Linc Lippincott/iStock
READ MORE ABOUT:
In another month the weather will be warm enough to head out, so this year take steps toward being a greener surfer. Surfers tend to have a love for nature and especially the oceans. Where would they be without it? A keen respect for the planet is just part of a surfing lifestyle so why not show that respect with these steps toward surfing greener?
- Don't travel all over the world chasing waves. Instead, enjoy what your area has to offer. Although the east coast waves aren't the best, I refuse to travel to Costa Rica every time that I want to go surfing. If you love the waves so much that you find yourself traveling all over the world to chase them, maybe it's time to relocate.
- When you do travel, offset your flight emissions. Read finding carbon offset companies that you can trust. Make sure to choose a greener hotel. Awesome surf destinations like Costa Rica often have tons of green hotels and in the case of Costa Rica, one of its national airlines, Nature Air is an eco-friendly airline.
- If you buy a new surf board, recycle your old one. Instead of chucking the board in the nearest dumpster, let Oceanside, CA-based ReSurf Recycling make it into something new. ReSurf is dedicated to keeping broken polyurethane foam surfboards out of landfills by using the foam as filler in asphalt and concrete for roads and light-weight fireproof roof tiles. They're also using old neoprene wetsuits to make yoga mats.
- Use a greener board. Biofoam surf blanks by HomeBlown have close to 50 percent of their foam sourced from plant-based agriculture products. The company claims that Biofoam production results in 36 percent less global warming emissions and a 61 percent reduction in non-renewable energy use.
- Give back. Organizations like The Surfrider Foundation, are dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves, and beaches. Why not work to protect something that you hold so dear?
More on Surfing:
Bamboo And Soy Improve Surfing
MythBusters: Surfing With Dynamite
ReRip and The Future of Surfing
