Reinventing the Outdoors contest: The legendary surfer has achieved amazing feats on water, but has also seen pollution getting worse along the way.
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GOOD: How did you first become involved with Surfrider Foundation?
Laird Hamilton: I first heard about Surfrider Foundation through friends on Maui who were involved on a grassroots level. I saw how they were able to make a difference through the local chapter by raising both money and awareness. In my travels across Europe, particularly in France, I have seen Surfrider Foundation operating locally on a global level.
G: There are so many challenges affecting the world’s oceans. Which issues do you feel need to be at the forefront of the conversation?
LH: A true understanding and compassion for the fragility of ocean life is the issue I feel is most crucial to any conversation about the ocean. On a micro level, individuals should feel a sense of both responsibility and empowerment to doing all the little things that matter to the coastline—pick up trash, stop littering, recycle—scores of small contributions can quickly lead to large scale change. On a macro level, it is important that we hold corporations and politicians accountable to understanding the needs of our ecosystem—they represent us, and we are all dependent on that ecosystem—we posses the power and capability to prevent its destruction.
G: Over the course of your surfing career, how have you seen pollution affect the sport?
LH: Quite simply I have seen the water pollution get worse and worse. The problem has evolved from trash on our beaches to a real lack of awareness for the quality and health of our ocean water.
Image 1 by Michael Muller
Image 2 by Tim McKenna