Left to right: Animal Print Fish from I-BE Surfboards, HJM from Earth Technologies, Mid Strength by Chilli Surfboards, 9’6″ Nose Rider by Barahona Shapes, 10’6″ Gun by Lyle Carlson. All available here. Photo: Ryan Harris/Earth Technologies
In January of 2021, Brandi Wese was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, Ryan Harris of Earth Technologies Surfboards told me over the phone. “No cancer is good, and breast cancer is especially bad, but this one has one of the lowest survival rates and it disproportionately affects minorities and younger women,” he said.
On a recent trip home to Virginia Beach, Ryan saw the struggle that Brandi, his family friend, was going through with and thought, “you know what? I need to do something more than donate a few pink coasters.” And so he did, chatting with local East Coast shapers about doing a live auction of various hand-shaped pink boards to raise awareness for breast cancer both in and out of the water. A collaboration with a couple of other shapers quickly snowballed into ten to 12 different surfboard shapers from across the country sending in pink surfboards, and brands such as Roxy, Billabong, and Quiksilver stepped up to support the campaign. There are even rumors that Kelly Slater is getting in on the action.
Hunter Jones with a pink fish headed to the auction. Photo: Ryan Harris/Earth Technologies
So Ryan did what Ryan does best: he activated, launching a website and online auction to support Brandi and the fight against triple-negative breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer awareness month, after all. “[Brandi] is picking two charities [Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation] that are fighting the good fight with regard to breast cancer awareness, and 75 percent of all the funds raised are going to go towards those charities,” Ryan said. “And honestly, whatever we have left over is going to helping her with the damn medical bills.”
There’s currently a selection of over 13 items up on the site (as well as links to donate directly if that’s more your vibe), and new boards and gear will be going up every week until the auction ends on October 24, with incoming contributions from GoPro, Roxy, and more. “Our target is six figures,” said Ryan. “We want to raise $100,000.” An admirable goal for sure, and one Ryan thinks can cause lasting change.
The Pink Board Project hats are a great way to support the cause without breaking the bank for a new surfboard. Photo: The Pink Board Project//Â Instagram.
But say you don’t have a thousand bucks to drop on a brand-new hot pink surfboard, and still want to help. What can you do? First of all, says Ryan, “you can help spread the damn word.” By using the #thepinkboardproject hashtag, as well as by telling your friends and family. Ryan has also declared that Tuesday, October 5 (that’s today, by the way) will be Pink Square Day, where he’s asking all of us to post a pink square to Facebook or Instagram to show solidarity and support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month using the #thepinkboardproject and #breastcancerawarenessmonth hashtags.
There are also links to donate on the auction site, and smaller-ticket items such as Pink Board Project hats and upcycled merchandise from Ryan’s eco-board shaping bay. Every little bit counts, and The Inertia is stoked to be spreading the word and supporting Brandi Wese and all those engaged in the fight against breast cancer.
