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The Earthwave Global Surf Challenge is an initiative created by the Cape Town based Kahuna Surfing Academy that showcases the global nature of the surfing community, highlights their environmental concerns and issues a "call to action" on how we can reduce our impact on climate change.
By staging attempts on the Guinness World Record for the ‘most surfers riding one wave simultaneously’ on beaches worldwide on the first Sunday in September annually, Earthwave provides a platform for surfers of every age and ability to participate in an enjoyable group activity.
Leveraging the newsworthiness of world record attempts, Earthwave seeks to raise awareness of the threat of Global Warming and its effects on our oceans and waves while mobilizing the trendsetting surfing fraternity through practical advice on how to become part of the solution to the most devastating problem ever faced by mankind.
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Surfers are more attuned to the environment than the average person. We follow weather patterns around the world and dream of riding far away places. It's a global tribe with tremendous passion and a deep connection to the environment, which is why you find surfers at the forefront of awareness.
GRANT WASHBURN - Big Wave Legend and Mavericks guru
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Use a water-saving shower head
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News
| 1 Sep 2007 |
| | Inaugural edition of Earthwave goes Global on Sunday 2 September |
The inaugural edition of Earthwave goes global on Sunday 2 September when seven nations, spanning the planet from Australia in the east to Tahiti in the west, stage events that will showcase the worldwide nature of the surfing community and raise awareness on Global Warming.
Founded by the Kahuna Surfing Academy based in Cape Town, South Africa, the Earthwave Global Surf Challenge utilises the publicity and crowd-pulling attraction of attempts on the Guinness World Record for the ‘most surfers to ride one wave simultaneously’ as a platform to issue a ‘call to action’ on how to combat the climate crisis.
Starting in Australia, where Munga & Krista Barry’s Godfather’s of the Ocean surf school are running an event on Burleigh Heads beach in Queensland and followed by Reunion Island where the Surf League is concerned about the predicted three metre swell for Sunday but will be down on Trois Bassins beach anyway, Earthwave follows the sun around the world to its next stop in South Africa.
There the founders of the concept have organised a huge event between 10am and 4pm at Muizenberg in Cape Town where they are expecting to exceed the 349 participants of 2006 and hoping to break the 100 mark for surfers on one wave.
Beach action includes talks on Global Warming and other environmental issues along with fund raising activities that include the auction of artistically painted surfboards, a Dig for Gold and a raffle offering prizes totaling tens of thousands of Rands kindly donated by locally businesses and the SA surf industry.
Onwards to England where Ticket to Ride Worldwide Surfing Adventures are quietly confident of being able to capture the world record and are anticipating 300 or more participants to register at Polzeath Beach for their 6pm attempt.
Having teamed up with the local Surf’s Up Boardriders Club, Earthwave England is donating all the proceeds from registration to the renowned Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) environmental pressure group, offering fantastic prizes in a Dig for Gold and then raffling a TTride surfboard at the post-event celebration.
Earthwave Brazil is being coordinated by legendary promoter Rico de Souza at Quebra Mar in the city of Santos with the assistance of sponsors Ecorodivias, one of the country’s top road concession companies, the Mayor of Santos and fellow Brazilian surfing legend Picuruta Salazar. The event features a longboard contest and will host celebrities and experts on ecology to take the message of Global Warming to the beach-loving Brazilian community.
Mar del Plata is the venue for Earthwave Argentina where local Surfrider Foundation head Gustavo Huici has organised an event that coincides with a census on the contamination on the beaches of the country in order to emphasize the message of environmental awareness.
And 20 hours after it kicked off in Australia, the Earthwave Global Surf Challenge will end on the French Polynesian island of Tahiti where promoter Christophe Holozet and his Popoti Surf Club stage an event on Taharuu Beach in the town of Papara.
Starting with the customary colourful ceremony where the Master of Ceremonies blesses Mother Nature and the ocean, the element which unifies all the surfers of the world, hundreds of surfers will form a huge circle behind the waves to signify the circumference of the earth before trying to break the world record.
Also at stake at each of the events will be the inaugural Earthwave records for the most surfers on a wave, the most registered participants in an event and for the organisation donating the most money to worthy environmental causes.
“Earthwave is designed to motivate promoters on every coastline on the planet to organise an event on the first Sunday in September annually where the local nature of the aspirational surfing lifestyle can be portrayed to a global audience,” said Paul Botha, who along with his son Dene have implemented the concept.
“Surfers of every age and ability can participate and the newsworthiness of world record attempts can be used to raise awareness of the climate crisis and present solutions on how everyone can adapt to a more sustainable way of life.”
Further information on the Earthwave Global Surf Challenge, including contact details for the organisers in each country, satellite photos of the beaches being used, colourful images and details of the events can be found at the website www.earthwave2007.com
Organisations, companies and media entities interested in more details of this and future editions of Earthwave are invited to contact Paul Botha via kahunasurf@mweb.co.za
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