The Inertia team is humbled and honored by the powerful conversations that took place among thought-leaders from all sectors of surf and outdoor culture at its first-ever, sold-out EVOLVE Summit at Playa Studios in Culver City, California. Two-time big wave world champion Paige Alms, who spoke with Gabby Reece and Dr. Eric Goodman on the Pushing Boundaries of Health and Wellness panel, called EVOLVE “the greatest surf industry event ever.”
EVOLVE broached topics that extend far beyond the scope of surfing, with panels addressing diversity, non-profits, environmental concerns, and women’s challenges in outdoor and surf culture. Big mountain snowboarders Jeremy Jones and Forrest Shearer joined big wave surfer Greg Long to talk about the health of the environment. Long talked about the health of his ocean playgrounds as a representative of Parley for the Oceans while Jeremy Jones spoke about his Protect Our Winters organization—actually activating the crowd to vote in the mid-term elections at one point—while Shearer, who pushes environmental initiatives as a Patagonia athlete, hosted the panel.
“A night of spine tingles, stoke, laughter, tears and inspiration,” wrote Jones about the event. “Tom’s boycott of a tour event in South Africa due to apartheid was one of the more emotional talks I have witnessed in action sports. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard brought down the house with one of the best environmental speeches I have listened to! So much passion, energy bringing big ideas and solutions to big problems. It’s exactly what we need more of on Capitol Hill. Mission accomplished The Inertia on the #evolvesurfoutdoors conference.”
“Yesterday left me filled with hope,” said two-time Olympic snowboarder Elena Hight. “The Inertia gathered the action sports industry together in order to face issues in our world as a community; head on and unapologetically. The words that were spoken were thought provoking, heartfelt and truthful…There are many issues in our world today, but together we are a force. Together we can create change. Thank you The Inertia and Zach Weisberg for creating this space and to all who spoke and sparked the fire!!”
“It was honestly the best surf industry event I’ve ever attended,” said award-winning filmmaker and professor Sachi Cunningham. “The attention to diversity was very apparent and appreciated. Phenomenal event that truly moved the dial, elevated our industry and everyone in the room. The Inertia curated the most thoughtful gathering of outdoor people that I have ever had the great pleasure or honor to witness and be a part of.”
With the live webcast feeding the show to audiences all over the world, ski mountaineer Caroline Gleich joined Changing Tides Foundation Co-Founder Leah Dawson and host Sachi Cunningham for one of the most impactful conversations of the night as Gleich vividly detailed her experience being harassed over the internet and how she handled a traumatic and difficult situation. At the same time, Dawson—who was also on hand for the premiere of her new surf film shot with The Inertia, Alternativa, expanded on a need for more female leaders in the surf and outdoor worlds. Both women downplayed a female-only movement, calling for help from men to achieve equality. “We need solid male allies and role models,” Gleich said.
In the final panel of the evening, Sal Masekela and surfing icon, two-time world champion Tom Carroll took the stage to discuss another film produced by The Inertia, Boycott the Gunston 500. In 1985, with a chance to win his third world title, Carroll boycotted the South African event because of his moral objection to apartheid, the institutionalized system of racism that plagued the country for most of the 20th century. “It was deeply disturbing; some of those kinds of behavior from one human being to the next, just solely through the color of their skin,” Carroll told Masekela. “What is going on in this place for people to behave so cruelly towards each other?” Masekela—an iconic action sports and mainstream television host and producer–has deep roots in South Africa as his late father, iconic jazz musician Hugh Masekela, lived in exile, protesting for years against South Africa’s institutionalized racism. The two embraced, choking back tears, and left the stage to a standing ovation from the visibly moved, sold-out house.
Watch Tom Carroll and Sal Masekela’s full panel conversation here.
Keynote speaker Tulsi Gabbard, a surfer and the first Hindu ever in U.S. Congress, united the crowd in the closing speech of the night, praising Carroll for his courage while calling for “aloha,” in everything we do, from protecting the environment, to changing women’s roles in society. “What you’re really saying when you say ‘aloha’ is, ‘I am coming to you with an open heart,’” she said. “I am coming to you with respect, with love, and with care, and a recognition of our interconnectedness. A recognition of our responsibility to each other because of that interconnectedness. Regardless of where we come from or what our beliefs may be about things. We are all interconnected”
Watch the full speech by keynote speaker Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard here.
“I’m completely blown away by the magic that so many talented leaders created by opening their hearts at our first-ever EVOLVE Summit,” said The Inertia Founder, Zach Weisberg. “I feel humbled. I’m also so excited to know that this is just the beginning. A first try. We learned so much, and I’m fired up to see this through to its full potential – to challenge ourselves to see what kind of impact the surf and outdoor communities can truly have on the world.”
Check out galleries from the event on The Inertia Facebook page and stay tuned for the release of videos from each panel from EVOLVE all week at theinertia.com.
EVOLVE also featured live performances by artists Company of Thieves and Jack Symes. A portion of the proceeds from EVOLVE benefit the Surfrider Foundation and Protect Our Winters, two amazing organizations fighting for the health and prosperity of sacred places on our planet. We are also proud to have worked with STOKE Certified to create the most sustainable events possible.
