#Environment

From One Lineup to the Next, Everyone’s Stoked On the NSP Coco Endless Longboard

Matthew Chebatoris

Aug 31, 2018
3 min

From One Lineup to the Next, Everyone’s Stoked On the NSP Coco Endless Longboard

Review of NSP’s Coco Endless Longboard NSP’s sustainably made Coco Endless longboard rides like a dream. Over the past five months, I’ve tested it in different lineups and conditions and it is by far the best board I’ve ever owned. But don’t take my word for it. Everyone has different opinions and preferences so I spent the summer swapping boards with friends in the lineup. The downside—they didn’t want to trade back. The jury’s out, this board is a winner! Fun in the sun! Th

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Matthew Chebatoris

Jul 11, 2018
2 min

Wave Tribe Recycled Leashes

The Story Wave Tribe was founded by Derek Dodds and a tribe of fellow surfers to create top of the line products with the planet in mind. They make Hemp Day bags and travel boardbags, cork deckpads and traction, and recycled leashes. As the business grew, they began adding other surf-related hemp products to their inventory but in 2016 decided it was time to return their focus to the original trifecta. In addition to rad eco surf and SUP gear, Wave Tribe provides their custom

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Matthew Chebatoris

Jul 11, 2018
2 min

Sustainable Swimwear: Zimzala Swim

Zimzala Swim – Swimwear for life’s adventures Georgia and Kendall are adventurers at heart. United by a passion for travel, the two met in the Canadian wilderness and after many bikini-clad adventures they were inspired to create something of their own. They felt there was a lack of comfortable yet functional swimwear available on the market so they designed their line of bikinis to feel like a second skin. They created fun prints in an effort to encourage their customers to

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United By Blue: Environmentally Aware and Proud

Matthew Chebatoris

Jul 10, 2018
3 min

United By Blue: Environmentally Aware and Proud

Fantastic boardshorts options for environmentally conscious paddlers United By Blue was created with the idea that a successful outdoor brand can do serious conservation work. This means everyone at United By Blue routinely digs in and rolls up their sleeves to remove plastic bottles, styrofoam, and a host of other man-made detritus from waterways across the United States. The enterprising environmentally conscious brand even takes it a step further by organizing and hosting

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Review of NSP’s Sustainable Cocomat Boards

Matthew Chebatoris

Jun 21, 2018
3 min

Review of NSP’s Sustainable Cocomat Boards

Environmentally friendly board range from NSP In 2010, NSP launched some of the most environmentally friendly boards on the market: their Cocomat line. The Cocomat technology allows the boards to be light for carrying and paddling yet remain strong and flexible for optimal performance. A lot of us prefer to make eco-conscious choices but we don’t want to sacrifice money or performance in the process. NSP’s Cocomat boards are available at a similar price point to other boards

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Matthew Chebatoris

May 23, 2018
2 min

Sustainable Swimwear: Josea Swimwear

There’s more than one way to keep things green! In 2016 Jocelyn Kotulla (Jocy) embarked on a mission to create the perfect surf bikini. She combined design, functionality, and sustainability into one to create a suit that allows women to follow their passions on the water. Each piece in their swimwear collection is tested by a team of athletes before they are available for purchase. The bikinis are made in Hamburg, Germany in the company’s own production facility. It’s import

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NSP’s Sustainable Board Range, Keep’in it Green!

Matthew Chebatoris

May 11, 2018
3 min

NSP’s Sustainable Board Range, Keep’in it Green!

First Impressions: Out of the Box What comes to mind when you think of a sustainable surfboard or SUP? Is it a board made from recycled materials? Trash? Do you question how it will perform? How long it will last? If it will look nice? If it’s really worth the cost? These are all valid questions and ones I’ve asked myself. Through our “Keep It Green” column and partnership with NSP we will be exploring their line of sustainable boards: the Cocomat series. Like the name sugges

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NSP’s CocoMat Technology: Green and Good Lookin’

Matthew Chebatoris

Apr 11, 2018
3 min

NSP’s CocoMat Technology: Green and Good Lookin’

Examining NSP’s CocoMat Technology Bruce “Buzz” Hansen, a life-long surfer, skater, and all-around waterman saw a need for affordable, durable, versatile, and high performance boards in the lineup. He set out to create a light yet strong surfboard at an affordable price. Buzz worked alongside friends to create a new epoxy technology to bring the board of his dreams to life. Throughout the manufacturing process, Buzz referred to his design in code, simply calling it the “New S

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Eco Boards: Sustainable SUPs are Surging

Matthew Chebatoris

Jan 11, 2018
3 min

Eco Boards: Sustainable SUPs are Surging

Why choose a sustainable SUP Every day, every hour, every minute we make decisions that impact our environment. The amount of water you use in your morning shower, the type of food you eat and where you buy it, the type of swimsuit or wetsuit you choose to wear, and even the type of board under your feet. Surfing began gaining popularity back in the 18th century, but it’s only been in recent years that board manufacturing supplies and processes have been taken in to considera

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SUP Kids: Connecting Children With The Environment

Matthew Chebatoris

Jun 27, 2017
3 min

SUP Kids: Connecting Children With The Environment

Promoting water safety and environmental education through SUP Where most youth training programs focus on competition, SUP Kids has charted a different course. SUP Kids is a worldwide program which uses SUP as a platform for teaching kids ages 5-12 environmental education and water safety. It all began back in 2014 when Linzi Hawkin was approached to set up a SUP school in Far North Queensland on a three-month consultancy contract. At the time, Hawkin was living through an E

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Return to the Sea: Rescued Sea Turtles Released Into the Wild

Matthew Chebatoris

Nov 5, 2016
4 min

Return to the Sea: Rescued Sea Turtles Released Into the Wild

The Aquarium of the Pacific Rehabilitates and Releases Rescued Sea Turtles I’ve been told sea turtles are somewhat ubiquitous in Hawaii. Here on the West Coast, however, they are not frequently encountered. You can therefore imagine my surprise when I had the good fortune to find and rescue a green sea turtle during a spontaneous excursion up the Ballona Creek in Los Angeles one evening last July. The green sea turtle, an endangered species I subsequently learned, was taken t

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Matthew Chebatoris

Sep 12, 2016
6 min

Exploring the Los Angeles River

For the past three years, two sections of the Los Angeles River have been open to the public for recreational paddling. Known as the Sepulveda Basin (open 30 May through 30 September) and Elysian Valley (open 30 May through 25 September) Recreation Zones, the two sections offer adventurous paddlers the opportunity to explore an often overlooked natural resource in the Los Angeles area. I took advantage of an unanticipated opening in my schedule on a recent Friday and packed u

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Endangered Sea Turtle Rescued From Ballona Creek in Los Angeles

Matthew Chebatoris

Jul 16, 2016
5 min

Endangered Sea Turtle Rescued From Ballona Creek in Los Angeles

I left work later than I had planned this past Thursday and decided to head over to Playa del Rey to launch my SUP from Ballona Creek and paddle out into the Santa Monica Bay instead of continuing south to outrigger practice with the Lanakila Outrigger Canoe Club in Redondo Beach. Outrigger practice begins promptly at 5:30 and I knew I wouldn’t make it there before the six man canoes were launched. Sure, I could always take out one of the club OC-1’s and join in the workout,

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Matthew Chebatoris

May 17, 2015
6 min

Save Our Sea Lions: Part Three

The West Coast of the United States has experienced a marked increase in the number of California Sea Lion pups stranded on beaches across southern and central California during the first four months of 2015. The sight of distressed marine life along our shores is an emotive topic for those of us who enjoy spending time on the water. Most paddlers have a deep appreciation for the ocean and the marine life dependent on a healthy ecosystem in order to survive. As word of the st

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Matthew Chebatoris

May 16, 2015
3 min

Save Our Sea Lions: Part Two

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Matthew Chebatoris

May 15, 2015
3 min

Save Our Sea Lions: Part One

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Exploring the World Through Paddling