The catch could be in the surfers’ gear, specifically the surfboard. According to Surf Science, almost 100 percent of surfboards sold these days are made of polyurethane or polystyrene foam, the latter more commonly known as Styrofoam. The foam is also coated or “glassed” with resin, which can be highly toxic. Emissions and waste generated from the manufacture of the foam boards have led surfboard makers to offer greener options.
Greener wooden boards
Tom Wegener, a highly respected surfer based in Australia, was recognized by Surfing Magazine in 2009 as “shaper of the year” for crafting wooden surfboards. In York Beach, Maine, Grains Surfboards make their boards from locally-harvested cedar wood. There are also bamboo surfboards made by Gary Young from Hawaii and Bamboo Surfboards Australia. Some manufacturers have even come up with cork, soy, and sugar-based foam boards.
The wooden boards, reminiscent of ancient surfboards made in Hawaii, are hailed as all-natural, with even the possibility of lifetime use. But surfers complain of their heavier weight, making these boards difficult to maneuver. They are also expensive.
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Luke Landrigan, another multi-awarded surf champ and Asian Beach Games medalist, tends to agree. The Australian-Filipino rider from La Union echoes concerns by surfers about how present-day green boards have a long way to go before they can be used competitively.
“Based on my experience, high performance boards are lighter, because they flex. And green boards are more expensive, like, a thousand dollars more expensive,” said Mr. Landrigan. He pointed out that most surfers are simply locals from surf towns or provinces – they cannot afford the greener options and only use whatever gear is given them, or what is at hand.
According to Mr. Landrigan, while the foam-based boards cost only from $500 to $800, eco-friendly boards can range from $1200 to $2000. However, he and his students at the Billabong Surf School in La Union are open to testing and using eco-friendly boards, should they be sponsored to do so. He added that if green surfboard makers could make the boards the way surfers want the boards to be, light and easy to manuever, perhaps they would not mind the cost.
What if international surfing organizations impose the use of wooden boards on everyone, does he think more competitive surfers would begin using the green boards? It is possible, Mr. Landrigan says, but as far as he has observed, these organizations try to make up for the sport’s carbon footprint through other means.
“I have noticed that international surfing organizations are more involved with the development of greener clothing and in cleaning up beaches,” Mr. Landrigan said. “At least clothing companies are doing their part, making surf wear out of recycled plastic bottles, or hemp.”
Greener habits
Some of these eco-friendly surf wear makers are Billabong, Body Glove and Patagonia. Billabong came up with the Bob Marley collection last November, made from recycled and organic materials. Body Glove’s eco fullsuit is made from non-petroleum bio-stretch rubber, colored with water-based ink, and has a recycled YKK zipper. Patagonia suits, made from post-consumer recycled polyester jersey, are lined with chlorine-free merino wool.
Mr. Landrigan and his fellow Billabong surf instructors do their part by being members of Green Zinc Clean Shores Inc. The organization cleans the shores in La Union twice a week, has donated a garbage truck to the municipality of San Juan, and deploys trash cans.
“What’s beautiful about [people] is once they become surfers, they really take care of their beaches, and look after the beaches even during events,” Mr. Landrigan noted, adding that perhaps, this is the nearest thing to being green that the surfing community can be, in the meantime.
