Press release:
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (Nov. 17, 2014) — SURFER Magazine is proud to announce Sustainable Surf as the 2014 SURFER Poll “Agent of Change” award recipient and beneficiary of VIP table sales. The award will be presented on Dec. 6, 2014, at the 44th annual event honoring the top athletes, films, and performances in surfing. Fans can tune in to the show in its entirety via the webcast at SurferPoll.com, which will air live on Dec. 6 from the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore during the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
The Agent of Change Award recognizes an organization or individual making a positive difference in the surf community. Sustainable Surf joins a list of recipients that includes: Dustin Barca with Hawai’i SEED (2013); Paddle2Live (2012); Operation Amped (2011); the Mauli Ola Foundation (2010); Dr. Dave Jenkins with SurfAid International (2009); and Dave Rastovich with Surfers for Cetaceans (2008).
Sustainable Surf is a non-profit that works to encourage and incorporate ecologically sustainable practices throughout the surf industry. Their initiatives include setting benchmark standards for environmentally friendly surfboards; to managing Styrofoam waste collection for incorporation into recycled surfboard blanks; and working to reduce the environmental and social impact of surf contests, especially in Hawaii. Sustainable Surf works closely with the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and the Volcom Pipe Pro to keep those events carbon neutral, and to help support local recycling businesses.
“We chose Sustainable Surf to be the Agent of Change recipient this year because the group truly embodies the spirit of the award,” says SURFER editor, Brendon Thomas. “As surfers we all have a responsibility to maintain the health of the oceans, and Sustainable Surf works hard to make it easier for the surf world to limit our environmental impact. We were pleased to feature Sustainable Surf this year in our annual ‘Big Issue’ that examined the threats facing our oceans, and we’re proud to give them this award.”
“We are incredibly honored to receive this year’s Agent of Change Award,” says Michael Stewart, Co-founder of Sustainable Surf. “It’s a signal that we are on the right path, and it re-stokes our fire to continue working hard to seamlessly integrate the core concepts of sustainability back into surf culture at every level for individuals, athletes, products, brands, and surf contests—and that we keep it fun and engaging while we do it. We plan to use the platform and funds the award provides to develop our new program called ‘Deep Blue Life’, which is built on the core structure of the sustainability strategy that we developed for professional surfing contests specifically for individuals to live an ocean-friendly life.”
The 44th annual SURFER Poll Awards will take place Dec. 6, 2014, at the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, prior to the final event of the Triple Crown of Surfing. Attendance is by invitation only, but the event will stream live to the world at SurferPoll.com beginning at 7 pm HST (9 pm PST, 12 am EST).
Special thanks to Surfer Magazine partners Martin Guitar, GoPro, Bird Dog Whiskey, Peligroso, Turtle Bay Resort and New Era for helping to bring the biggest night in surfing to life.
About SURFER
In 1960, SURFER Magazine began as the original. After a long history of delivering provocative and insightful editorial features, revealing interviews and award winning state-of-the-art photography, SURFER remains the authoritative voice of the surfing world and thus earned the moniker “the bible of the sport.” The SURFER brand has also grown to include Surfermag.com, Fantasy Surfer, and the SURFER message boards. All of these assets combine to make the SURFER network the most current and reliable channel of information to the surf community. The magazine is published by TEN: The Enthusiast Network, which reaches more than 22-million active sports enthusiasts through an integrated network of magazines, online properties, events and television programming. To learn more, visit surfermag.com
About TEN: The Enthusiast Network
TEN: The Enthusiast Network is the world’s premier network of enthusiast brands, such as Motor Trend, Automobile, Hot Rod, Surfer, Transworld and GrindTV. With more than 60 publications, 100 websites, the world’s largest automotive VOD channel, 800 branded products, 50-plus events, and a wide array of TV and radio programs, TEN inspires enthusiasts to pursue their passions. For more information, visit www.enthusiastnetwork.com.
