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Mar 26, 2024

The Sustainable Surfing Movement Catches a Big Wave

From boards and wetsuits made with nontoxic materials to surf clubs that let you bike to the beach, it’s possible to cut surfing’s carbon footprint. Surfers in Costa Rica. At Linda Mar Beach, south of

From boards and wetsuits made with nontoxic materials to surf clubs that let you bike to the beach, it’s possible to cut surfing’s carbon footprint.

Surfers in Costa Rica.

At Linda Mar Beach, south of San Francisco, an old-school surf shop sits in a commercial strip that fronts a mile-long crescent of sand. The windows are plastered with the logos of big brands, while inside skateboard-toting teenage boys and grizzled older surfers roam the aisles. The store’s website divides merchandise between “dudes” and “chicks.”

Next door, the Traveler Surf Club & Coastal Outpost offers an ambience that’s more boutique than bro. It’s a bright, airy space with hot showers, gathering places and lockers for storing surfboards. The gear for sale can also be hard to find in traditional surf shops: Wetsuits from companies such as Vissla and Kassia+Surf are petrochemical-free and made from limestone neoprene and recycled materials. Some of the surfboards are certified as Ecoboards, meaning they’re constructed from nontoxic and sustainable components.