Sept 12-19th. Give it a shot. The worst that can happen is you’ll be healthier.
I remember when my eyes were first opened to the reality that is the current state of surfing. It was the beginning of 2015, and as I read about the nuances that make surfing less than a purist pursuit, the contradictions of our sport and lifestyle unraveled in front of me.
What makes surfing less than a purist pursuit?
The answers to this question may or may not seem obvious to you, but before I read this, they had somehow never occurred to me. For someone who felt they were paying close attention to the world of surfing, I couldn’t help but wonder why I was just being exposed to this stuff for the first time?
With all of the online surf media outlets that I browse daily, how was this critical information slipping through the cracks? Why weren’t they being talked about more and why weren’t they being plastered on the front page?
The issues of surfboard manufacturing and the toxic-ness of the materials we primarily use. The issues with excessive carbon emissions in the shipping and manufacturing of surf clothing. The issues with surfing’s consumerist culture in general— all completely counterproductive for the future of our sport and the generations of surfers to come.
I’m not saying no one has been talking about it. But it seems like it’s been more back of mind than tip of tongue.
I was suddenly so adamant about creating real change and yet there was one problem: having only been exposed to these sustainability issues for the first time, I had no ideas of how to go about solving them. I was totally overwhelmed.
I quickly realized how icky and complex the situation was, and that’s what led me to making the only real changes I knew how to… the one’s I could make in my own life. That’s when I decided to start biking to surf. It was the first way I could think of to make a difference on a personal level.
Day to day, what can I do?
That is the mission I set forth to achieve, in hopes that this mentality could eventually rub off on other surfers. Hence, turning My Wave Addiction into a nonprofit with the mission of leading individual surfers to live more ocean minded lifestyles through upbeat community events in the South Bay, LA, and beyond.
The first event being Bike to Surf Week which takes place this September 12th-19th. Participants choose one day during that week to use an alternate form of transportation to get to the beach (biking, skating, walking, public transport, carpooling, etc.).
To add to the fun, My Wave Addiction has teamed up with Sustainable Surf to provide all participants with the chance to win a brand new high performance ECOBOARD by E-Tech. Check these bad boys out here.
On how to win that board, click here.
I’m asking you to join me during this week to take a day to slow down, go for a bike ride and a surf, and think about how you can live your life in a way that better reflects your love for the ocean.
In addition to joining me, if you believe in the idea of us all living more ocean conscious lives, I ask that you share this event with your friends and invite those who you think would appreciate being a part of it.
