#Environment

Earth Day and the Count Down to World Cleanup Day

Matthew Chebatoris

Mar 7, 2020
2 min

Earth Day and the Count Down to World Cleanup Day

March 3rd officially marked the 50-day countdown to the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd. What’s more, today also marks the 200-day countdown to World Cleanup Day on September 19th. Through our joint efforts, both events will serve as an opportunity to unite the cleanup community around our mutual goal of a waste-free world. Cleanup organizers across the U.S. and the world are being urged to join the Great Global Cleanup with prominent visibility of their events an

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California Offers Free Workshops on How to Prevent the Further Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Matthew Chebatoris

Mar 7, 2020
2 min

California Offers Free Workshops on How to Prevent the Further Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

The Division of Boating and Waterways along with its partners invite the public to learn how to prevent the further spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) into California’s waterways. Free educational workshops will be offered between March and May at three Northern and Central California locations. Advance registration is required. California has one of the highest levels of recreational activity in the nation. With 1,100 miles of coast, hundreds of navigable rivers, lakes

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Division of Boating and Waterways Offers $3.75 Million in Grants to Enhance Public Safety and Protec

Matthew Chebatoris

Mar 7, 2020
2 min

Division of Boating and Waterways Offers $3.75 Million in Grants to Enhance Public Safety and Protec

The Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting grant applications to help local public entities enhance safety on California’s waterways, and protect them from abandoned and unwanted vessels. The application period for the grant programs, Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment (BSEE) and Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE), is open from March 16 through April 16, 2020. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the grant guidelines and partici

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Sensi Graves Bikinis Moves to 100% Recycled Fabrics in 2020 Line

Matthew Chebatoris

Sep 29, 2019
1 min

Sensi Graves Bikinis Moves to 100% Recycled Fabrics in 2020 Line

In 2012, professional kiteboarder Sensi Graves launched her eponymous swimwear label, Sensi Graves Bikinis, to meet the demands of her sport. After losing one too many string bikinis in the surf, she decided to tackle the job herself and design suits that actually stay on in rough conditions. While designing swimwear that’s both fiercely functional and fabulously feminine is the core mission of the brand, sustainability has been built into the brand since its inception with S

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World Wildlife Fund’s Panda Paddle Returns to San Diego

Matthew Chebatoris

Sep 23, 2019
1 min

World Wildlife Fund’s Panda Paddle Returns to San Diego

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a conservation organization dedicated to securing a future where humans and nature thrive, will host its second annual standup paddle-boarding event this October 26th in San Diego, CA. Called “Panda Paddle,” it’s the WWF’s premiere peer-to-peer athletic fundraising event aimed at raising awareness and funds for global conservation work all while having fun on the water. The planet is facing severe threats to biodiversity. World Wildlife Fund’s flags

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New Climate Neutral Certification Provides Carbon Labeling for Companies

Matthew Chebatoris

Sep 23, 2019
2 min

New Climate Neutral Certification Provides Carbon Labeling for Companies

All companies should take responsibility for their carbon emissions, and consumers have the right to spend consciously on products that align with their concern about climate change. This is the belief of Climate Neutral, a new independent non-profit organization whose mission is to enlist brands to measure, reduce, and offset the carbon emissions resulting from the design, production, and shipping of products and services. Today, Climate Neutral is proud to announce its “Cli

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Los Angeles Paddlers Lead Ocean Cleanup on Labor Day

Matthew Chebatoris

Sep 6, 2019
2 min

Los Angeles Paddlers Lead Ocean Cleanup on Labor Day

The Lanakila Outrigger Canoe Club led a flotilla of several dozen paddlers in an ocean cleanup on Labor Day morning. The ocean cleanup was the product of a joint initiative between Lanakila, the Southern California Toyota dealers, the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, and the Eco Warrior Foundation. Paddlers met at the Lanakila club site at 7:30 Monday morning for a brief organizational meeting before taking to the waters of King Harbor in Redondo Beach. Once all the canoes and

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Gear Review: Costa Flip from Sole Sandals

Matthew Chebatoris

Aug 7, 2019
2 min

Gear Review: Costa Flip from Sole Sandals

Sole Sandals, best known for their sandals with footbeds made of recycled cork, has introduced a range of sandals made from algae-based bloom foam. For those of us who are just hearing about bloom foam, it’s a performance based foam created from algae biomass. The algae is a renewable biomass that helps clean the environment and reduces our dependence on fossil fuels; basically it’s good for the planet! Paddlexaminer met up with Sole at the Winter Outdoor Retailer convention

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Gear Review: Costa Sunglasses – Rinconcito & Spearo

Matthew Chebatoris

Jul 10, 2019
2 min

Gear Review: Costa Sunglasses – Rinconcito & Spearo

Are you looking for you’re next pair of sunglasses? Well, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses has you covered, literally! Costa has been in the business of making quality polarized sunglasses for over 35 years. Based in Dayton Beach, Florida, they know a thing or two about the sun. Paddlexaminer met with Costa back at the Winter Outdoor Retailer in January 2019 in Denver to talk about their new line coming out in the spring of 2019. The two designs which stuck out to us the most were th

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Matthew Chebatoris

May 28, 2019
2 min

Sustainable Swimwear: Raw x Salt

Emily Crawford and Olly Lewis are ocean lovers through and through. Inspired by a deep love and respect for the ocean, they set out to create a bikini company that helps to clean instead of pollute the ocean and the planet. All of their bikinis are ethically manufactured in Bali, from regenerated fabrics. They use ECONYL nylon yarn, which is made from recovered fishing nets, carpets, and other waste, and REPREVE nylon, which is made from pre-consumer waste by recycling nylon

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Matthew Chebatoris

May 19, 2019
1 min

United By Blue: A Brand on a Mission

Introducing United By Blue’s 2019 Waterway Cleanup Tour For every product they sell, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from oceans and waterways around the world. How significant an impact have their efforts made so far? Over the course of 256 cleanups, the Certified B Corp has removed more than 1.6 million pounds of trash and empowered more than 12,500 volunteers. That’s what we call making an impact! Stewardship of our environment is in United By Blue’s DNA. In fact

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Matthew Chebatoris

May 8, 2019
2 min

Sustainable Swimwear: Indigo Swimwear

Eco Swimwear That Supports the Waters In Which It Was Made to Swim Indigo Swimwear was founded in 2018 in Encinitas, California by Philippa Brennikmeyer. Brennikmeyer was born in California, but grew up in Germany, where she developed aspirations of travelling the world and doing something meaningful with her life. A lover of all things beachy, Brennikmeyer decided to found a swimwear company with a purpose in mind: to support the waters in which it was made to swim. From sta

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Become a Dockwalker Partner and Help Keep California’s Waterways Clean

Matthew Chebatoris

Feb 11, 2019
2 min

Become a Dockwalker Partner and Help Keep California’s Waterways Clean

The Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) invites the public to become volunteers and help keep California’s rivers, lakes and ocean clean by becoming Dockwalkers. These individuals help raise awareness about clean boating practices through the distribution of boater kits filled with educational information and pollution prevention tools. Dockwalkers also interact one-on-one with recreational boaters at marinas, boat launch ramps and boating events. Participation in the pro

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How to Be An Environmentally Conscious Traveler

Matthew Chebatoris

Feb 8, 2019
3 min

How to Be An Environmentally Conscious Traveler

Traveling and sustainability may sound like a juxtaposition, but with a little planning and some smart choices doing both is definitely within the realm of possibility. Before booking a trip, take into consideration how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay, and how you’ll get around. The environmentally conscious choice may not always be the obvious one and oftentimes it will take a bit more effort on you end. To make things a little easier, we’ve rounded up six tips for being

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Kayak to Klemtu: An Interview with Writer / Director Zoe Hopkins

Matthew Chebatoris

Dec 11, 2018
6 min

Kayak to Klemtu: An Interview with Writer / Director Zoe Hopkins

Kayak to Klemtu is the colorful story of a young indigenous girl in British Columbia who is determined to honor her late uncle by paddling a

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5 Ways to Be More Eco-Friendly This Holiday Season

Matthew Chebatoris

Dec 5, 2018
3 min

5 Ways to Be More Eco-Friendly This Holiday Season

5 Ways to Be More Eco-Friendly This Holiday Season With Thanksgiving done and dusted, the holidays are in full swing. Lights are dotting the streets, carols are streaming through the radio and spirits are high. Despite all the well wishes and good cheer, the holidays are a wasteful season. But they don’t have to be. Here at PaddleXaminer, we are committed to protecting our planet and keeping it beautiful for future generations to come. With an eco-friendly NSP Cocomat board u

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Saola Shoes: Meet the Shoes Made From Recycled Materials

Matthew Chebatoris

Nov 16, 2018
2 min

Saola Shoes: Meet the Shoes Made From Recycled Materials

The Story SAOLA shoes help you lessen your carbon footprint one step at a time. Outdoor enthusiast Guillaume (Gee) grew frustrated by the lack of eco-friendly shoes available on the market. Instead of sitting back and doing nothing, Gee decided to take action. He compiled an international team of outdoor, surf, and footwear industry veterans and gave life to a brand that would address the need for cleaner manufacturing processes and a cleaner planet. Through hard work and det

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Five Simple Ways to Be a Greener Paddler

Matthew Chebatoris

Oct 30, 2018
3 min

Five Simple Ways to Be a Greener Paddler

If you’re anything like us, you spend the majority of your free time in and on the water. And if you’re like us, you’ve probably noticed how much damage and destruction our species has had on the ocean and its inhabitants. As paddlers, it’s our duty to protect our favorite playground. Doing so may not always be the easiest or most convenient option, but it is the only option. Like they say, there is no Planet B. Here, we’ve rounded up five tips to help you be a more eco-frien

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Costa Marks 35 Years in Business With 35 Beach Cleanups Across the Country

Matthew Chebatoris

Oct 5, 2018
2 min

Costa Marks 35 Years in Business With 35 Beach Cleanups Across the Country

Costa Sunglasses® will celebrate 35 years of providing anglers and outdoor enthusiasts with the best sunglasses on the planet by joining forces with the Surfrider Foundation, and hosting beach cleanups in 35 locations throughout the U.S. in 2018. “We were born on the water, so it makes sense for us to celebrate this milestone protecting what we love,” said Holly Rush. “Since 1983, Costa has been committed to conservation and the preservation of our most precious assets—our o

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Swell & Sustainability South of the Border

Matthew Chebatoris

Oct 1, 2018
3 min

Swell & Sustainability South of the Border

A Baja road trip with my NSP Cocomat longboard I’ve lived in southern California my entire life. Only 90 miles from the border and 100 miles from perfect, empty waves. And yet, I’ve never made the trip. Why, you might ask? Because I was scared. Plain and simple. My parents drilled into me from a young age that Mexico was dangerous. It’s not clean, their police system is corrupt, the drug cartel is running wild, yada yada yada until one day, I believed them. They’re not entire

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Exploring the World Through Paddling