HOPE
Rain is predicted to replenish the dry river beds and struggling reservoirs of California this winter. If the current El Nino weather pattern holds, warm ocean temperatures should bring relief to our depleted waterways and the
Sierra Nevada Mountains will once again shimmer with snow covered peaks. Rain will be welcomed but it won’t solve all of our problems. One winter of rain is a temporary solution to the critical issue of a warming planet. The drought is only one example of the innumerable problems we face around the world as the result of climate change. Our oceans are warming, atmospheric CO2 levels are maxing out and global temperatures continue to rise. Whether you believe these changes are caused exclusively by humans, natural environmental cycles or a combination of both, there is no denying they are occurring. The paddle and water sports community are millions strong and growing every year. We are part of a movement that connects us to each other, to nature and to our environments. I’m hopeful that we’ll use our passions to take action, adapt our way of living and work to make a positive impact on a changing world. Every action counts; they all add up. As a paddler and concerned citizen of earth, I try to limit my impact on the environment and specifically my impact on the drought here in California. I believe the first step in creating change is to recognize the problem and share it with others. The second step is education. While personal water conservation is important, it only makes up about 10% of total California water use. However, agriculture uses a whopping 40% of California’s water supply. Taking short showers will help but decreasing the demand for beef and water intensive crops might have a much more significant effect. Education is valuable in making fully informed decisions that will have the greatest impact. Step three is action. Do something! Decide to make one personal change that decreases your impact on the environment this week. Stand up paddling is the fastest growing water sport in the world. We would be naive to think that the sport’s tremendous growth is not having a negative impact on the environment. The production, packaging and transport of hundreds of thousands of boards does not go unnoticed in the global ecosystem. As a professional paddler, I receive at least six boards per year and spew my fair share of CO2 crisscrossing the globe during race season. I struggle with this knowledge every day. I am not going to stop paddling and I don’t expect the SUP industry to stop production. Perhaps for my own conscience, I want to do something about the dichotomy created by earth-friendly-paddling-vibes and the reality of mass SUP consumerism. I hope you’ll consider joining me to work with the SUP industry on instituting green projects that will help us to limit our environmental impact. I’m sure some of you are already working on projects or have ideas to help SUP “go green.” Send your ideas and I promise to work on my end to do all I can. Let’s work together to adapt our lives and the SUP industry to ensure a bright future for our planet. SUP
