Newsletter of Sas • Summer/Autumn 2011

newsletter of sas • summer/autumn 2011

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pipeline_85.indd 1 21/7/11 17:17:15 pipeline_85.indd 2 21/7/11 17:17:20 THE CRISIS IS NOW! Surfers Against Sewage Unit 2, Wheal Kittty Workshops, St Agnes, Cornwall. TR5 0RD It’s strange how environmental problems become the accepted ‘norm’. Is the ‘norm’ T 01872 553 001 www.sas.org.uk really the point at which many people capitulate to the issue, surrender to the Executive Director problem and begin to turn a blind eye? Is the ‘norm’ where many polluters hope Hugo Tagholm [email protected] the problem they create will end up? An accepted part of our environment and Campaign Director something we can’t and shouldn’t try to resolve? Andy Cummins [email protected] Picture the scene; a village green or suburban street littered twice a day, covered POW Campaign Officer in a fresh layer of manmade detritus; cans, plastic bottles, sewage-related items, Dom Ferris [email protected] plastic bags, fishing line, broken glass, crates and other litter. Imagine this was Beach Clean Campaign Officer then added to with direct and sporadic discharges of sewage-filled effluent and Adam Beare [email protected] backed up with balls of oil that stick to anything that is unlucky enough to come Office, Membership & into contact with them. Well, if this were to happen regularly on your street or Merchandise Manager Wendy Nicolson village green, you’d put pen to paper or fingers to keys straight away, demanding an [email protected] immediate answer or action from your local council. Fundraiser Peter Lewis So it’s alarming how close to the ‘norm’ these things have become on our beaches. [email protected] To the point at which many visitors seem almost blind to the issue. Tidelines strewn Finance Officer Jo Burn with trash, rivers bringing sewage content with them at the slightest hint of rain, spring [email protected] tides depositing an array of lifeless, oiled birds as they ebb away. Finance Assistant Claire Longman The International Programme on the State of the Ocean (www.stateoftheocean. [email protected] or) is currently compiling the Global State of the Ocean Report due to be published in Admin Assistant Heidi Peasley 2012 but state that “….we already know that the Ocean’s health is in a critical state”. [email protected] They highlight that ‘Damage to the Ocean is not as immediately apparent as terrestrial Board of Directors Dr Tony Butt destruction, but it is just as serious. All of the stressors we have put on the Ocean — Steve Challinor Alex Dick-Read from over-fishing to pollution — have contributed to its ill-health. The situation is now Jim Gorrod so severe that we are altering the chemistry of the Ocean, with significant impacts on Richard Gregory Chris Hides marine life and the functioning of marine ecosystems.” Ben Hewitt Martin Hunt Thankfully, as an SAS member you are already with us at the frontline to take Lesley Kazan Pinfield action. You are already helping fund campaigns that track and tackle these issues Nathan Mansbridge Alex Wade head on; the Sewage Alert Service, national beach clean programmes, the Return Adviser to Offender campaign, marine environment sessions in schools and a network of Peter Crane passionate, skilled SAS Regional Reps tackling the polluters at grassroots level. Pipeline Thank you for your on-going support and involvement. Design A-Side Studio www.a-sidestudio.co.uk Photographers Andy Cummins, Steve Trewhella, Tim Nunn, Sean De Sporengo, Charlie Chambers Wendy Nicolson, Dom Ferris, Kirstin Prisk, Mark Denton & others. Printing Hugo Tagholm Martin Luck Design & Print 01326 558 000 Director

pipeline_85.indd 3 21/7/11 17:17:23 a case in point - a family day out at the beach

It’s rare that my days off coincide with fun clean waves and even rarer when the sun threatens to make an appearance too. But everything had fallen into place and my family were off to Porthtowan for the day. The car was packed with surfboards, windbreaks, footballs, buckets, spades and sun cream. As the girls (12 & 3) were squeezing in the back between boards and buckets, my phone buzzed. A Sewage Alert Service message to warn us sewage was discharging at Porthtowan. The latest customary summer downpour had overloaded Porthtowan’s sewerage system resulting in raw sewage and storm water being discharged directly into the sea. I understand all too well the health risks associated with surfing in sewage polluted waters and there’s no way, no matter how good the surf was, I was letting my girls surf at Porthtowan during a raw sewage discharge. But instead of instigating World War 3 by unloading the car, we simply headed off to Godrevy. The storm system was so localised that Godrevy escaped the downpour. The day was filled with sandcastles, rock pool adventures and fun surf for all the family. And the absence of the Sewage Alert Service text gave me a comforting reassurance. The beach isn’t a sterile environment and there are many other potential sources of pollution at any beach. But it’s reassuring to know you can give your loved ones the best chance of enjoying a sewage free sea at one of the beaches included in our Sewage Alert Service. Whether you are a keen kayaker, surfer stop this mess at sas.org.uk or parents of the next surfing world champion, make sure you’ve signed up for the real time sewage text alerts and be reassured, as no news is good news.

pipeline | www.sas.org.uk

pipeline_85.indd 4 21/7/11 17:17:25 bECOmE aN SaS aCTIvIST aT EuROpE’S bIggEST SuRfINg & muSIC fESTIval!

We are pleased to be building our campaign presence at Europe’s biggest surf and music festival this summer. The Relentless Boardmasters takes place from 10th – 14th August at Fistral Beach, Newquay and always draws huge crowds who come to see some of the best surfers in the world battle it out at Cornwall’s premier surf spot. This provides the SAS campaigns team with the opportunity to influence tens of thousands of individuals with our developing projects protecting “ waves, oceans and beaches right across the UK. ExclusivE sAs SAS campaigners will be on site for the duration Activist t-shirts for of the contest running Marine Litter Education Days thE first 20 bEAch to engage the public with current anti marine litter campaigns & environmental initiatives protecting surf clEAn voluntEErs spots, coastlines and wildlife around the UK. Activities EAch dAy!” will include a daily Activist Beach Clean and SAS’s new giant, interactive MARINEOPOLY board game, which will help bring the campaigns to life for anyone playing. The team will also be distributing campaign information, mini campaign action stickers and Butt SAS would like to thank the Big Lottery - Awards Bins to help combat litter on site and in the wider For All programme for their support on this project marine environment. This is the chance for the whole and Sportsvision for there steadfast support. For more community to get directly involved with SAS’s current information on this and other SAS activities please campaigns and learn more about protecting beaches visit www.sas.org.uk or do come to see the SAS team nationwide. We hope to attract over 250 community during the Relentless Boardmasters festival. volunteers during the festival, and inspire many SAS reserve the right to change the programme thousands of individuals to take even more care of of activities. our precious coastal environment. Please check website for any changes to SAS activities.

pipeline_85.indd 5 21/7/11 17:17:33 Fantastic reaction to SAS’s new marine conservation education programme!

Surfers Against Sewage, the Quiksilver Foundation protection campaigns. Students also got the chance and Quiksilver athletes got together to highlight SAS’s to play SAS’s new interactive marine conservation ongoing environmental campaigns through our brand board game, MARINEOPOLY, which was a huge hit on new education programme on World Ocean Day. the day! This colourful 3m x 3m board game helped The launch of the SAS’s new education programme bring SAS’s environmental issues to life in an exciting promoting marine conservation and activism took and engaging way for all those attending and will be place on Wednesday 8th June at the National available to schools booking SAS educational talks in Maritime Museum, Falmouth. the future. Quiksilver athletes including professional Roxy SAS and the Quiksilver Foundation hope the event sailor Sam Davies (4th place, 2009 Vendee Globe race, helped inspire these up and coming eco-ambassadors. 1st Woman to finish, 1st British finish) and top UK Over the next 2 years, SAS will work closely with the professional surfer Toby Donachie joined SAS to talk Quiksilver Foundation to reach out to an even greater about their inspirational oceanic stories, passion and number of young people with environmental, health motivation for protecting the marine environment. & wave protection resources. 250 local primary & secondary school students SAS worked closely with Sci-Art Solutions joined the SAS campaigns team to learn more developing its new educational programme including about SAS’s ongoing environmental, health & wave the MARINEOPOLY board game.

pipeline | www.sas.org.uk

pipeline_85.indd 6 21/7/11 17:17:36 “Over 250 school children celebrate “SAS’s Marineopoly is World Ocean Day a huge hit!’” with Surfers Against Sewage” Surfers Against Sewage would like to thank Sam Davies, Toby Donachie, the Quiksilver Foundation, Symphony Environmental and Sci-Art Solutions for their support on the day. The Quiksilver Foundation is a long-term supporter of Surfers Against Sewage and are supporting SAS’s educational programme in 2011 & 2012. Sci-Art Solutions was conceptualised by marine scientist Dr Joanna Henley. Joanna has a Masters degree in marine resource management and a PhD in science communication through visual art media. Having observed the natural world, through scientific enquiry, and represented it, in a creative way, for as long as she can remember, she devised the concept for a company that uses visual means of communicating scientific information to the general public. Schools from around the UK can book one of SAS’s interactive sessions by contacting SAS campaign officer Dom Ferris on 01872 555 950 or emailing [email protected].

pipeline_85.indd 7 21/7/11 17:17:41 Some of the biggest, best and most effective beach cleans in SAS history!

The 2011 SAS Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Tour has our marine litter “Hit Squads”, (special volunteers already scaled new heights of success, not least in who focused on collecting thousands of mermaids Cornwall over the weekend of the 25th & 26th June! tears) and a beautiful art piece made solely of Two beautiful Cornish beaches - Widemouth & discarded fishing line. And quite fitting, the weird Porthtowan - over 300 dedicated volunteers, more than fish competition was won by none other than a toilet half a tonne of marine litter swept from our coastline, seat. Last but not least was Ben Howard’s sun soaked topped off by a sun-soaked set from musical supremo evening set in the Blue Bar, beautiful songs in a Ben Howard. The whole weekend was also filmed by a beautiful setting after an amazing day… enough said! BBC documentary crew and a cameraman representing A massive thank you to everybody who came Jason Baffa (producer of Singlefin Yellow) for the together to make the weekend such a success. upcoming film One Beach. We’ll let you know when these will be hitting the big or small screen! Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Events, Scotland As we go to press, the SAS beach clean crew and Saturday 25th June, Widemouth Bay Barefoot Wine team have just completed another hugely Arriving at Widemouth beach the SAS beach clean successful weekend of events in Scotland, attracting team were greeted with howling onshore winds and over 100 volunteers and removing hundreds of kilos the dreaded Cornish mizzle. This however wasn’t of marine litter from Kingsbarn beach, Fife & Belhaven enough to dampen the spirit of over 100 volunteers beach near Edinburgh. The whole tour is generating an who joined us to remove over 250kgs of marine litter unprecedented amount of interest and media coverage. from this beautiful and well-loved surf spot. Highlights We’re really pleased to see the issue of marine litter of the day included the winning item of marine litter in gaining so much exposure, which can only help in our the weird fish competition (weirdest item of rubbish efforts to solve the worsening issue. found), a business card from the Captain of a Korean ship along with a pair of rainbow underpants! Upcoming Events Sunday 26th June, Porthtowan 26th Aug Whitley Bay, North Tyneside What a difference a day makes. On Sunday the SAS 27th Aug Saltburn, Cleveland team awoke to the most beautiful summer’s day with 28th Aug South Bay, Scarborough, Yorkshire clear blue skies, offshore winds and 3-4ft of perfect 29th Aug Mablethorpes, Lincolnshire waves providing the ideal backdrop to what would 3rd Sep Newgale Beach, Pembrokeshire be one of SAS’s most successful beach cleans ever. 4th Sep Langland, West Glamorgan Over 200 volunteers joined us for what was so much 10th Sep Portrush, Northern Ireland more than a litter pick. Together we removed 249kgs of small plastic litter items and, in the words of one All events start at 2pm. For more information beachgoer summing up the effort, “the beach is please email [email protected] actually totally clean!” Other highlights included

pipeline | www.sas.org.uk

pipeline_85.indd 8 21/7/11 17:17:42 “ovEr 300 dEdicAtEd voluntEErs, MorE thAn hAlf A tonnE of MArinE littEr sWEpt froM our coAstlinE, toppEd off by A sun-soAkEd sEt froM MusicAl suprEMo bEn hoWArd”

pipeline_85.indd 9 21/7/11 17:17:43 UK-wide Youth Volunteering Tour Tackling Marine Litter Finishes in Style at the Goldcoast Oceanfest in Croyde.

The Motivocean Beach Clean & Sports Tour initiative has been a resounding success nationwide, helping bring SAS’s marine litter campaigns and events “Thousands of kilos to communities across the country and inspiring of dangerous and volunteering amongst thousands of youth volunteers. We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone unsightly marine who volunteered at one of the events, in particular all litter removed from our young volunteers. We would also like to thank V beaches, rivers and for their support through the myGames programme (www.vinspired.com) and the London 2012 Olympic coastal areas” & Paralympic Committee for awarding the Inspire Mark to the project.

pipeline | www.sas.org.uk

pipeline_85.indd 10 21/7/11 17:17:46 Some of the headline outcomes from the events include:

• 60 Motivocean Beach Clean & Sports events delivered at locations nationwide, including Newcastle, Scarborough, Saltburn, Cromer, London, Bigbury, The Isle of Wight, Watergate Bay, The Wirral, Newquay, Saunton, Croyde, Woolacombe, “ Falmouth St Ives, Sennen and many more! Motivocean • Thousands of kilos of dangerous and unsightly marine volunteers litter removed from beaches, rivers and coastal areas. recognised at the • Over 2000 youth volunteers (16-25) taking part INSPIRING VOLUNTEERING in Motivocean events AWARDS 2011 - voted • Motivocean volunteers recognised at the INSPIRING as ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEERING AWARDS 2011 - voted as ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR VOLUNTEERS OF • Marine litter & environmental education THE YEAR” presentations given at all Motivocean events • Motivocean beach clean events awarded the London 2012 Olympic & Inspire Mark by the For the grand finale, and to celebrate International Paralympic Committee Surfing Day, Surfers Against Sewage staff, Regional • Marine litter information & volunteer certificates Reps and volunteers braved Monsoon like rain, distributed to all volunteers hurricane winds and the notorious Atlantic Highway to hold the final weekend of Motivocean Beach • Hundreds of cigarette ‘Butt Bins’ and ‘Think Before Clean activity at the Goldcoast Oceanfest on the You Flush’ mini-campaigns action stickers distributed weekend of 17th – 19th June. We’d like to thank all • Hundreds of surf lessons provided for SAS’s youth our volunteers who took part in the SAS Oceanfest volunteers by the myGames programme Trash Mob during the weekend! Together we removed • Print media exposure of marine litter issues and over half a tonne of marine litter from Croyde beach Motivocean beach clean events to over 6 million in just 1 hour! Thanks too to the organisers of the readers in publications from surfing magazines to Goldcoast Oceanfest, Warren, Shaun and Dan, for all the London Metro. their amazing support, the myGames programme for their support, International Surfing Day, euroSIMA, half a million • Massive Facebook engagement – over all the SAS Reps & crew! What a weekend of campaign impressions on Motivocean articles on Surfers engagement, surfing, music and fun to round up the Against Sewage Facebook Page Motivocean Beach Clean & Sports Tour. • Fantastic photographic and film output from For more information on SAS beach cleans, Motivocean events - check them out on SAS TV volunteering opportunities and campaign information on our website. please visit www.sas.org.uk

pipeline_85.indd 11 21/7/11 17:17:52 The initial phase of SAS’s Sewage Alert Service is already proving its worth.

Just a matter of weeks into the Sewage Alert Service pilot project and the alarm bells are already ringing “Whether you’re a loud at beaches around the UK when untreated sewage is discharged into our bathing waters. year-round surfer The sheer number of sewage releases highlighted or a family visiting by the system has been a shock to supporters and the beach whilst critics alike, reinforces SAS’s CSO campaign and affirms our longstanding call for better real-time on holiday, having pollution information. Whether you’re a year- information about round surfer or a family visiting the beach whilst on holiday, having information about sewage entering sewage entering our precious bathing waters is vitally important. our precious bathing These alerts will help you avoid sewage-related waters is vitally pollution and the associated health dangers wherever possible, and hopefully, for the most important” part be confident of water quality when your text message inbox isn’t beeping with an alert.

pipeline | www.sas.org.uk

pipeline_85.indd 12 21/7/11 17:17:57 From a surfers perspective, the service already heard tails of gaping tubes from body boarders and includes a number of the nation’s best surfing equally just as many tales of close outs. There are beaches including; CSOs all along this stretch of coast, many included in • The UK’s most infamous reef break, Porthleven. our live Sewage Alert Service) Porthleven has several reefs that, on their day, can • Newgale, West Wales is an incredibly popular surf deliver perfect waves. Two of Porthleven’s most well spot with all types of waveriders. The top corner of used waves; the main peak and the harbour wall the beach offers some fun wedge waves and the rest have CSOs that discharge sewage directly into the of the beach offers an array of often empty peaks take-off zone. to explore. As with all the beaches included in the • Bude, Summerleaze, a classic Cornish beach break Sewage Alert Service it has a CSO that can severely with consistently good banks. Bude has helped hone reduce water quality. the skills of the most promising British surfer for a long time, Rubyn Ash. Summerleaze has recently Since launching our Sewage Alert Service in May, these suffered from poor water quality and has several CSOs excellent waves have unfortunately suffered multiple discharging onto it or nearby. raw sewage discharges, just like other popular bathing waters included in the scheme. So far we have sent out • Saltburn beach (North Yorkshire) is currently almost ten thousand free text messages warning water failing the 1976 Bathing Water directive, a shameful users around the UK that their favourite surf spot or claim to fame. We strongly believe that the CSOs bathing water is suffering a sewage-related pollution discharging there are to blame for this appalling water incident. Are you signed up for Sewage Alert System quality. Saltburn is a great longboarding wave and can warnings at spots that you use? If not sign up for free also produce sucky waves into the pier. Saltburn has a at www.sas.org.uk great surfing scene with some fantastic surfers. This revolutionary project has been made possible • Boscombe reef AKA the artificial reef. I think it’s thanks to the technical support from Fruitcake fair to say the jury is still out on this wave. We’ve Designs and Firetext.

pipeline_85.indd 13 21/7/11 17:18:02 A first-hand account of sewage polluted oceans in 2011

S-Land is the sickest pit in Europe - fact! Inside those my wetsuit and walked across snow to surfing S-Land, churning brown barrels lurks a dark and disgusting so would the risk of Ecoli, Hep A, gastro enteritis secret. S-Land’s water quality is horrendous! It’s still have stopped me from surfing there? Maybe not as failing to meet the woefully inadequate water quality flat spells last for weeks at S-Land. But I should have standards set down way back in 1976. In the last 20 been told about the potential risks so I could make an years S-Land has only reached the very basic pass informed decision. If the wind was cross-shore, or the standard 4 times, and only once since 2003. sewage discharge extremely bad, I might have chosen a Even when S-Land has managed to scrape less polluted wave to surf. the basic pass, using the water could still result As a surfer, I think it’s important to know when in bathers having a 1 in 7 chance of contracting sewage is in the sea, not just at S-Land, but at all gastro enteritis. And these figures are for bathers our important surf spots. Just tell me when sewage not surfers, so when you factor in ingestion and is discharged into the sea before my first duck dive, immersion, or as we call them duck diving and or mouthful. Is that asking for the impossible? wiping out, then the risk is dramatically increased. No. The technology exists to inform the public Furthermore, surf sessions wrapped in neoprene when these sewer overflows discharge raw sewage. often last significantly longer than the average And now SAS can pass on this information via the bather in budgie smugglers. Triple trouble! Sewage Alert Service. I know S-Land’s brown barrels intimately having Real-time warnings are a functional short- grown up surfing the reef. However, whilst I was pulling term solution for surfers to avoid sewage pollution. in I had no idea that nearby there are 3 overflows However, in the long term we need increased that can (and still do) discharge sewage into the sea, investment in our sewerage system that is bursting without warning and without breaching any licences. at the seams after even the slightest downpour. Back in the day, as a grom I regularly shook ice out of Sewer overflows should only ever discharge raw sewage

pipeline | www.sas.org.uk

pipeline_85.indd 14 21/7/11 17:18:03 in absolute emergencies, and with warnings. If we can achieve this, we will all see a further massive “increased improvement in our water quality. investment in our S-Land, like the majority of our surf spots, also suffers from agricultural run off and diffuse pollution. sewerage system Cows poo in fields and rain washes this into rivers and that is bursting at the sea. And rainwater washes down roads, especially above the steep banked S-Land, taking with it all the the seams after muck, oil and filth gathering in gutters. All this means even the slightest there is rarely one solution to improving water quality. downpour” These problems are often complicated to tackle with farmers and local planners frequently unaware of their impacts on water quality. But work is ongoing across a multitude of agencies and action plans are assessing potential de-designation of S-Land and other surf spots, how to best reduce these impacts. a step that would remove safeguards there to maintain SAS are continuing to drive home the simple water quality and protect surfers from pollution. If a message, “Tell us when sewage is in the sea, before we surf spot like S-Land is de-designated, all of the official suit up”. By 2015 SAS is calling for real time warnings at agencies involved can forget it’s a problem. It will no all important surf spots and bathing waters in the UK. longer appear on any list with a big red FAIL against it. We need your help to achieve this ambitious goal. They’d wash their hands of it and it would no longer be Signing our online petition at www.sas.org.uk will add a priority for environmental improvements. That’s why considerable weight to SAS’s calls for real time signage we need surf spots to be classified as designated bathing at surf spots across the UK. waters. Don’t worry, with your support we can stop this Job done? Well not quite. Predicting the next happening, encourage continued investment, and ensure problem before it happens is critical and keeps SAS surfers and waveriders all around the UK enjoy clean on the front foot. The next issue on the horizon is the waves for generations to come.

pipeline_85.indd 15 21/7/11 17:18:05 We can all make changes, big & small, to help protect the environment

The planet is facing ever increasing environmental arms for surfers, one that harks back to the maverick, pressures, not least when it comes down to our pioneer spirit that so often set apart surfers as a oceans. From over-fishing to marine litter, coastal resourceful group of individuals intent on getting away development to climate change, as a group of like- from the mainstream and defining themselves in their minded individuals we are all often faced with these own terms. issues first-hand when using our precious chosen First things first, don’t panic. We are not asking beaches. Surfers Against Sewage brings us all together you to turn your back on all material goods and body as people who love, enjoy and use the sea, not to surf naked, an uncomfortable prospect for any of us. mention those who are perhaps the most inclined to But as surfers we are sensitised incrementally to the do something to help protect our coastal areas, in fact environment around us and the damage done to it. any area, from environmental damage. But what is Due to our immersion (quite literally) in the coast, the big picture and how can we adapt our lifestyles to we should be, and are in most SAS members’ cases, make a positive difference no matter how small? some of the most radicalised people in relation to Over the summer we will be releasing the tackling environmental issues. Sustainable Guide to Surfing. A thought provoking, You’ve already made a big step in supporting SAS challenging and sometimes bleak assessment of the by becoming a member and many of you have also challenges that face our environment and how we, as become activists, joining us on the campaign trail surfers, contribute to them... But we need to continue or at beach clean events, taking direct action on the to reinforce the critical nature of environmental issues environmental issues you care about. But we can all to motivate ourselves to take action, big and small. do even more to reduce our impact, from changing The act of surfing itself is extremely low impact. our travel habits to adapting our consumer approach. We use a natural, renewable energy wave. We can We can all look at our surfing lifestyle and ask ourselves carry on surfing without adversely impacting the questions. What elements are fundamental to and environment. But we need to check our associated sustainable in our surfing experience? Which parts can lifestyle around surfing to ensure we can enjoy clean be changed to create a more sustainable/less damaging waves tomorrow. The guide identifies a basic call to dynamic? What elements don’t really add anything to

pipeline | www.sas.org.uk

pipeline_85.indd 16 21/7/11 17:18:09 a whole new, fun dynamic to the trip or a revisited nostalgic feeling of how surfers used to do things. “We’ll all have After all, being cooped up with every other section of our different society on a SleazyJet flight is hardly presenting the counter culture, fringe lifestyle so many of us seek approaches to the through surfing. And let’s remember, the travelling issues and can should be a fun and integral part of the trip. make lifestyle Consumerism in surfing is rife, just like in many other sports, and, of course, out there on the high changes which best street. We can all ask ourselves whether the fact our suit our lives. But shorts are last year’s colour really makes them lose their functionality. It probably doesn’t. And when all can and should we’re buying things, we can all opt for more organic, do something on recycled, sustainable, ethical and durable items that a continual and will last. Let’s champion companies which are trying to make a difference, both big and small. If we can progressive basis” influence the big corporations, from the inside or from the outside, the chances for dramatic change are increasingly possible. The report is being produced as a downloadable our surfing experience but are traded commodities that PDF, available in the education section of our website. have been created around the sport? What items do We hope that it’s thought provoking enough for you we really need to get in the water as much as possible? to make at least one small change. With an estimated What are the most durable and sustainable items we Pipeline readership of 12,000, if everyone reading can buy? Should we be buying cheap and buying twice? this article and then influenced by the report makes We’ll all have our different approaches to the just one change, say not taking one short-haul flight issues and can make lifestyle changes which best suit for a two day surf trip, that would be 12,000 flights our lives. But we all can and should do something on not taken. With a plane capacity of around 180, that a continual and progressive basis. Some things might would be 67 flights not taking off… seemingly present big challenges, like changing your Together we can make a difference. We would weekend flights to surf in Ireland into a week long like to thank The Naturesave Trust for their van-bound surfari. But this in turn may well bring support on this project.

pipeline_85.indd 17 21/7/11 17:18:14 Philip Brown is one of our awesome fundraisers and has raised over £1500 for SAS over the last couple of years!

Name? Philip Brown surfing, bodyboarding with Ellie champagne hangover! Age? 42 and Edward and kayaking. I also Who or what is your inspiration? Occupation? I’m the Head live close enough to the beach to Anyone who gets the balance right! of Retirement Products for a hear the waves breaking when we What’s your favourite album/ specialist pension company (that have any! film/book? Album has to be ‘By only deal with people who have When & where were you last the Way’ Red Hot Chili Peppers or reduced life expectancy due to a in the water? Southbourne ‘These Waters’ Ben Howard, film is medical condition, such as cancer, (Gordon’s zigzag) in January, ‘Blood Diamond’ and best book is diabetes, and heart conditions to which was the last time we had ‘Sky Burial’. name but a few). good sets rolling in (on a day I Tell us about your latest How long have you been a wasn’t in London). project/s or news: I’m entering the member of SAS? 4 years (one of High tide? The revelation of pink Doone Run again, which is billed as those things I kept meaning to do champagne at a charity bash. “undeniably one of the toughest 10 and never got around to!). Low tide? Discovering the mile races in the UK”, and raising Why did you join SAS? I love magnitude of a 3 day pink funds for SAS.

pipeline | www.sas.org.uk

pipeline_85.indd 18 21/7/11 17:18:17 pipeline_85.indd 19 21/7/11 17:18:21 pipeline_85.indd 20 21/7/11 17:18:23 win!

WIN a £50 EXTREmEpIE gIfT vOuCHER! Online surf, skate, snow & ride specialists Extremepie are one of the growing number of retailers that now offer SAS Members an exclusive discount in their store. They’re offering 10% off and free delivery in their online shop – all you need to claim your discount is the promotional code that’s in the Member’s Area of the website. We’ve also got a £50 gift voucher up for grabs! Simply email your answer to the question below to [email protected] or post your answer to the SAS office with your contact details and the correct answers will be entered into a draw. The closing date is midnight 31st August. Q) What is SAS’s new interactive marine conservation board game WIN a luXuRy ECO SHORT bREaK called? fOR fOuR IN CORNWall

Perfect for a family break or couples, Little White Alice is a unique private complex offering sustainable holidays in beautifully furnished 5 star self catering eco cottages. It has been designed and built to be one of the most eco friendly holiday destinations in the country with solar panels, ground source heating, wood burners, its own 6KW turbine and a natural swimming pool. The cottage is ideally situated for an action packed holiday as it’s close to the north and south coasts of Cornwall, is on 25 acres of private gardens, woods and heath land, with direct access to miles of footpaths and cycle trails - and there’s even a lakeside Watersports Centre on the doorstep! But as the complex is so beautifully appointed you could be excused for not wanting to leave and instead simply curl up by the stove or stretch out in the sun by the pool! For further details and to be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize, go to the Member’s Area of the SAS website. Closing date for entries is midnight on 31st August. The password for access to the website Member’s Area is VOLUNTEER.

pipeline_85.indd 21 21/7/11 17:18:26 win! Help us raise A unique piece of surfing history - 2 x World Champion Gary £25,000 Elkerton’s short board in this year’s 1st Prize £2000 howies voucher howies.co.uk SAS Raffle! Diplock, 6ft x 19 1/4 x 2 short board donated by SAS Director Hugo Beautiful handmade wooden Otter surfboard – 6ft 10 single fin Custom made wetsuit from ottersurfboards.co.uk Snugg snuggwetsuits.co.uk & set of custom made Surfplugs Foffo single speed bike “Mix- to prevent surfers’ ear We’ve included 2 books of tickets your-fix at Foffa Bikes” a fantastic surfplugs.co.uk with your Pipeline, help us reach custom made bike to winners specificationfoffabikes.com our ambitious target and sell Photography session with Greg tickets to friends, family and Martin and a mocked up cover of Custom made shortboard or work colleagues or buy them all winner on Wavelength magazine yourself and have an even bigger minimal to winner’s specification by Roger Cooper Surfboards chance of winning one of the A stay at the Watergate Bay rogercoopersurfboards.com with a fantastic prizes! We’ve got some hotel, surf lesson at the Extreme custom design by Obsolete Industries, amazing prizes this year, from Academy & meal at Fifteen obsoleteindustries.com £2000 worth of howies vouchers, watergatebay.co.uk a beautiful handmade wooden fifteencornwall.co.uk surfboard and even a bespoke Robson Kane SUP from White Water Consultancy wwc.co.uk single speed bike! Meal for 2 at Nathan Outlaw’s If you’d like more tickets get in Seafood & Grill restaurant Xcite 260 Sport Sit On Top touch with Pete on 01872 555958 nathan-outlaw.com or email him on [email protected] Kayak from Brookbank Canoes & Kayaks canoesandkayaks.co.uk Every penny raised will go SAS longboard skateboard & towards helping us to protect UK lesson from Faltown skateboards Stunning handmade wooden waves, oceans and beaches. faltownskateboards.com Alaia board with SAS logo from Sell the most tickets and Unsung Hero unsunghero.eu you could win a luxury eco-break Beautiful original oil on for two people at the fantastic canvas painting of Gwenver by Twin fin fish made from bio- Bedruthan Steps Hotel in Cornwall. Jools Parsons foam from Tear Drop surfboards bedruthan.com paintingsbyjools.co.uk teardropsurfboards.co.uk

pipeline | www.sas.org.uk

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We’d like to say a huge thank you to all our fundraisers who have raised over £5000!

Matt, Terry, Robb & Paul from Dairygold Food In Celebration of World Surfing Day on Sunday Ingredients took part in the Samworth Challenge and 19th June, Harris from St Ives Surf School and Saints have raised nearly £1400 to date! Boardriders hosted the 2011 fancy dress swellboard shootout on Porthmeor beach! Harris said “The day was The “Dirty Oars” Lisa, Sarah-Jane, Roslean & Zoe a massive success, so great to see so many people making who took part in a dragon boat race and raised £200. such an effort with their fancy dress and also all the local Rick Lomax – cut all his hair off and raised £162! businesses donating so generously to the prize fund” Dave Baxter & Megan Powell both took part in Rich Mitchell made his first attempt to sail from St. the Great North Swim. Agnes in North Cornwall to St. Agnes in the Scilly Isles. A huge swell and difficult winds thwarted this attempt Samir Hussein let people choose his new hair but Rich is determined to try again and so far has raised style and raised £154! an amazing £813. Ben Howard, Chailo Sim and the amazing folk at Zac Andrews, Ali Barrett, James Calver, Matt TYF put on a fundraising gig in Narberth and raised an Desmond, Alex Parker & Ali Shepherd from the amazing £1500! Southampton Uni kite surfing team will be kite surfing Andy Dodwell and Café Culture put on an around the Isle Of Wight, they’ve made one attempt acoustic evening at the Boston Tea Party in Barnstaple already and will be waiting for favourable winds to and raised over £300! make another. So far they’ve raised nearly £500!

pipeline | www.sas.org.uk

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if you want to take part in a sponsored event or organise your own fundraiser, contact pete on [email protected] or call 01872 555 001

The amazing StringerBessant are holding a fundraising gig on Sunday 7th August at Lusty Glaze Beach in Newquay.

For tickets go to: www.seetickets.com/ surfersagainstsewage For more info: www.stringerbessant.com

Here at SAS our fundraisers provide essential income for us to carry on campaigning, so thank you to everybody who has swum, sailed, run, surfed, kite surfed, cycled, rowed, and even had ridiculous haircuts, all in aid of cleaner seas & beaches – we think you’re amazing.

pipeline_85.indd 25 21/7/11 17:18:47 Perfect for wrapping up super warm post-surf, our new fleece lined certified Fair Trade chunky heavyweight zip hoodies are now available from the SAS online shop! They’re unisex and available in sizes XS to XL, costing £54 to SAS members. We also have some fab organic hoodies for women, extra long to keep your midriff covered and cosy for the winter and with a comfy and flattering v-neck. They come in 2 great colours, teal and charcoal and are £40.50 to SAS members. We also have new hoodies in the Classic Vintage Eye and stylish new logo design for men and women in a variety of colours.

pipeline | www.sas.org.uk

pipeline_85.indd 26 21/7/11 17:18:54 new!

Due to popular demand we’ve brought back the now iconic Protect Our Waves (POW) organic t-shirt in a couple of great new colours. Impacts on surf spots can come in many forms - POW campaigns against threats from offshore and nearshore development, environmental impacts and protects surfers’ and waveriders’ rights of access. Buying this tee is a great way to support the campaign that recognises waves as resources that can benefit the surfing and wider communities. Another one of our most sought after tees has made a comeback – the women’s bamboo raglan tee. Bamboo is naturally sustainable, softer than cotton and is naturally anti-bacterial. These tees have been one of our best sellers as they have a flattering fit with a scoop neck, longer body and capped sleeves. All tees are just £22.50 to SAS members. This is just a small selection of our new tees and hoodies and you can check out the full range at www.sas.org.uk/shop.

pipeline_85.indd 27 21/7/11 17:18:58 fancy becoming an activist with SaS at the Relentless boardmasters this summer? SAS will be holding daily beach clean events, environmental sessions and introducing our new giant board game MARINEOPOLY at the festival site at Fistral Beach, Newquay, from 10-14th August 2011. The first 20 volunteers joining us for the daily beach cleans (1pm @ the SAS stand!) will receive an exclusive ACTIVIST t-shirt. All volunteers will be awarded with an SAS ACTIVIST certificate & SAS campaign stickers!

pipeline_85.indd 28 21/7/11 17:19:34 pipeline_85.indd 29 21/7/11 17:19:40 SpONSORSHIp SpONSORSHIp SAS Diamond 2011 sponsor SAS Gold 2011 sponsor SAS Diamond 2011 sponsor SAS Gold 2011 sponsor

SAS Silver 2011 sponsor SAS Silver 2011 sponsor

SAS Bronze 2011 sponsor SAS 5 Star sponsor SAS Bronze 2011 sponsor SAS 5 Star sponsor

SAS 3 Star sponsor SAS 2 Star sponsor SAS 3 Star sponsor SAS 2 Star sponsor

SAS 1 Star sponsor SAS Partners SAS 1 Star sponsor SAS Partners

SAS Media Partners SAS Media Partners • Carve • Boards • Surfers Path • Wavelength • Pitpilot • YachtsCarve • andBoards Yachting • Surfers • Drift Path • Surfgirl • Wavelength • Three • SixtyPitpilot • MagicseaweedYachts and Yachting • A-Side • Drift Studio • Surfgirl • A1Surf • Three Sixty • WindsurferMagicseaweed International • A-Side Studio • Sharkbait • A1Surf • Windsurfer24/7 International • Sharkbait • If your company would like to support SAS campaigns protecting waves, oceans and beaches around the UK please contactIf your company Hugo on would [email protected] like to support or SAS01872 campaigns 555 951 protectingto discuss opportunities.waves, oceans and beaches around the UK please contact Hugo on [email protected] or 01872 555 951 to discuss opportunities. pipeline | www.sas.org.uk pipeline | www.sas.org.uk pipeline_85.indd 30 21/7/11 17:19:49 pipeline_85.indd 30 21/7/11 17:19:49 • Carve • Boards • Surfers Path • Wavelength • Pitpilot • Yachts and Yachting • Drift • Surfgirl • Three Sixty • Magicseaweed • A-Side Studio • A1Surf • Windsurfer International • Sharkbait

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