Surfrider Foundation's Epic Ride!

A Decade of Victories

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

400 victories in 10 years.

The non-profit SurfriderFoundation is saving the world's coasts and protecting our oceans, waves and beaches one victory at a time.

This past decade has been notable for what it's accomplished. Through grassroots activism Surfrider is getting government rulings and legislation in place to safeguard our marine environment for generations to come.

Protecting sea life. Reducing ocean pollution. Cleaning beaches. Restoring natural ecosystems.Testing water purity. Providing beach access to all.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel have seen firsthand the difference that Surfrider makes in our coastal communities. 

Like saving San Diego's popular Trestles surfing spot from having a six-lane toll road run through it.

"The cries of 'Save Trestles' over more than a decade motivated and mobilized thousands to fight and preserve one of California’s most iconic beaches," says Stefanie Sekich-Quinn, Surfrider's coastal protection manager. "Public participation matters!"

Started in 1984 by a bunch of surfers in Malibu who wanted to protect their local surf break, the Surfrider Foundation has grown into one of the world's leading environmental organizations with chapters in the U.S. and Canada, Europe, South America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Now Surfrider Australia is getting the public involved in cleaning and protecting the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.

And Surfrider Europe is working to ban single-use plastic bags throughout the EU and stop offshore drilling.

“If we organize and work together, we can advance coastal protection, even in the face of major challenges,” states Surfrider's CEO Chad Nelsen, adding it's important to "rally even more people to our cause."

In January there were major environmental victories on America's West and East coasts. 6 new California Coastal National Monument sites were declared and the federal government cancelled seismic blasting on the Atlantic coast. 

With a New Year's start like that, just think what Surfrider can do in the next 10 years!

 

SurfWriter Girls

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

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