The real cost of surfing...

Not so long ago, surfing was a counter culture – a place for lost souls to become immersed within a family of adrenaline junkies, obsessed with risk and danger – now it is a multi-billion dollar industry spanning the world, broadcasting online and selling their wares to millions. With so many people loving waves and immersing themselves within the surfing lifestyle - what is the environmental cost of this global generation of wave riders....

I am surfer - well, I own some surfboards at least - one of millions around the globe that can’t get enough of the buzz given by mother nature herself. Having leant to surf in South Africa’s iconic Jeffrey’s bay, I now spend the majority of my time in the frigid north sea, riding 3 foot brown mush - have I had enough yet? Never.

Everyone who's tried surfing may not get instantly addicted, but all it takes it one wave - looking down the line at the clean wall of water all for you - that wave, like all waves, is unique - no 2 are ever the same. At that moment, it feels like a gift from the earth, meant just for you - a moment of pure exhilaration and I can’t think of anything that comes close - anyhow, enough of me getting all Bodie (If you don’t know who Bodie is, google it and watch the film, you wont regret it) - suffice to say I love it and also suffice to say there are a great deal of people who feel the exact same way.

And that sadly, ironically I suppose, is the problem. Surfing has become its own worst enemy – with the millions of followers, comes millions of potential dollars to be made - and all this is having a big impact on the marine environment. Everyone knows that of course, but perhaps they don’t know just how much is been manufactured, land filled and manufactured again, as a direct result of the surf industry - I have created the graphic below (click image to enlarge...) to try and show just how big that impact is becoming - you can also download a pdf of this poster, by clicking here(its 3MB in size, but is print ready…)