Surf Industry and sustainability
Thursday June the 7th 17:00 H
Aquarium de Donostia
(click for area map)
Surfing is closely related to ocean, coastal and atmosphere environment. To surf, to take advantage of the waves and the ocean is to enjoy the sea, the coast and the environment around us.
Thanks to an ever growing number of surfers, surfing industry has reached unexpected proportions and millionaire figures. Toxic and polluting materials are still used to manufacture boards and technical equipment.
Us surfers, as buyers/consumers and as people who live and enjoy natural elements, we play a decisive role in the protection of our environment. According to our level of individual consciousness we can contribute up to a certain point to reduce our “environmental trace” or the pressure we put on natural resources. At the same time, we need more sustainable and innovative alternatives on the surf market, with equivalent or superior quality standards than the current and traditional ones.
To line up with this philosophy, some brands are starting to launch product lines whose manufacturing causes lighter environmental impact, thanks to the use of less polluting, more natural materials, and production processes that are more effective regarding energy consumption.
From its second edition, SurFilm Festibal opens its doors with a conference on environmental issues. To celebrate this 5th edition, we’ll go a little bit further trying to get the people working around the surfing scene involved. Besides being a cultural and entertainment event, we would also like the festival to be a melting pot where eager minds within the industry could join efforts to try to take the right track on behalf of this fascinating planet.
Two documentary films will open the fifth edition of the festival: a film showcasing several environmental problems in Chile, and another one on surf industry in the USA, followed by a round table debate consisting of environment professionals and experts, as well as surf industry representatives, backed with audiovisual images.
Profiles:
Christopher Cutri (director of Riding the Wave): Christopher received his MFA in Film Directing from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. Upon graduation, he directed commercials and was signed by several production companies. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor in the Communications Department at Brigham Young University.
Riding The Wave is Christopher’s second documentary. Christopher is married to his beautiful wife Ramona and they have two children.
Tony Butt: Tony Butt was born in Bournemouth, England, in 1961. he started surfing in 1972.
BSc in Ocean Science and PhD in Physical Oceanography at the University of Plymouth. He is currently a part-time Research Fellow for the Coastal Processes Research Group in Plymouth, oceanographer for The Surfer’s Path magazine, director of Surfers Against Sewage, UK and International Liaison at National Surfing Reserves, Australia.
He has written over 100 articles on surf science and environmental issues affecting surfers and a book: ‘Surf Science: an introduction to waves for
surfing’. He has been invited to several international big-wave events, although he hates everything to do with surfing contests. He lives between Euskadi, Asturias and Cape Town, ‘in search of the endless winter’.
Eurosima: The association that gathers the big surfing industry brands. Eurosima is promoting a series of measures encouraging its members to implement actions to be more respectful with our environment. One of its members will be present to talk about what the association and its members have done on this issue. He will also contribute with a practical vision of the issue, from the industry point of view. www.eurosima.com
Surfrider Foundation Europe: This is the biggest worldwide surfing association working on coastal ecosystem protection. They are present all over the world and their European headquarters are in Biarritz, where they coordinate their actions in the whole continent. www.surferfoundation.com
Giuseppe Traverso: he will me moderating the debate; he’s an Italian lawyer from Genova, Italy, currently working as legal counsellor for an organization dealing with environmental issues, where the people are not legitimately entitled to appeal before an International Environmental Court, and as legal counsellor for environmental issues. Giuseppe has worked for the European Commission, for some NGO in Italy and Ecuador, as a lawyer in Genova. He’s lived studied and worked in Bologna (Italy), France, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and lives in San Sebastian at the moment.
Alex Dick Read: Surfer’s Path editor (surferspath.com), the first surf magazine in the world to use recycled paper and soy ink to print their editions. Every year they host the “Green wave awards” to recognise companies or organizations within the surfing scene who give priority to environment.
Joshua Berry: Founder of the Chilean non-profit Proplaya and Chilean director of Save the Waves Coalition, Joshua Berry is based in Chile as a surfer-activist working to protect the Chilean coast, its waves and its waters. A strong critic of the surf industry and its environmental record, Joshua will present his insights into the future of the industry, the sport and waves. Also a filmmaker, Joshua presents the premier of his documentary, "Pulp, Poo and Perfection: a green surfing story", a short film about environmental problems and solutions in Chile. Watch the trailer
Guest organization: Surfer´s Path
Free entry only for professional. Limited capacity, book your seat by
filling up the form you’ll find at the end of this document and
sending it to: info@surfilmfestibal.com
-The debate will be held in Spanish and English; Simultaneous interpreting will be available to translate the talks.
-The conference is aimed to providing information and exchanging opinions, comments and critical reflections.
-The presentations will be the starting point for the debate, open between public and speakers.
-After the conference, there will be a cocktail where the talks on the
surf and the ocean will continue, thanks to the presence of some non
aquatic non aquatic liquids…
Round table:
• The nature of surfing, its perception and its evolving heterogeneous ethos
• Surf companies, their social and environmental responsibilities
• Surfers, ocean and coastal protection
Representatives from the surf industry, surf media and surf environmental organizations will discuss different issues relating surf, environment and the industry from a variety of viewpoints and perspectives.
Alex Dick Read and Chris Cutri will analyse the change of the image and role models in surfing proposed by the media and the industry over the past decades, and the parallel changes on general surf perception from surfers and general public’s side.
Frank Laporte will present new products created or proposed by certain surf brands that commit to minimizing environmental impact; he will explain other surf industry initiatives aimed to contribute to ocean and coastal environment protection, and to improve the company’s image. They will also analyse the current failures, challenges and –technical and economic- handicaps, to achieve at the same time high environmental standards, product quality and competitive prices.
Joshua Berry and (Surfrider Foundation), After drawing a general draft of the main anthropogenic impacts on coastal and marine resources, they will present a series of technological tools and related measures that allow to conciliate the practice of surfing and the defence of natural environment, contributing to diminish our pressure on environment in an active way. On the other hand, they’ll allow us to have a say before the public administration to demand coastal and ocean heritage preservation.
To enjoy, being thankful, responsible with Nature and having the sense of being part of it.
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2 documentary films will be shown
before the round table discussion. They have different origins and
content within the subject of Surf Industry and Environment.
Riding the Wave (2006)
Length:38 min
Director: Christopher Cutri
Executive Producer: Ed Adams
Editors: Tim Irwin and Christopher Cutri
Director of Photography: Cammon Randle and Christopher Cutri
Music by Tyler Norton
Directed by Christopher Cutri
38 min
Surfing, with its historic and contemporary roots in Hawaii, has become a world wide marketing magnet. How has surfing, an activity traditionally associated with a counter culture ethos, exploded into a multinational billions dollar industry with cultural influence almost beyond measure? Surf clothing and other paraphernalia have blanketed the cultural landscape in this country and around the world. With commentaries from Steve Pezman of the Surfers Journal, Bob Mcknight, CEO of Quiksilver, Paul Naude, President of Billabong, Dave Parmenter, Mickey Munoz and many others, we discover the tensions surrounding this movement and its affect on the sport.
Riding the Wave (2006) Length:38 min
Director: Christopher Cutri
Executive Producer: Ed Adams
Editors: Tim Irwin and Christopher Cutri
Director of Photography: Cammon Randle and Christopher Cutri
Music by Tyler Norton
Directed by Christopher Cutri
38 min
Surfing, with its historic and contemporary roots in Hawaii, has become a world wide marketing magnet. How has surfing, an activity traditionally associated with a counter culture ethos, exploded into a multinational billions dollar industry with cultural influence almost beyond measure? Surf clothing and other paraphernalia have blanketed the cultural landscape in this country and around the world. With commentaries from Steve Pezman of the Surfers Journal, Bob Mcknight, CEO of Quiksilver, Paul Naude, President of Billabong, Dave Parmenter, Mickey Munoz and many others, we discover the tensions surrounding this movement and its affect on the sport.
View from the Greenroom (2007) Surfers Against Sewage (SAS).
UK. 45 minutes
5 surfers, 8 days, 5 campaigns.
The UK’s first environmental surf documentary, ‘View from the Greenroom’, examines the pollution issues of today through the eyes of Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) campaigners. Joined by Team Quiksilver, they highlight the dangers the coastline faces with a touch of humour. Filmed on location in East Scotland, North Scotland, Outer Hebrides……so Scotland basically! Featured riders: Glen ‘Micro’ Hall, Spencer Hargraves, Candice O’Donnell, Nathan Phillips, Shaun ‘Skippy’ Skilton. It has a very funky, different sound track with great new UK bands mixed in with old school stylers. The perfect music to watch surfers go by!
Pulp, Poo and Perfection: a green surfing story (2007) Chile. 15 minutos.
Director: Angel Marin
Script writer and producer: Josh Berry
Executive Producer: Save the Waves Coalition 2007. Length: 15 min.
This short documentary investigates two major issues threatening surfing and water quality in Chile: Pichilemu's sewage pipeline and southern Chile's forestry industry pollution. Mythical waves, activists, angry fishermen, environmental problems and sharky corporate executives weave a classic South American tale of environmental action and local solutions. Featuring Ramon Navarro, Shane Dorian, Congrio Colorado and Quechua. Watch the trailer.
