Surfrider Trick or Treat
Beware the Bag Monster!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
With the winds kicking up and the fall leaves blowing, SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti can’t help thinking back to that fateful Surfrider Huntington/Seal Beach meeting on Halloween 2011. And now that the beach surveillance camera video was just found, it’s even more in our minds.
No one wanted to hold an executive committee meeting on Halloween, but it was the only time we could talk to Paul Ushon, the Beach Cities Disposal Board chairman, about the upcoming plastics initiative vote to get plastics out of the ocean.
When Ushon arrived at the remote River’s End Cafe it was almost dark and we were all anxious to get home.
Tony and Jeff had predicted Ushon would be difficult and they were right. “Take away plastic straws and the fast-food places will complain,” he said argumentatively. “And, if people don’t like plastic cups, why do all the cars have so many cup holders? What’s a little plastic anyway?”
“It’s more than a little,” said Sunny. “Haven’t you heard of the Bag Monster?” We explained that the plastic trash each person throws away each year is enough to make a giant monster. But, he just laughed.
“It’s not funny,” said Jeff. “The plastic gets in the ocean and is eaten by fish and gets into the food chain.”
“Like I care,” Ushon snorted. “I don’t eat fish.”
Exasperated, Tony asked him point blank, “So, what’s your vote going to be?”
“What’s it going to be?” Ushon said, drawing out the suspense to put the surfers in their place. Now he was the man. Not like when he used to get sand kicked in his face in high school. “Let’s just say you’re getting a trick tonight, no treats.” Then, with a smug look on his face, Paul Ushon walked out the door into the dark parking lot…never to be seen again.
Until now when the video was found. The video shows Ushon looking around, as if he hears something. Then he starts to run. Suddenly a strange shadow comes into view as Ushon struggles to open his car door.
Towering above him, the figure is a gigantic, translucent, writhing mass of plastic cups, straws, bottles, bags, and God knows what else.
Looking at the gruesome footage as the oozing horror of a Bag Monster sucks Ushon into the red slash of his cavernous mouth, we were all speechless.
Except for Sunny, who exclaimed, “He was recycled!”
Happy Halloween!
Beware the Bag Monster!
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Surfrider Cleans Huntington Harbour
Staying Safe, Cleaning Up
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter is removing trash from Huntington Harbour again.
Shane Coons, the chapter’s Harbour Cleanup Chair, said that on July 12th, with safety precautions in place, 15 volunteers collected 130 lbs. of trash.
Using kayaks provided by Huntington Harbour Boat Rentals, the volunteers kept a safe distance while navigating the harbour’s waterways along Sunset Beach to collect the accumulated trash.
Coons said, ” It was a quiet, peaceful and successful morning dedicated to protecting the environment and we’re grateful to those who could join us.”
Afterward, everyone felt a sense of accomplishment and was happy to see the harbour so clean again.
If you would like to participate in a Harbour Cleanup, contact Coons at: Shane.Coons@seclawoffices.com
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Surfrider Float Wins 1st Prize in HB Parade
July 4, 2011 Flashback
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation not only cleans our beaches and protects the environment, but it’s part of the community. July 4th, 2011, in Huntington Beach, was a time to celebrate Independence Day and the things that unite us. It was a perfect SoCal day for a parade.
Surfrider’s HB chapter was ready to share the stoke and provide a float to remember – a giant Tidal Wave of Trash made out of recycled materials.
It conveyed Surfrider’s environmental message…and was a real show-stopper – winning First Prize!
There may not be a parade down Main Street this year, but we still have these memories…and the commitment to make the world a better place.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Food For Friends
Celebrating the Spirit of Ohana
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Instead of doing beach cleanups now, Surfrider Foundation volunteers are helping their friends and neighbors in need.
In the spirit of Ohana, they are gathering food to share with the community.
On Mother’s Day weekend volunteers from the Huntington/Seal Beach chapter joined forces with OneHBConnects to collect donated food at three drive-thru locations in Huntington Beach for later distribution.
Tony Soriano, the advisor to the Huntington/Seal Beach chapter, picked these fresh oranges to give out right off the tree.
During these difficult times, it’s important to remember the common bonds we share that bring us closer together…even when we’re apart.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Student Art Contest for the Environment
Huntington Beach Art Exhibit
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
SoCal student artists are putting their visions for protecting the environment into their art for the Huntington Beach Art Contest – 20/20…Perfect Vision for a Sustainable Future.
The contest, co-sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation, invites middle school and high school students to participate and have their artworks judged on creativity, originality and quality – just as these 2019 winners did.
Whether the focus is on land or water, students must depict what a sustainable future on Earth would be.
The deadline for entries
is April 30th
Submit at HB City Hall
The winning artists will be honored at an HB City Council meeting and receive prizes provided by the sponsors.
We only have one Earth. Through art we can help to save it.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Michigan Teens Clean Huntington Beach
Surfrider Gives Warm Welcome on MLK Day
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The new year got off to a clean start in Huntington Beach, CA, with cleanups on the beach and at Huntington Harbour.
And a special Martin Luther King Day event that had students from Michigan’s Great Lakes region joining in.
In less than an hour, the 46 teens – who are part of the Gone Boarding program in the Forest Hills Public School District in Grand Rapids – picked up over 62 lbs. of trash from the beach.
H/SB chapter advisor Tony Soriano, who led the cleanup with education coordinator KC Fockler, told the students about Surfrider:
“What we do and our mission of the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.”
It was a message that hit home with the students, who share many of the same goals through Gone Boarding, an educational program that focuses on teaching them how to design, build and ride all types of boards – from snowboards and surfboards to skateboards.
Channeling the students’ love of sports into the tangible skill of making their own boards, the program also focuses on developing relationship skills and interacting with the community – both locally and globally – to make a positive difference.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Living Green In Huntington Beach
Surfrider Foundation Chapter Wins Award
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce announced the 2019 winner of its annual Living Green Award –
the Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter.
The chapter’s weekly beach cleanups, ongoing environmental education activities and community volunteer work earned it a wave of support in the balloting.
The award honors “the organization making the most considerable effort to reduce their carbon footprint,” said Amy Anderson, the chamber’s Administrative Coordinator. Surfrider’s H/SB Chapter does this and more, keeping the local beaches clean and adding to the vibrancy of the city.
Chapter President Stephanie Pedroza and Tony Soriano, the chapter’s Staff Advisor, were excited to win the award. Soriano said, “Surfrider is honored to receive this award and to be able to help make Huntington Beach such a special place.”
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Paddle For Clean Water
Join Surfrider On October 6TH
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Join the hundreds of participants who will be paddling their surfboards, SUPs, and kayaks around San Diego’s Ocean Beach Pier to raise awareness of what the Surfrider Foundation is doing to protect and advocate for clean water.
At 1,971 ft., it’s the longest concrete pier on the West Coast.
So, get ready to paddle and be part of the solution for clean water. Surfrider’s San Diego Chapter is eager to have you on board.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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International Coastal Cleanup Day 2019
Surfrider and Others Come Together for the Ocean
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider Foundation members will be out in force for International Coastal Cleanup Day, Saturday, September 21 – one of the world’s largest annual volunteer preservation events for our ocean, waves and beaches.
A global movement encompassing 6 million volunteers throughout the U.S. and in 90 countries, ICCD also includes Heal the Bay, Ocean Conservancy, Sierra Club, and other environmental groups.
There will be activities and events at local beaches to clean the coastline and generate awareness of what people can do to promote healthy beaches on a daily basis.
Some of the top five most commonly collected items on ICCD last year were cigarette butts, plastic beverage bottles, food wrappers, plastic bottle caps and plastic straws.
To find an event and join in, check with a Surfrider Foundation chapter near you or one of the other participating groups.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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After the Open
Surfrider and Vans Clean the Beach!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
After the winners have been announced and the half-million spectators head for home, the Vans US Open of Surfing isn’t officially over until the beach is clean.
That’s when the Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter steps in for its annual beach cleanup with Vans employees.
Away from center stage with just the sounds of the waves to cheer them on, the H/SB volunteers and Vans team, along with some help from the Gudauskas brothers, get to work.
Enjoying the spirit of ohana – family – they collect all the trash and remnants left behind from the nine-day festival of surf, skateboard and BMX competitions.
Sharing the stoke and friendships is what makes Vans – and surfing! – so special…an awesome blend of “Off the Wall” experiences.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Surfrider Celebrates Chapter’s Newlyweds
Heather and YoYo – Flying High Together!
The weekend after International Surfing Day was the perfect time for the Surfrider Foundation’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter to celebrate the marriage of newlyweds Heather and YoYo Bianchi.
Partners in LA Video Drone, which provides aerial coverage of beach events and coordinates the chapter’s media, the couple was relaxed and happy at this post-wedding reception. “We’re glad that we can be together with our Surfrider family,” said Heather.
Joe “Samoa” McMullin, his wife Lori and their dog Rusty made everyone feel at home in their tropical backyard oasis.
Joe’s tri-tip and sausages, Tony’s famous chili and Richard’s jalapena poppers spiced up the day.
And, the Patron tequila toast to the newlyweds reminded everyone of the feelings of love and ohana that we all share.
Cheers to Heather and YoYo!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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International Surfing Day – 2019
An Epic Day to Share the Stoke!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
From the littlest groms to the most seasoned surfers, the Surfrider tribe came together on International Surfing Day to celebrate the ocean and the sport they love.
In Huntington Beach Tony Soriano was front and center making sure that all went well and everyone had a great time.
Haus of Show kept the good vibes going with yoga on the beach.
There were surf and eco-minded exhibitors of all kinds.
Long-time sponsor Volcom shared the stoke and Derek Sabori told how they ethically source materials.
The LA Video Drone soared high above the crowd.
Surfers morphed into mermaids.
And everyone pitched in to clean the beach…making it beautiful.
Like Tree in Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree story, the Beach gives us everything and now this was a day to give back to the Beach and to celebrate surfing.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Cowabunga!
Surfrider Celebrates International Surfing Day!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider Foundation chapters around the world are heading to the beach on June 15th to celebrate surfing – the sport of Hawaiian kings.
With up to 200 events in more than 30 countries, it’s a day to honor the beach and share the stoke.
Meet with friends, catch some waves, clean the beach and give thanks for this sport that offers so much joy.
When British explorer Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaii in 1778 and saw a Pacific Islander surfing he was captivated by the sight.
Cook wrote in his journal: “I could not help concluding this man had the most supreme pleasure while he was driven so fast and smoothly by the sea.”
So, join the ISD celebration, get on board and enjoy the ride.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Hands Across the Sand
Event Promotes Clean Beaches
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider Foundation chapters across the U.S. are gearing up for the annual Hands Across the Sand event May 18, 2019.
Started in 2009 by Surfrider member Dave Rauschkolb, the event brings people together to oppose new offshore drilling and fossil fuel development and to promote clean energy.
Among the organizations involved are Oceana, Healthy Gulf, SoWal Beaches, Earth Ethics, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
At 12 p.m. local time participants at beaches and parks around the world will join hands for 15 minutes to demonstrate their support for protecting our coasts and finding new energy solutions.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Ohana Day – Celebrate Mother Earth!
Family, Friends, Fun & the Future
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation’s Ohana Day, April 13th, is a Hawaiian-themed celebration of family and Mother Earth that brings people together with beach activities and environmental education.
It’s a day to have fun, learn about the ocean, take a surfing lesson, help clean the beach, listen to music and more. It’s also a time to get the next generation on board to respect and safeguard the environment so we can all work together toward a better future.
That’s happening now with the Surfrider Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter’s new alliance with students from the Talbert Middle School Surfrider Club.
H/SB chapter advisory board director Tony Soriano and education chairman KC Fockler praised the students’ efforts. Fockler said he’s excited about their “passion about being stewards of the ocean.”
Amy Trimm, the club’s advisor, adds that it’s “taking on a variety of projects that would make anyone proud.” In addition to helping with beach cleanups, the students are developing presentations for K-5 students about protecting the environment and are reaching out to restaurants to utilize Ocean Friendly food practices that reduce plastic pollution.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are excited about everything the students are doing, too, and the power of Ohana to make the world a better place.
The word “Ohana” comes from the Hawaiian word for taro plant (oha), the Hawaiian staple of life. In Hawaiian lore it’s believed that, like the plant, we are all connected to a common bulb with shoots sprouting out to create a universal family.
Now, with the addition of the Talbert Middle School Surfrider Club, that family is stronger than ever!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Boise State Broncos On Board!
Students Help Surfrider Clean Seal Beach
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach chapter was excited to welcome the Boise State Broncos on board for a special beach cleanup in Seal Beach, March 19th.
Twenty Boise State University students came all the way from Idaho – some 900 miles – to enjoy the SoCal sunshine and help clean the beach. Tony Soriano, the H/SB Chapter Coordinator, said, “It was the farthest distance any group has come to join in a cleanup.”
Living up to the school’s motto “You don’t just go to Boise State. You begin an Adventure,” the students fanned out over the beach collecting 379.5 lbs. of trash.
One student alone, Kimberlynn Mumma, picked up 60 lbs. – winning a skateboard as a prize!
The energetic volunteers “learned a lot from the experience,” said Soriano, adding that they were part of Boise State’s TRIO Upward Bound program from Borah and Capital high schools and were all interested in environmentalism and sustainability.
And, thanks to their efforts, the beach was clean again…bringing the students one step closer on their journey to change the world.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Protecting CA’s Santa Ana River Basin
CSUSB and Surfrider Join Forces
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter members Tony Soriano and Pam Conti were featured speakers at California State University, San Bernardino’s Snow to Sea event in February discussing stewardship of the Santa Ana River Basin.
The Santa Ana River Basin, which stretches from the San Bernardino Mountains through the Inland Empire and Orange County to the Pacific Ocean in Huntington Beach, is the largest and most populated river basin in Southern California. Covering 210 sq. miles, it crosses a diverse landscape from Alpine forests to semi-arid deserts and has an impact on agricultural, urban and recreational properties.
Calling on students, faculty and the community to become environmental stewards of the river, the event’s goal was to educate, energize and engage people in learning about the numerous opportunities to experience and protect the unique resources of the river basin.
It was also an opportunity for the university to showcase the effectiveness of utilizing an interdisciplinary approach that draws on everyone’s skills to enhance the river basin and make good use of its environmental resources.
Conti, the H/SB Chapter’s education and Blue Water Task Force chair, has an up-close view of the Santa Ana River where it empties into the sea. To measure pollutants in the ocean, she developed a program for her fifth grade students at the Pegasus School to conduct water testing as part of the curriculum.
Soriano, the director of the H/SB Chapter’s advisory board, helps organize weekly beach clean-ups in Huntington and Seal Beach and works with organizations and the community to build awareness of the need to safeguard our waterways and oceans – from the mountains to the sea.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Last Cleanup of the Year!
Surfrider and Costa Clean the Beach
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter came together on Saturday, December 8, for one last beach cleanup in 2018.
With sponsor sunglass company Costa del Mar on board, the cleanup capped an amazing year of beach cleanups with 260 volunteers collecting 501 lbs. of trash.
Costa, who’s celebrating its 35th anniversary, is a member of the Surfrider Foundation’s Coastal Defender’s program, a collection of leaders who have aligned to strengthen Surfrider’s mission to protect and enjoy our oceans, waves and beaches.
In addition to removing trash from the beach, the year-end cleanup was a fun-filled day for everyone and a chance to educate the community about the need to keep the environment clean.
Working together to get rid of pollution is critical for us and for Planet Earth.
Let’s make a New Year’s resolution to: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
That’s the purrfect solution so we all can enjoy clean beaches!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Garden
Blooms At Shorebreak Hotel
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter dropped by the Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel this fall – not to check in, but to plant an Ocean Friendly Garden (OFG).
In addition to being beautiful and adding to the hotel’s beach vibe, the garden focuses on three principles to protect the environment: Conservation, Permeability, and Retention.
Utilizing low-maintenance, drought-resistant plants, it conserves natural resources and guards against irrigation runoff, keeping pollutants out of our waterways and oceans.
The Shorebreak – a surf-inspired Huntington Beach resort that’s one of Condé Nast Traveler‘s top ten Southern California hotels – prides itself on being eco-friendly. Utilizing sustainable practices, it uses nontoxic cleaning supplies, extensively recycles, and minimizes its water consumption.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti are excited about the hotel’s new garden and what the Surfrider volunteers and partner SiteOne Landscape Supplies did to bring it to life.
With its coastal feel, open-air patio with firepits, and beach-chic dining, The Shorebreak is the perfect spot for an Ocean Friendly Garden to bloom.
Thanks to Surfrider and LA Video Drone for photos!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Celebrating Tony and Ben!
A Surfrider Salute During Surfing Open!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter had a lot to celebrate during this year’s Vans US Open of Surfing.
Tony Soriano was honored for his 12-years of service as the chapter’s chair, working to keep our oceans, waves and beaches clean.
Surfing is in Tony’s DNA and he loves the challenge and the thrill of it. “Surfing isn’t a team sport. It’s you against nature,” he explained to SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel. He joined the Surfrider Foundation to help clean up the environment and to educate others about the need to protect it.
The chapter thanked Tony with a big splash at a pool party on the first day of the Open.
At the same time, chapter member Duke Aipa’s father – legendary Hawaiian boardshaper Ben Aipa – made headlines for two prestigious awards: his induction into the Surfing Walk of Fame and Surfers’ Hall of Fame.
Ben, a former professional surfer who was mentored by Duke Kahanamoku and is known for his innovative swallow tail surfboards, has coached many top surfers. He took up surfing at the age of 23 and says that it “forever changed my life.”
The Open does more than focus on world class competition. It focuses on the things that bring us together and the people who are making a difference in the sport of surfing and the ocean environment.
In this week of awards and honors in Surf City USA, it was exciting to see the recognition Tony and Ben received!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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International Surfing Day – June 16, 2018
Surfing, Summer Solstice, New Sponsor and More!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug & Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter is excited to celebrate International Surfing Day and the Summer Solstice all in one while welcoming a new eco-minded sponsor on board – Yachak Organic, maker of Yerba Mate beverages.
So mark your calendar and join in the festivities at the Huntington Beach Pier from 8 – 1 pm! It’s a tri-chapter event with Newport and Long Beach and everyone’s welcome. There will be lots to celebrate as surfers come together to share in the joy of this sport of Hawaiian kings and give back to our oceans and beaches.
“There will be paddle-outs, surfing lessons, SUP demos, yoga on the beach, surf industry displays, beach cleanups, and music,” says Duke Aipa, the H/SB Chapter’s Surf Ambassador.
An annual event started in 2005 by the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation and Surfing magazine, there are now ISD events around the world.
“Surfrider’s H/SB Chapter is in good company this year with ISD Title Sponsor Yachak Organic because they share the same commitment to protect and give back to the environment,” says Chapter Chair Tony Soriano.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel learned that Yachak is the name the indigenous Kichwa people of the Sarayaku in the Ecuadorian Amazon give to their Shamans in honor of “the one who knows.”
Like the Shamans, Yachak Organic upholds high standards. Its Yerba Mate products are certified Fair Trade through the Fair for Life Organization. Its supply chain ingredients include Fair Trade Organic Yerba Mate and FTO sugar from Brazil and contribute to over 3,000 Fair Trade jobs in local communities. Plus Yachak Organic products are certified Non-GMO by the “Non GMO Project”, certified Kosher through the Orthodox Union, and are Gluten-Free and Vegan.
Yachak Organic is glad to be part of Surfrider’s family and able to share the stoke on ISD. It says, “As a new company our goal is to protect endangered species and the environment. Yachak Organic proudly supports the Surfrider Foundation, Mali Elephant Project, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Save the Elephants, Orangutan Project and the Orangutan Conservancy.”
With a whole host of other sponsors out in force for ISD, as well – including longtime supporters Vans, Volcom, Kind, Rubio’s, Chick-fil-A, and more – it’s sure to be a sunny day!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Reduce Reuse Recycle Surf Off
Event Promotes Clean Oceans!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach member Seth Matson does more than focus on keeping his local beaches clean. Through the non-profit Drains to Ocean organization he started he works on getting litter and pollution out of the waterways that lead to the ocean.
To help build awareness of upstream pollution, Matson and former pro surfer Jeff Deffenbaugh teamed up to host this year’s Drains to Ocean eco-friendly Reduce Reuse Recycle Surf Off event in Huntington Beach on May 19th to promote clean waterways and beaches.
One of the key ways to get pollution out of the ocean is to “stop it at its source,” says Matson, noting that the major cause of ocean and beach pollution is from upstream water runoff bringing discarded trash.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel have seen first hand how hard Matson works keeping our beaches clean. It’s a big job. Every time someone throws a wrapper, cigarette butt or other trash on the ground it ends up somewhere…often at the beach.
Eight million pieces of trash enter the ocean everyday. Cigarette butts are the number one item. Worldwide over 4 1/2 trillion cigarette butts are littered each year, many of them ending up in the sea.
With its grassroots network of volunteers, Drains to Ocean is helping to reduce the level of pollution in our rivers, lakes and oceans and to protect the environment for everyone to enjoy.
The organization’s annual RRR Surf Off brings family and friends together for a day of surfing contests, beach cleanup, educational activities, awards ceremony, art show and more.
This year’s surfing finalists got a free pair of Vans shoes and the winners got unique trophies – artwork collages made from recycled materials found on the beach.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Help Your Harbor!
Surfrider Fights Inland Pollution
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter members do more than keep the beaches clean. They’ve taken their cleanup efforts upstream to Huntington Harbour.
Under the direction of Help Your Harbor chair Shane Coons, shown here with Councilwoman Jill Hardy, volunteers are cleaning Huntington Harbour.
They are also raising awareness about the link between pollution in inland waterways and ocean and beach pollution that comes from water runoff. Most ocean pollution begins on land and flows to the sea.
Exchanging surfboards for kayaks, volunteers can be seen on the first Sunday of every month removing trash from the harbor and talking to locals about the need to properly dispose of waste and use biodegradable materials that don’t harm the environment.
In February action sports company VANS and Surfrider joined forces to clean the harbor – removing 68 lbs. of trash!
Together they made the harbor look beautiful and helped protect crucial ecosystems – a win/win for everyone!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Surfrider Rings in the Holidays!
Tri-Chapter Party Celebrates the Season
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfers from Long Beach to Newport Beach were on board for Surfrider’s annual Tri-Chapter Holiday Party at Campus JAX restaurant in Newport Beach.
With Newport Beach hosting the event, chapter chair Darrel Ferguson greeted everyone who walked in the door. Heidi Schaible (Long Beach chair) joined in.
And Tony Soriano (Huntington/Seal Beach chair) helped keep the festivities going.
There were stories to share and updates on all the year’s events and achievements.
Campus JAX was the perfect place to ring in the holidays.
It’s Newport Beach’s first certified Ocean Friendly Restaurant.
That definitely added to to the holiday cheer!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Surfrider Presents Insider Look At Sharks In SoCal
An Epic Evening With Dr. Chris Lowe
Sharks are becoming more ever-present at SoCal beaches. To find out more about this phenomenon, Surfrider invited Dr. Chris Lowe of the CSU, Long Beach, Shark Lab to address October’s tri-chapter meeting of the Huntington/Seal Beach, Long Beach and Newport Beach chapters.
Dr. Lowe is just the one to explain and discuss all things shark.
He and his team of students have been monitoring and tagging Great White Sharks with high-tech transmitters and receivers since the early 2000s and observing shark behavior up and down California’s coast from Ventura to San Diego County.
Studying their migratory patterns, Dr. Lowe has seen firsthand what many people are talking about – the influx of juvenile sharks into SoCal waters. Attracted by warmer waters and an abundant food source, these “beach babies” appear to have no desire to leave the cradle.
Everyone gathered for Dr. Lowe’s talk was eager to learn more about these giant sea creatures that both intimidate and fill us with wonder.
As the meeting began, SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel could feel the anticipation and excitement in the room.
Sharing scientific data, personal experiences and photos, Dr. Lowe took the audience into the shark’s world and showed the role that sharks play in ocean ecosystems.
As Dr. Lowe pointed out, sharks – as apex predators – help to maintain a necessary balance among different types of sea life. One of the reasons we’re seeing more of them is because of the healthiness of California’s coastline, which creates a desirable environment for them.
Rather than being afraid of sharks, he emphasized the importance of being educated about them and gaining an understanding and appreciation of them.
With more beach babies to come, the more we know about sharks the better we can prepare for their arrival.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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International Surfing Day 2017
An Epic Day to Celebrate Surfing
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfers around the world were up with the sun to ride the waves, clean the beaches and celebrate the Summer Solstice (June 20).
In Huntington Beach, CA (Surf City USA) Surfrider Foundation members were excited to share the stoke and get the community on board to protect the oceans, waves and beaches.
Family, friends, environmental groups, surf industry leaders and more came together to enjoy the summer vibes.
The kids were excited, too, to hear Joel Harper read from his books All the Way to the Ocean and Sea Change, which both tell about the need to protect the ocean and marine sea life.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel could feel the energy all around us.
You couldn’t ask for a more purrfect day for ISD. It was out of this world.
Definitely the cat’s meow!
To see more about ISD & its Guinness World Record, click: ISD Guinness
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Ohana Day – 2017
Surfrider Enjoys Wave of Aloha Spirit!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug & Patti Kishel
Sounds of Hawaiian music could be heard coming from the beach in Seal Beach, CA on Saturday April 15th as everyone came out to join in the Surfrider Foundation’s annual Ohana (Family) Day celebration hosted by Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter and Kohl’s.
Surfrider members were out in force, organizing beach cleanups and leading the kids in educational and hands-on activities to learn more about the ocean and how to protect the environment.
There was so much to see and do.
Cotton candy to eat and waves to catch.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel always love this fun-filled day that celebrates family and friends and Mother Earth.
The Three Amigos!
The beauty of ohana is that it doesn’t just last for a day. It lasts a lifetime
To see the complete story about Surfrider’s Ohana Day celebration, click: Ohana Day
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Surfrider Builds Wave of Support Around the World!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The non-profit Surfrider Foundation is protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches with a grassroots network that circles the globe.
Working with members, volunteers, partners and sponsors, Surfrider is turning the tide on environmental pollution and safeguarding our natural resources for generations to come and for all to enjoy.
From cleaning up beaches and protecting sea life to educating the public on ways to reduce, reuse and recycle, Surfrider is making our coastal communities better.
2016 marked a decade of accomplishment – 400 environmental victories!
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel can’t wait to see what’s next. It’s amazing what you can do when everyone’s on board!
To see more about Surfrider’s victories, click on: 400
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Coastal Cleanup Day – 2016
Surfrider Foundation Cleans Up!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Volunteers around the globe participated in the non-profit Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup Day, Saturday, September 17.
The Surfrider Foundation joined with other environmental and community groups to pick up trash and help to make the beaches clean.
In Surf City, 308 volunteers in Huntington Beach collected almost 400 lbs. of trash, including bottle caps and straws, single-use plastic bags, discarded children’s toys…
and more than 7,000 cigarette butts.
By the end of the day, the beach was sparkling and picture-perfect beautiful!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Kids Stoked at Stoke-O-Rama!
Surfrider Helps at Event for Young Surfers
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Just as Vans US Open of Surfing 2016 was getting started in Huntington Beach, north of the pier another surfing event (July 23) was attracting a crowd – Stoke-O-Rama, the fun surfing competition for groms ages 12 and under.
Created by the Gudauskas brothers – pro-surfers Dane, Tanner and Pat – and sponsored by Vans, the event, which is more about camaraderie than competition, aims to give young surfers the kind of support and friendly rivalry that the three brothers had among themselves growing up.
Getting kids involved in surfing is something the Surfrider Foundation does, too. So, when Jenny Lamott, Vans Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, called for volunteers to assist at the event Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter Chairperson Tony Soriano got the chapter to lend a hand.
Duke Aipa, H/SB Chapter Surf Ambassador, was especially excited to help out because he wants to get kids stoked about surfing and helping to protect the environment. Recently he launched Surfrider’s SR-F program to reach out to kids.
This is essential, agrees Soriano.”They are the future of our surfing community, the Surfrider Foundation…and the ocean is theirs.”
Since starting Stoke-O-Rama four years ago, the Gudauskas brothers have held events at their home surf break San Clemente, Hawaii, Canada and now Surf City. They also started the Positive Vibes Warriors Foundation related to it that raises money from sponsors to go toward youth water safety programs and ocean education in local communities.
Talking about being in Surf City during the USOS, Dane Gudauskas said, “We couldn’t be happier to be hosting a Stoke-O-Rama in Huntington Beach. Having grown up just down the road, we always loved coming up to Huntington and surfing with the local crew.”
Tanner adds, “I love seeing the kids high-fiving each other, cheering each other on and making ne