HAS SURFING FINALLY GOT ITS ACT(IVISM) TOGETHER?
A new movement of surfing environmentalism gives hope that surfers can be a part of the solution rather than the problem of climate change
By Tim Baker
Surfers gather in Torquay to protest proposed oil exploration in the Great Australian Bight - a fight they ultimately won
Surfers are inherently environmentalists with a deep connection to the natural world and a vested interested in protecting the marine environment. We have skin in the game, right?
Except that we also have a larger carbon footprint than the average human - we travel more than most and our boards and wetsuits largely rely on petrochemicals - and if you go looking for examples of surfer-led green activism over the past few decades they’re pretty thin on the ground.
Many of us romanticise the country soul era of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, surfing’s Morning of the Earth, when we collectively turned on, tuned in and dropped out, turning our backs on the capitalist rat race to retire to a tree house in Angourie.
Except most of us didn’t really and country soul was soon replaced by the pro surfing dream and by the ‘80s we were doing our best to achieve mainstream respectability and acceptance and our slice of the capitalist dream.
But things may be changing. There are signs of a new wave of surfing activism, “the New Localism,” as some have coined it, that involves less punching on to defend our breaks from intruders and more strategic campaigning to protect our oceans. A kind of custodianship that owes much to Indigenous ideas of looking after country.
It was the Fight for the Bight campaign that really ignited this new wave. Damien Cole, son of legendary shaper Maurice Cole, ran as an independent in the Victorian state election on a green platform. Damien also headed up the Fight For the Bight campaign, protesting proposed oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight, along with surfing communities around the country.
Heath Joske, the man best remembered for his high-line soul arch during a wildcard appearance at the Jeffreys Bay contest a few years back, was also front and centre in the campaign, sticking it to the suits with passion and canny campaigning. Surf writer Sean Doherty has become an oracle of environmental activism, calling out the Australian government’s appalling record on climate action and other environmental issues and the dodgy backrooms deals that infect our politics. Sean has recently taken up a role as Chairman of Surfrider Foundation, surfing’s peak environmental body, and you can stay abreast of coastal issues via his lively and well-informed Instagram account.
Recently, 1978 world champ Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew stood as Labor candidate for the seat of Burleigh in the Queensland election and came within a whisker of pinching it from long-standing conservative incumbent Michael Hart. If he’d been successful Rabbit would have been known as Wayne Bartholomew, MP for Burleigh, which had a nice ring to it, and an historical nod to his old mate and rival Michael Peterson.
Maurice Cole himself, taking inspiration from his son, ran in the Surf Coast shire council elections, to protect Bells Beach from insensitive development and one can only wonder at what glorious mayhem he would have unleashed in council meetings if successful.
A group called Sustainable Surf has long been advocating for greater environmental awareness among surfers, promoting the Eco-board concept and providing an accreditation for manufacturers who embrace recycled and environmentally friendly materials. They’ve also launched a program called Sea Trees, which invites surfers to donate to support the planting of mangrove trees, which are five times more efficient at sequestering carbon than terrestrial trees.
And recently, a new grass roots, surfer-led environmental group has launched to campaign for meaningful and urgent action on climate change. Surfers for Climate was launched by pro longboarder Belinda Baggs and ex-pro and sometime filmmaker Johnny Abegg and has already attracted widespread support and some heavy hitters joining the cause.
Surfers for Climate launched with a music video created by legendary surf filmmaker Jack McCoy for a song donated to the cause by the one and only Sir Paul McCartney.
“I’m thrilled to support Surfers For Climate and honoured that they are using a stunning short film set to one of my songs as part of their launch. Their work is something that really appeals to me as we all have a responsibility to do our bit, and this is a great way to bring people together with a shared passion for the seas and oceans from all around the world for positive climate action,” says Paul.
“I love the video that my friend and award winning surf filmmaker Jack McCoy has created for this. The striking footage of pro longboarder Belinda Baggs, and her dance on water is a powerful reminder of how incredible our oceans are and that they need our help to protect them and preserve their wonder for generations to come.”
Film director and actor Simon Baker is another who has lent his name and influence to the cause. “The freedoms we had as kids, the thrills, spills and lessons learnt amongst the beauty and power of nature, it held us close. To think we could repay it by inaction breaks my heart,” says Simon.
Of course, there will be the usual accusations of hypocrisy from the naysayers, pointing out surfers self-interested reliance on fossil fuels for our road trips, air travel, boards and wetsuits. The most sensible defence to this argument is that existing in the world as it is does not preclude you from trying to make the world a better place. But clearly the surfing community need to do better to reduce their own carbon emissions and that is a central focus of the Surfers for Climate movement.
Among the measures Surfers for Climate are asking the surfing community to support are:
Respect the True Locals - Amplify Indigenous voices and listen and learn from Indigenous culture’s concepts of environmental stewardship.
Car park convo’s - Talk to your mates in the carp park before and after or surf, or in the lineup, and raise awareness of the need for climate action.
Don’t drive away from good waves - We’ve all checked our local, driven around all morning, and ended up back where we started. Reduce emissions by surfing at your closest break whenever it’s decent and car pooling when you go further afield.
Reduce your impacts by caring for your surfing equipment so that it lasts - fix dings, rinse wetsuits, opt for quality and longevity over cheap and disposable.
Choose green power. There are numerous ways to source your electricity from providers who support renewable energies and/or offset their carbon emissions.
Divest from banks and superannuation funds that support fossil fuels.
Reduce food miles by sourcing food locally, supporting local producers rather than big supermarkets.
Vote for climate action. Find out your local candidates’ position on climate action and other environmental issues and vote accordingly.
We are but a drop in the ocean and surfers might not be able to save the world on their own. But surfing and surf culture has been hugely influential across wider western culture, from the original Gidget book and movie, to Endless Summer, to the explosive growth of the big surf companies and the profile of modern surf stars like Slater, Fanning, Florence and Gilmore.
By harnessing the power of the global surfing community we can be that proverbial pebble dropped in a pond, sending ripples of influence throughout society.
If you’d like to know more or jump on board check out the Surfers For Climate website and discover more ways you can take action.