The Future of Surfing Year 4

For the past three years, Rerip has presented "The Future of Surfing," designed to advance sustainability in surfing while giving back to the community. While working closely with leaders in the local green movement, the event has highlighted evolving ideas and environmentally-focused practices in the surf industry and convergence opportunities with other industries. Co-hosted by the City of Solana Beach, Rerip is pleased to announce its 4^rd annual “Future of Surfing” will be held from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, September 25th, 2010 at Fletcher Cove Park. The event will again benefit the Solana Beach Junior Lifeguard Program.

All attendees who donate a used but rideable surfboard receive a coupon redeemable for product from event sponsors. Coupons are redeemable at vendor booths for surf blanks, art, shoes, clothing, gear, and other products. Donated boards will be resold at the event with proceeds benefiting the Solana Beach Junior Lifeguard Program. Local musicians, shapers, artists, vendors and environmentally-minded organizations help make the day a true community event. Local artist Wade Koniakowsky will be painting live, Berkeley students will be talking about their recent survey findings related to surf industry sustainability, and local live music by Seizo will accompany the day.

"We've been able to grow this event year after year and 2010 is shaping up to be the best yet...no pun inteded with that shaping comment", said Lisa Carpenter, Rerip co-founder. "As we convert to non-profit status, we have solidifed our mission to advance sustainability in the surf industry with a focus on reducing waste, reusing boards and community outreach programs - Reduce, Reuse and Reride. By attending "The Future of Surfing" people show their support for action and addressing crucial issues in the sustainable surf movement."

Coconut Peet's by Heather Randall

It’s been an exciting summer for Rerip’s team on many fronts. We’ve had the exciting opportunity to cross paths with a gentlemen by the name of Billy Burns, who very much thrives in the same sustainable practices as Rerip promotes. Mr. Burns is an entrepreneur at heart, and has been able to take his love of surfing and environmental awareness, and merge the two. Billy had always wished to have his own business, but wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to do.

One day, he met a surfer out in the water named Nick Abaritis. The two men quickly realized they had similar goals with their love of surfing, as well as a concern for the environment. Nick already had a successful history of repairing surf boards having worked for the industry giant, Rusty Surf boards. Nick was an ideal person for Billy to partner up with. The two meshed their skill sets and founded Coconut Peet’s in May of 2009. There is no board these two will turn away. With a mutually strong dedication to keeping as many boards out of the landfills and ripping waves as possible, Billy and Nick find themselves in a unique position to not only make money doing what they love, but also spreading awareness in the industry, and saving all who work with them, a grip of money. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Nick and Billy’s work load soon afforded them the opportunity to bring on one more member of the team. They met, and brought on fellow ocean lover, and surfer named Juan Avellaneda. For now, the 3 of them man their nearly half city block of work and storage space in Point Loma. It’s an ideal location with Ocean Beach’s breaks blocks away, there is constant traffic passing by their store front on Voltaire street. With dreams of going nowhere but up, Coconut Peet’s is sure to become a prominent influence both among surfers and environmentalists alike. Rerip is looking forward to exciting partnership opportunities that lie ahead.

Bamboo DNA Puts Boards to Use

Gerard from Bamboo DNA entwined used surfboards from Rerip (which means your old boards), panels and linseed oil from Malama Composites, and of course bamboo to display the final entries of the Safe Trestles Competition. These were displayed at the Lower Trestles Pro earlier this month.

Safe Trestles and Bamboo DNA

Rerip is working with Rebuild.org, the San Diego Chapter of Architecture for Humanity, on the Safe Trestles project. The project involves many organizations and individuals, and its goal is to create a safer, low-impact pathway to Trestles.

They opened up the design to everyone, and currently there are 104 entries ready to be judged. Rerip is one of 32 judges. The 10 semi-finalists will be displayed at the Lowers Pro surf competition on May 4th-8th.

Today, Rerip met with Gerard Minakawa of Bamboo DNA, to discuss the use of bamboo in structural, artistic and industrial design. He also loaded up his truck full of broken and damaged boards to incorporate into the display of the designs of the top 10 finalists.

Gerard is passionate about working with bamboo and has traveled the world working with many of the 1,200 different species of bamboo. He currently designs large pieces for events, festivals, parks, museums, and fences. Check out his stuff on his site, it is amazing!

Jordan and his many boards

Rerip sells and gives boards to a lot of different artists. Brenda and Wade and Steve and Jane and Gavin have all rummaged through the pile and turned gross boards into works of art. Jordan Ellingson, though, utilizes the Rerip reuse program like no one else.

Not only does he paint...check out his stuff...but he buys, trades, and sells boards to us weekly. He bought two boards a few months ago, surfed them, returned them, picked up a few more, surfed them, returned them and now has a new one I hope will work out. Jordan rips, and is a little hard on boards, but we don't mind taking them back, as there are wonderful artists who can turn them into something new. If Rerip was a steam engine, Jordan is throwing the coal. Thanks, Jordan. Much love.

Just met with Ed Lewis from the Leucadia Project and he inspired me to "keep the blogging going". It has been a while and there are new events, projects and updates that we are excited to share.

Ed and I discussed his cool new bodysurfing boards made from discarded old surfboards, and how much fun he is having on these new boards. They are beautiful, and Ed's buddies are watching him catch some of the best waves they have ever seen him catch. How cool would it be to have these boards reshaped by the shaper who made the original board? he asked. Rerip is starting to save locally shaped boards for this project. If you would like your old or broken board turned into one of these to enjoy, please contact us or Ed.

The conversation led to how we were more inspired by our neighbor's surfing, projects and ideas expressed through their blogs, than what's in the mags. If only there was a way for these creative people to make money off of sharing their thoughts and expertise. A great idea and a great conversation with a talented mind.

Help Rerip--6/5/09

The Beginning

The Rerip.com recycling program started simply as a way to reduce waste from the surf industry. We noticed that many of the boards people were throwing away or not surfing were still valuable, either as refurbished boards, canvases for art work or as furniture. Waste or by products associated in the fabrication of new boards also seemed to hold potential for creative uses. As Rerip evolves, new uses and ideas for boards are continually being tested. One of the most innovative is the use of them as concrete fillers to be utilized within the construction industry.

Through preliminary research and development many questions have been raised, however a set of central questions are now at the forefront. (Many basic questions are answered on our site.)

The Questions

Is this effort and proposed action really going to reduce waste, and is it viable? What is the carbon footprint of this process, from collecting the boards to the end product? How much energy will it take to transport, deconstruct, mix and then reapply the used boards and scraps to applicable material? Would the amount of energy used be more costly than to simply allow these boards to sit in a landfill?

Current Collection and Logistics

We do know a few things about viability as we have been testing the idea for about a year now. First of all, we are amazed at how successful the program has become. We receive emails and calls almost every day from people around the world either wanting to give away a board, or replicate what we have created in their local area.

Rerip has established partnerships with the City of San Diego, Patagonia and Holmen Surf Designs to aid in promotion, education and board collection. With these partners, Rerip launched its initial program to facilitate its ability to collect large numbers of unwanted or damaged boards, as well as small amounts of cuttings, dust and old foam for R&D purposes. While there is no program in place for the scraps, there is now broad recognition across the community that surfboards can be "recycled".

Current Reuse Opportunities

Many of the donated boards are resold for low prices to local artists or given to non-profits and schools. Unrideable boards are given to EcoCentric Renovations, a green construction company and think tank in Los Angeles currently developing ways to incorporate the old boards into concrete for lightweight, non-structural applications.

Sarkis Vartanian, Head of R&D at EcoCentric, has found a way to incorporate the old foam in a way that has attracted the attention of many stakeholders in the concrete industry, as well as others in the composite and reuse industries for other convergence applications. Testing is still underway and waiting for approval for public and widespread use.

Where We Are Today

Because of the tremendous outreach and support, Rerip and EcoCentric are now experiencing growth beyond our current capabilities.

To this point, we have had amazing luck every time we have reached out to the surf, environmental, and scientific communities for ideas, help and support. We are now realizing the magnitude of the program's potential and its applications outside of the surf and construction industries. In order to be able to reach our next milestone, our two companies need help. You have shown your support already by bringing out your old boards, being stoked about what we are doing and simply spreading the word. We are now in a position where if we want to execute on the opportunities within reach, we need financial support, either through sponsorship, donations or other contributions. We are also seeking expertise in life cycle analysis to validate that this program will indeed benefit us and those that come after.