Bright Siding It

Sometimes life gets in the way of surf. Unfortunately, this week I was only able to catch the tail end of Alberto. But this whole month has been pretty rad if you ask me. Here are a couple of the more lovely shots from last weekend. There was even time for a beach cleanup in between sessions. That's my kind of special.

Cleaning Up in Coastal NH

What a sweet way to enjoy a day at the beach and to give thanks throughout the year. Get in touch with your local Surfrider Chapter to see how you can get involved with beach cleanups or create even more impact with other volunteer opportunities.

Raptoberfest Beach Cleanup in NH

Last Saturday was rainy and windy up in NH but I was still stoked to take part in Surfrider's Rise Above Plastics: Raptoberfest. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness regarding the dangers of plastic pollution and to focus on solutions. Volunteers scoured the beach for plastic debris. We then organized them into mosaics. It was easy (unfortunately) to find more than enough plastic for our artwork.

Trashbot by Jamie

Here are 10 Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Footprint borrowed from Surfrider's Rise Above Plastics campaign:

1. Stop using single-use plastic water bottles.  In nearly all cases, the water out of your tap is just as safe – if not safer – than the water distributed in single-use plastic bottles.   Instead, buy and use a reusable bottle and fill it with water.
2. Whenever possible, buy food in bulk.  Buying food in bulk helps to reduce the total amount of packaging materials consumed.
3. Buy your music electronically.  By purchasing your music electronically, you avoid the need to create plastic compact discs, plastic jewel cases, and cellophane wrapping.
4. Stop using plastic grocery bags.  Each year over one trillion plastic bags are used worldwide.  Because these bags are so light and thin, they are easily carried by the wind out into the environment.  Instead, use reusable bags to get your groceries and other purchases home.
5. Say “NO” to pre-packaged single serving portions.  These types of products are among the worst when it comes to excess packaging.
6. Reusable containers are rad! When it comes to lunch and leftovers, ditch the plastic bag and use reusable containers instead.  Reusable containers are just as easy to use and far less harmful to the planet
7. Buy a reusable travel mug.  Use a reusable travel mug or to-go cup for your coffee, tea and other beverage purchases.  Think of all the lids (as well as the waxed paper cups) you’ll save.
8. Always look for alternative packaging. Many items such as soft drinks, detergent, cat litter, etc. come in alternate packaging (such as aluminum or cardboard) that can be more easily recycled than plastic.
9. Buy and sell secondhand.  Clothing, toys, baby gear, furniture, household supplies, sporting goods and many other consumer items can often be found through secondhand sources, thereby reducing the amount of new plastic entering the waste stream.
10.  Recycle! In those instances where you must use plastic, please make sure to recycle it.  Most plastics can be upcycled to make cool and useful items, including Rusty ECO-stretch boardshorts!

These plastic "sewer discs" are just a few of the estimated 4-8 million that escaped a water treatment facility in Hooksett, NH back in March 2011 along with thousands of pounds of raw sewage. Though a massive cleanup effort has been in the works all spring/summer, they continue to wash up - sometimes in large numbers. It will be interesting to see how far these have traveled when we look at other chapter's photographs.

Learn more about Raptoberfest and Rise Above Plastics here » www.raptoberfest.org, and here » www.riseaboveplastics.org

Want to help be part of the solution even more? Volunteer at a Surfrider Event near you! » www.surfrider.org/take-action/volunteer

Surf + Live + Evolve

Big, bold swell from Katia; spontaneous beach cleaning; a sustainability-centered surf festival; and gorgeous little longboard waves to rest, revive, ride and reflect upon.

Katia forerunners.

Irresistable post-surf debris removal. I was joined by local legend and smooth glider, Captain Carl. We filled a huge bag with plastic bottles and cans within a 15 minute timeframe. Did it again the next day.

Surf's up.

Way up.

A couple hundred miles north for Grain Surfboards Re-Evolution board demo. So many sustainable builders and boards, live music, two fantastic films and more. Grain knows how to throw an event! It was inspiring.

Comparing & contrasting.

Bonfire. Grain-style.

Sunday morning services. No place I would rather be.

Cleaning Up x 2

First with timing, luck and inexplicably fruitful surf adventures all week. Then, with some down and dirty beach sweeping.

On Saturday, August 13, 2011 Surfrider NH and over 40 volunteers picked up more than 280 lbs of debris from North Beach in the final of the Summer Beach Cleanup Series. There was even a surfboard raffle, generously donated by Cinnamon Rainbows. Thanks to Surfrider NH, Barefoot Wine, Ocean Minded, Cinnamon Rainbows and North Beach Bar & Grill for yet another great event!

Brazilian Style Beach Cleanup

fantástico!

Deliberate Acts of Goodness

Surf contests are great for showing off your radical skills and getting noticed but I am more impressed by waveriders like Ted from Wakefield, RI who make it a habit of taking care of their favorite surf spots. I met Ted early Saturday morning during a surf check. He was already two bagfuls into his cleanup. We briefly chatted about the spot and how it is on privately-owned land but open to the public and how lucky we are to be able to drive there, park and surf. I didn't see him for the rest of the day but I hope he scored some love from the surf gods. Thank-you, Ted!

Creative Sessioning

Surfing has everything to do with luck and timing - especially when you have an hour-plus drive. Some days my timing is spot on and other days frustratingly off. But last week, everything fell into place.

First, there was the campout sessions that I had at PJ on Tuesday/Weds. I scored a last minute site at Fisherman's Memorial Campground during high-season. There were some clean waist-shoulder high sets coming through and I got a few fun ones before hunkering down for a perfect campfire. Though I wished for a compadre, there is something to be said for quality time spent with one's self.

The next morning's sessions consisted mainly of townbeach closeouts but I had fun surfing with my long lost surf pal and board shaper, Ricky Hart, who is also working as a beloved surf instructor this summer at Warm Winds. After that, I scored small, shallow, rocky point break at the Lighthouse.

Before hitting the road I did a long cleanup from the top of the lot all the way down to the fence - easily filling two bags with trash, including hundreds of cigarette butts. It hurts my heart every time I see all the new trash that is deposited but I am hopeful that the cleanups help bring awareness from the onlookers. I also meet a lot of people who share the same love and concern for these special places.

Thursday evening's plan was to head north and surf into the sunset/moonrise; crash at one of my bestie surfer bud's in Portsmouth; then wake up early for a lil dawn patrol on the incoming tide.

It was only a little a dream... that kinda came true.

Friday morning delivered more than expected - sparkly, clean and easily chest plus on the sets. Early morn was the best before the wind came on it and the tide and crowd filled in.

Now we wait to see if TS Bret might deliver something. In the meantime, the Massachusetts Bottle Bill hearing is ON for tomorrow morning. Let's hope that all of the hard work that people have been doing pays off with some well-deserved updating. More redeemable bottles will equal less plastic in our oceans.

I know that more waves will come - so today I'm praying for change.

15 Minutes of Clean

In the last few years I have been devoting time each week to cleaning my favorite surf spots before I leave. Whether it takes form in a stroll down the beach looking for debris or spending the time in the parking lots filling a bag with cigarette butts - it is a combined expression of gratitude, love and ownership and it makes me (and all who do this) a better surfer.

It is amazing what you will find in just 15 minutes.

Tools of the trade. These are in the car at all times: gloves, bag & grabber tool (a recent addition + prized posession!)

International Surfing Day @ Salisbury Beach

International Surfing Day is an annual, worldwide event to celebrate the sport of surfing while raising awareness about the state of our oceans, waves and beaches. This year there were over 200 individual ISD celebration events that took place globally.

Our celebration at Salisbury Beach, MA was super swell! There were fun waves for much of the day and the weather sunshined through for the early evening beach cleanup. We finished it all off with pizza, ice cream and a beautiful rainbow over the ocean.

Surfrider Massachusetts would like to extend an extra special thanks to everyone who made it to this event and to Surfing Bagel for, once again, providing us with a sweet spot to set up shop!

For special ISD membership offers please visit: http://www.surfrider.org/pages/international-surfing-day

More photos and info here »

Cleaner Conditions

Surfrider Massachusetts Chapter and Barefoot Wine teamed up this past weekend for a beach cleanup extravaganza in Cape Cod. Thanks to all of the volunteers who made it out!











Special thanks to Barefoot Wine (for the fruit of the vine), Nauset Disposal (for the dumpster + trash removal!) Randy and the Oak Trees (for the sweet music), and Land Ho for hosting our after-party celebration (and providing tasty snacks)! Good work + good times.

The next beach cleanup will be on Saturday, June 18 in Salisbury, MA (with Surfrider NH) from 5:00pm – 8:00pm. Check out the events page for details.

Hip Hop and Ya Don't Stop

The Surfrider/Blue Ocean Society Earth Day Beach cleanup in Salisbury, MA was well attended on Saturday despite extreme weather conditions! Relentless sideshore wind and driving rain did not stop folks from coming out for some hard work followed by a fun little afterparty at Blue Ocean Music Hall Salisbury.

Saturday: Just north of our meeting place there were thousands of plastic discs waiting to be discovered and picked up. (Discs are from the Hooksett wastewater overflow that happened in March).

Karen and Henry, a couple of the many *good surfers* who showed up!

Sweet tunes by The Dead Air Project

Sunday: fun waves all day!