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More than a sport, surfing is a full-body green exercise. It combines cardio with resistance, focusing on the core, shoulders, back and arms, and you never have to step foot in a gym. Just take a look at celebrities who swear by surfing's body-shaping ability like Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake. In fact, according to Discovery's Calorie Counter a 130-lb woman burns an average of 177 calories per hour on the board. Considering that surfing is often an all-day affair, that's a serious green exercise. But more than the health of their bodies, surfers are very much aware of the health of the Earth, an awareness that has recently created a call to action!
If anyone is aware of the health of the oceans it's surfers. They're the ones who not only see, but sometimes actually swim in the waste that we discard like plastic bottles, disposable plastic bags, and cigarette butts. And while the ocean's health is definitely a priority for any wave rider, many surf gear manufacturers haven't had the same eco-sensibilities. Well, that's all changing. Surfers impassioned by both the sport and the ocean are taking responsibility and making changes to turn surf into an even greener sport.
For centuries surfboards were made out of wood. Not exactly sustainable, but not the worst either. Then in the 1950's the advance of fiberglass and polystyrene foam (also known as styrofoam) blew the board industry out of the water, as wood was quickly being replaced by the lighter, cheaper, environmentally toxic materials for the sake of time and money. Sure, some surfers dedicated to the art felt the innovation tainted the integrity of the sport, but most fell victim to the changing guard, grabbed onto their new lighter gear and rode on. Problem is, the production of styrofoam creates massive amounts of toxic chemical (and possibly cancer-causing) waste, which has since been found to then leach those chemicals back out into the ocean and air. Thankfully a new era has dawned and greener surf gear is being made more available—which is both a good thing for the Earth and the art of surf.
How to Green Your Surf Gear
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| Ian McDonnell/istockphoto |
Green Your Surfboard
Sustainable Wood Surfboards:
- Hess Surfboards create custom boards made from both reclaimed and sustainable wood and cork.
- Ocean Green EcoFoil Surfboards harvest balsa wood from sustainable forests in Nicaragua to create their hollow blanks—to keep them light and performance-driven, that are then sealed with 100% organic hemp or cotton skin.
- Grain Surfboards are made in the United States from locally-harvested, sustainable-yield wood products like cedar.
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| Paul Sanders/istockphoto |
Eco-Friendly Alternative Surfboard Materials:
- Country Feeling Surfboards constructs boards from soy and sugar-based foams, deck inlays made from hemp, organic cotton, bamboo and silk, and a sealing resin that is catalyzed by the sun.
- Bamboo Surfboards by Gary Young produce boards made with sustainable and ethically produced and sourced bamboo that are both light and durable (with the tendency to dent instead of shatter).
Green Wetsuits
- Body Glove Eco Wetsuit is made of 100% non-petroleum, non-toxic, bio-stretch rubber, organic water based inks, and recycled ykk zipper.
- Patagonia Wetsuits use neoprene made from limestone instead of petroleum-based ingredients. For added warmth, these wetsuits are lined with chlorine-free merino wool blended with recycled polyester.
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| Alan John Lander Phillips/istockphoto |
Greener Surf Accessories
- WaveTribe Recycled Eco Leash keeps your board close with a recycled plastic construction.
- Matuse Shabo Glove 2MM is made with a Hydrasilk lining and Geoprene—a fabric derived from 99.7% pure limestone that is not only earth-friendly, but warmer, lighter and lasts longer than oil-based neoprene.
Greener Sex Wax
- Famous Wax keeps its high-performance functionality without the use of petro-chemicals. Rub it on with the Eco Timmy Curran Traction Pad made from 40% recycled EVA foam.
- Matunas Wax not only won an award for "Green Product of the Year" in 2007, but it is an organic, non-toxic, biodegradable, petroleum-free, eco-friendly surf wax, made using local ingredients in California straight from the farm, without chemicals or additives, then packaged with labels printed from 100% FSC certified recycled paper with soy ink. And here's the kicker, they are scented with organic strawberries, raspberries, and jasmine.
Take Action for Greener Surfing and Healthier Oceans
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| Angela Weiss/Getty Images |
Follow Matthew McConaughey's footsteps and support eco organizations like Surfrider Foundation. Like to get something more for your money? Koffeehouse Music Productions LLC, a grassroots live music production company puts on live music events that support many green non-profit organizations like Surfrider Foundation and Tree People, so you get to enjoy a great acoustic music show and know that the money you paid for admittance is going to a green cause.
More on Green Surfing: Be Cool and Eco-Friendly Like Green Celebrities
Be a Greener Surfer
Sustainable Surfboard Made by Eden Project
Alter Eco Episode: H2Eco
Top Green Celebrity Tips
What's Your Green Celebrity IQ?
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