Surfing Clean
As I’ve mentioned before, living clean and green is more than just scrubbing and mopping with nontoxic solutions. It’s about making choices to buy products that don’t dirty the environment or maintaining what you already own so you reduce what you do buy. That means rethinking everything from light bulbs to flooring and food to sporting equipment.
Some sports, like surfing, have a soul-cleansing feel to them as we spend time out in nature and synchronize with the elements. But it’s important to consider what impact these sports can have on the environment and make choices to leave as little trace as possible. Luckily more and more businesses are hitting the scene who recognize that their sport depends on the health of the environment and are taking the responsibility seriously.
Typical surfboard construction starts with not-so-eco-friendly petroleum-based polyurethane or polystyrene foam. The foam making process is toxic enough that it forced the closure of one of the biggest foam producers in the industry in 2005. The foam is then wrapped in non-biodegradable fiberglass cloth. The whole thing is then sealed together with petroleum-based resin.
But now it’s possible to buy surfboards that start with plant-based foam or sustainably harvested balsa cores — both of which are better for the environment. Some boards use hemp, silk, or bamboo instead of fiberglass.
Once you choose your board, it’s time to think about wax. Wet Women Surf Wax is Cradle-to-Cradle certified meaning everything from its production to use and disposal is nontoxic and it’s biodegrabable. They even used recycled and easily reusable steel tins for packaging.
And if you’re surfing in my hometown or any break where the water is cooler than 80 degrees (here it’s more like 50 or 60 degrees — brrr!), you’ll need to consider a wetsuit. Patagonia’s newest eco-contribution is a line of high-performance (and high priced) wetsuits made from recycled polyester with a wool lining that is free of chlorine, and kneepads made without PVC.
The greener choices are out there if you’re willing to do the research and spend a little more than you would at your local big box sporting goods store. If you’re replacing old gear, look into donating or reselling it to someone who would still enjoy it.
No doubt, the more you clean up your surfing, the more the surfing gods will smile upon you with clean, glassy faces and uncrowded breaks!
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