LOOKING FORWARD
Follow along as Sanuk ambassador Hunter Jones drops by to spend a day with some of his favorite stops on WSL’s (De)Tour: Surf Town series and shines a light on what makes these amazing humans and organizations special to the surf community.
Surf culture can only be as strong as the community that builds it. Within each episode of (De)Tour: Surf Towns, lives a segment called “Looking Forward”, where people and organizations that are striving to build a better world through surfing are recognized for their contributions.
SAN FRANCISCO // City Surf Project
One of Hunter’s favorite organizations to work with is the City Surf Project, run by Johnny Irwin. CSP ensures Bay Area youth have equitable access to the ocean through surfing. Hunter met up with the CSP crew in Pacifica, where they were hosting free surf lessons for the local kids. Johnny explained, “CSP is a youth surfing program that focuses on youth development using surfing as a vehicle to teach life skills, build a connection to nature and teach healthy habits to youth… (And) also brings surfing to people who normally wouldn’t get the chance. Pushing someone into a wave is super fulfilling. It’s almost better than getting your own wave because now you’ve affected somebody else and you get stoked on doing that.” Hunter adds, “It’s rad to see the influence Johnny and his team are having on shifting the SF surf scene”
Learn more about City Surf Project >> CITY SURF PROJECT – MAKING WAVES, ONE LIFE AT A TIME
Donate to their cause >> DONATE TO MAKING WAVES (CITYSURFPROJECT.COM)
SANTA CRUZ // Ashley Lloyd & SeaTrees
After his first ever surf at Steamer Lane, Hunter met up with Santa Cruz based shaper, Ashley Lloyd, who’s pushing the boundaries of eco-friendly board building. In addition to making “eco-boards”, Ashley has partnered with the nonprofit organization SEATREES. For every eco-board she makes, a “sea tree” is planted, helping to restore mangrove and kelp forests across the globe. As surfers, the protection of our ocean starts with us. Now more than ever, we need to look at the way in which our equipment is made and how our consumption habits can support future generations of surfers.
Learn more and support Ashley’s cause >>HTTPS://WWW.ASHLEYLLOYDSURFBOARDS.COM/
Donate and Plant a “Sea Tree” today! >> PLANT MANGROVE SEATREES (SEA-TREES.ORG)
SAN CLEMENTE // Native Like Water
In San Clemente, we met with Marc Chaves and the crew from Native Like Water, a program for indigenous youth, helping reestablish a connection with the ocean, outdoor education, and cultural self-exploration. Marc explained, “What we are doing is reintroducing our indigenous folks back to the ocean and ocean culture.” Hunter added, “After our surf with the Native Like Water team, we cooked an incredible dinner right at the water’s edge, watched the sunset, shared some stories, and enjoyed each other’s company.”
Learn more about Native Like Water >> NATIVE LIKE WATER NATIVE LIKE WATER INTERTRIBAL YOUTH
Donate to their cause >> DONATE — NATIVE LIKE WATER
MALIBU // A Walk On Water
A Walk on Water is a Malibu, CA based non-profit that focuses on harnessing the ocean’s transformative powers to deliver life-changing surf therapy to children with unique needs and their families. They constantly strive to enhance their programs, strengthen community and provide access to more children and familes in need, while remaining true to their core values— Empowering children with a feeling of pride and accomplishment, as they unlock their inner athlete through the emotional and incredibly transforming experience of surfing.
It was knee-high and absolutely dreamy at Malibu when Sanuk Ambassador Hunter Jones met up with the surf therapy group, A Walk On Water, where they shared some waves with one of AWOW’s star athletes, Grace Gerenser. When speaking with Surf Therapist Scott Desiderio, he was quick to point out, “We love what we do. We love taking these incredible athletes out in the water surfing and introducing them to the ocean.” Fellow Surf Therapist Joe Rickabaugh added, “It doesn’t matter where you come from, what language you speak, the ocean is therapy and it’s rad to share that with our students. To see how much Grace has improved in her surfing has been awesome”.
Learn more about A Walk On Water >> A WALK ON WATER, AWOW – SURF THERAPY TO CHILDREN WITH UNIQUE NEEDS
Donate to their cause >> DONATE – SUPPORT LIKE YOURS CHANGES LIFES – A WALK ON WATER, INC.
ENCINITAS // Un Mar De Colores
In Encinitas, Hunter met up with Founder Mario Ordoñez-Calderon and the groms from the Un Mar De Colores organization at Beacon’s. Un Mar De Colores is a local non-profit cultivating inclusivity, diversity and ocean stewardship through surf therapy for underserved youth. Mario explains “Un Mar De Colores means ‘an ocean of colors’ and at the core of the organization, we really just want to connect kids to the ocean, especially those who don’t have access to the ocean. We want to be that bridge and family that invites these kids to the water.” Hunter added, “Sharing waves with this crew was super special. Surfing with the students, I couldn’t help but see my younger self in them and it was rad to be a part of their session and share some smiles.”
Learn more about Un Mar De Colores >> UN MAR DE COLORES (MAR-DE-COLORES.ORG)
Donate to their cause >> UN MAR DE COLORES | MIGHTYCAUSE
Huntington Beach // Sea Tiger
In HB, Hunter met up with Sea Tiger founder, Courtney Conlogue. Sea Tiger is a Surf Camp with a mission to create mentorship, community for ocean-loving youth, to empower others to be bold, authentic, compassionate, and to create. Sea Tiger believes in loving the outdoors, protecting nature, and being the best version of you. Courtney adds, “When kids are young, less is more and they are sponges, so it’s a great time to inspire them with being healthy and being active and giving back to the environment with little beach cleanups. I want to utilize my love for surfing to inspire them to pursue whatever dreams they have.”
Learn more and support Courtney’s cause >> SEA TIGER