For 364 days of the year, the Surfrider Foundation and our incredible network of volunteers works to protect our coasts. On International Surfing Day, we take a moment to celebrate the impact we’ve made, the campaigns we’ve won and the beaches we’ve protected.
This past Saturday, on the 13th Annual ISD the Surfrider Headquarters partnered up with Urban Surf 4 Kids, Erik Nelsen Surf Camp, and Hurley Surf Clubs in Newport Beach, CA to share the love and excitement that surfing brings by inviting a group of foster children out to the beach.
The morning began with the grin bearing kids receiving a brief lesson on the sand showing them how to paddle and stand up. The action moved to the ocean with professional surfer Brett Simpson and other instructors helping the kids navigate the water and learn how to surf. “It’s been my job for nearly 15 years; I’m always out there and catching fun waves,” the Huntington Beach surfer said. But on this day, Simpson said he was having more fun helping others.
After the surfing lessons, we fueled the group with a delicious lunch graciously provided by Chipotle Mexican Grill. Surfrider CEO Chad Nelsen, sat down with the young participants to educate them on the dangers of plastic pollution and why it's so important to protect our ocean, waves and beaches with simple actions in your every day life, like skipping straws or plastic bags and bringing resuable bottles along. Chad then led the entire group in a beach cleanup and paved the way for the youngsters to be a part of the next generation of coastal defenders.
A big thank you goes out to Urban Surf 4 Kids, Erik Nelsen Surf Camp, Hurley Surf Clubs and Chipotle Mexican Grill for their amazing support of International Surfring Day.
The event was just one of hundreds around the world for International Surfing Day, founded in 2005, a holiday celebrated by surfers as far as Australia and Japan. The idea was simple when it was created: Take a day to get out to the ocean and enjoy the surf. But over the years, it has evolved into much more. Surfrider Foundation held over 80 events throughout the country, and hundreds more were happening around the world.
Eastern Long Island Chapter - Photo: Carolyn Munaco
We look forward to bringing millions more to the beach next year!