Last weekend was a good reminder for me of what The Surfrider Foundation is about. Yes, they are dedicated to protecting our oceans and coastlines, but they also have a way of bringing people together.
Over two days in Montauk, I got to spend time with our local surf community out of the water.
Friday morning: Surf Safety 4.0 with Greg Long
I’ve enjoyed all four Surf Safety events organized by the Surfrider Foundation Eastern Long Island Chapter, and I’ve learned something valuable at every one. This time, two-time WSL Big Wave World Champion Greg Long led a breathwork session focused on staying calm and conserving energy underwater. One of my biggest takeaways was how much the way you breathe before going underwater can affect how your body responds. Hopefully, the next time I find myself in a hold-down, I’ll remember what I learned.
Friday evening: SURFILMUSIC
I’d been meaning to see SURFILMUSIC after watching premieres pop up along the West Coast, so when I heard The Lighthouse Cafe and Surfrider were presenting a screening in Montauk, I bought tickets right away. I thoroughly enjoyed the film. It gave me a new perspective on Jack Johnson’s evolution from surfer to filmmaker to musician, along with more insight into the stories behind his songs. It was fun to revisit films like Thicker Than Water and The September Sessions, surf films I had on DVD and probably still have somewhere in my attic.
Saturday evening: The One Ocean Gala
The weekend wrapped with The Surfrider Foundation’s One Ocean Gala at The Crow’s Nest. Greg Long was honored, Diplo performed, and the evening brought together familiar faces from Montauk and different corners of my world.
We donated First Wave Boxes to the gala, and Surfrider was kind enough to display them on the dinner tables throughout the evening. I loved hearing that the boxes got people talking, sharing favorite products and discovering brands they hadn’t heard of before. It’s something I hoped The Nami Box could do: build community by bringing independent brands together in one box and giving surfers something new to discover and share.
Grateful for Surfrider and its donors for protecting the oceans we surf, and for reminding me that some of the best parts of surfing happen out of the water.
