Moss Research Unveils Sustainable Surfboards; Eco Flex Technologies Get Sustainability Endorsement
January 10, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
Master surfboard shaper Jake Moss, 15 year manufacturer of Moss Research Surfboards announces the availability of a new collection of surfboards, which define the industry standard in meeting sustainability criteria relating to human, environmental, economic, and social impacts.
Up until now, Surfboard making has arguably been one of the least “eco-friendly” crafts around. The traditional surfboard manufacturing process is toxic and emits gases known to be hazardous to shapers; the process depletes the ozone layer, and contributes to global warming. Previously, alternatives have not resulted in performance improvements for surfers. “The few people making ‘green’ boards have run in to two problems; the performance is never as good as a conventional surfboard, and they haven’t been able to demonstrate them as eco-friendly,” says Jake Moss. “Our Eco-boards, refined over the past 4 years, are better to surf than conventional boards. And we’ve worked hard to establish that our construction processes and materials are, in fact, more environmentally friendly.”
The customizable line of Moss Research boards utilizes “Eco-Flex” technology, which gets its name from a construction process using plant fibers, a 100% recycled core and an ultra strong and elastic plant-based, non-VOC (volatile organic compound) resin. According to Moss, “The performance surfboard never had a sustainable beginning.” In the late 1950′s the lightweight surfboard, using a polyurethane core reinforced with fiberglass and polyester resin was introduced. It was a performance breakthrough, however, at a time where there were few surfers and little consideration to the waste streams produced. To date, a majority of boards are still made of the same materials, toxic and non-recyclable plastics, containing diisocyanates (MDI, TDI) and VOCs.
Now, with a world surfing population of over 10 million, with each surfer owning an average of 3 boards, there are over 30 million surfboards in use. These boards will eventually become garbage, with no way to down-cycle the resources. “Plastic recycling has never been a ‘closed loop’, with over 30% of all plastics having the potential to end up in the ocean, in the North Pacific gyre. “That’s a horrific version of the future that no surfer wants to help create”, Moss says.
To help correct the situation, Moss Research uses a 100% recycled, closed-cell EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam blank, introduced by California supplier Marko Foam. They use a new, sustainable recycling technology that is able to make “1st quality” high-performance blanks comprised of post-consumer packing and industrial EPS waste. The material can be re-collected and re-processed again and again to truly support a closed loop effort that reduces the amount of EPS Foam waste entering the landfill–or the ocean. The recycled blanks weigh half as much as conventional polyurethane blanks and have a water absorption rate at a small fraction compared, so even dinged boards won’t take on excessive water. “This means your board won’t suck, literally,” says Moss. “It also means Eco-Flex boards last longer, with the option to recycle the core once it has finally succumb to the elements.”
The laminating resin has been replaced with plant-based “Super Sap” from manufacturer Entropy Resins, available commercially in 30%-75% bio content concentrations. Their process captures pine sap from paper making and renewable oils from bio-fuel waste streams. “Super Sap” emits no VOC’s and does not require the use of harmful solvents or surfacing agents.
With all major components made domestically in the United States, mostly comprised of captured waste from other industrial processes, the end result is a board with a significantly lower carbon footprint, a healthier manufacturing environment, and a better experience for surfers.
The Moss Research Eco-Flex surfboards are the first to receive an Endorsement of Sustainability, based on a set of environmental standards for sustainable surfboard manufacturing developed by the Sustainable Surf Coalition (read more at http://sustainablesurfcoalition.org).
Tobias Schultz, author of “Surfboard Cradle-to-Grave”, reviewed and approved Moss Research’s Endorsement application. “After a lengthy review process, Moss Research’s Eco-Flex boards satisfy the requirements of a sustainable surfboard, including use of domestic supply chain, company transparency, craftsmanship and durability,” says Schultz. Schultz is working with Moss Research to create a Company Sustainability Report (CSR) for 2011, the first in the surfboard industry, which will be completed later this year.
Moss Research Sustainable Surfboards with “Eco-Flex” technologies can be seen at www.mossresearch.com
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The surfing machine….

By Lauren | Published: March 22, 2009


Regarding wave pools, or surf parks, Drew Kampion, the associate editor of The Surfer’s Path, said: 


“This is not surfing except in its most limited sense.

“It may replicate real waves and it can teach riding and balance. But 90 per cent of surfing is paddling out among the elements, breathing in the negative ions in the sea air – and wave  machines fail to capture any of that.”

Alternatively, Jimmy Wilson at Surfing Magazine presents another perspective on the wave park in his analysis of why the Orlando Surf Park failed: 

What do you think? Is Drew Kampion right? Or, is there some value to the surf park? 

Does the absence of surf make the heart grow fonder for surfing? Or make us appreciate the gift of waves that much more? 
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Sustainable Surfing: A Call to Action

By Lauren | Published: March 8, 2009

Everyone knows how wonderfully poetic surfing can be; we could fill volumes with references to surfing as artful, utopian, or solace-filled.  Surfing can certainly be a beautiful act and can be a powerful source of stimulation and insight. Some of us engage in surfing because it is intensely competitive and edgy, but, I think that the majority of us are inspired by something else that we get from riding waves, something pure and meditative that rouses our senses and keeps us longing for more. Knowing this, as we do, it is also important not to let the romantic aspects of surfing cloud our vision or allow us to become overly selfish with our oceanic experiences. We must also take responsibility for the ways in which we are affecting other surfers, and the rest of the planet, as we engage in our pastime.

I’ve spent the past two years at university studying exactly the extent to which we, as a global culture of surfers, are (or are not) taking responsibility for our actions, in terms of how adamantly we are protecting (or thinking about protecting) the ocean, and the planet in general. Through interviews, surveys and e-mails, I conducted a critical examination of surf culture and the surfing industry, in terms of its environmental and social impacts. The findings were mixed, but what was consistent was the lack of a critical examination of surf culture itself and how we, as individuals, fit into that culture and how we are perpetuating environmental destruction through surf culture. That’s not to say that all of surf culture is destructive, just that we can do better with many of the decisions we make as consumers and as surfers (like the surfboards, clothes, wax, wetsuits and plane tickets we buy), which will lessen our collective environmental impact. This isn’t about calling yourself ‘environmentalist’ or necessarily abandoning your creature comforts, but it is about making more informed decisions for the sake of preserving things that we all love: surfing and the places and processes that make it possible. Sustaining our sport requires that we take a step back and cut a critical eye at the environmental and social implications of the global surf industry in order to improve it. But first, we should examine our own lives carefully to see in what ways we can advocate change for greater environmental sustainability in our own communities.

In the U.S. alone, almost two thirds of our coastal waters are degraded because of pollution. And that’s what we know about. Some oceanographers and marine scientists insist that we still know more about the moon than oceans on earth! Because we know so little, we can not be sure of the full extent of our impacts. The effects of the pollution that we do know about are far reaching: from human health risks to compromised food sources.

 The beginnings of a significant environmental movement within our surfing cultures have been lingering for decades now, without really catching on as a mainstream movement, until recently. I think that, in being immersed in the ocean environment, we have the distinct opportunity to essentially voice concern and elucidate the changes that are rapidly affecting the coastal ocean. Surfing has given so much to me, has inspired such a deep love of the ocean and respect for the unique experiences to be had through it, that I feel personally responsible to preserve those things that make surfing so special— most important being the health and prosperity of the ocean. This isn’t about calling yourself ‘environmentalist’ or necessarily abandoning your creature comforts, but it is about making more informed decisions for the sake of preserving things that we all love: surfing and the places and processes that make it possible. Sustaining our sport requires that we take a step back and cut a critical eye at the environmental and social implications of the global surf industry in order to improve it. But first, we should examine our own lives carefully to see in what ways we can advocate change for greater environmental sustainability in our own communities. After all, the ocean, including the other planetary processes (the water cycle, wind currents and other weather patterns) that make surfing possible, are the most important components of our beloved pastime, and, in recognizing what powerfully crucial forces they are, I know that we can all agree that they are worth caring for and preserving.

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