30 years of SAS

30 years of SAS

Happy birthday SAS. 30 years after the British surfing community stood up to fight against the sewage pollution, and won, SAS is still going strong fighting pollution, leading the fight against ocean pollution by plastics and motivating tens of thousand of people to go on beach cleans, educating on issue like global warming and generally going as hard and strong as it ever did.

From the start it was a movement. Forming in Porthtowan St Agnes support was soon offered from Langland, Brighton, the east coast, and on it went. At the time eco warriors were not widely revered by the conservative British public, and surfers were seen as bums, it was hostile territory but the public warmed to the message and the image of the gas masked surfer. Politicians and polluters were put on the back foot. SAS took the fight to the highest courts in the land, to the European Commission and Houses of Parliament all the while retaining a huge grass roots membership.

Today the challenges have changed but SAS lead the fight in the same corridors of power on ocean pollution, single use plastics and global warming. The support has grown. 47,000 people took part in last years SAS beach clean, campaigns like Return to offender are taking the fight to brands and the plastic free community project and school programmes influencing millions more.

It is an amazing story with too many highlights to list here. One day hopefully there will be a film.

Happy birthday SAS and many thanks to all the members, staff and directors and trustees over the years and to anyone who ever bought sticker, raised funds, or just turned to party at the Ball. You made the world a better place.

REMINISCE: Scotland in black and white

REMINISCE: Scotland in black and white

Remember when travelling the world didn't require a 14 day Quarantine? Let's take a moment to reminisce with Santa Cruz’s vibrant goofy-footed Noah Wegrich, on a tube-hunting pilgrimage through Scotland, in less bizarre times.

Noah Cohen, Tofino, BC

Noah Cohen, Tofino, BC

There’s a reason they call Tofino the surf capital of Canada, insane waves set to stunning backdrops. This cold water playground has produced some of the finest and hardy cold water surfers in the world. Click into Noah's section from Transition V.ii presented by Ripcurl. Enjoy some cool water comfort and serious threading by one of BC finest waterman as he charges home and away.

THE SELF-ISOLATION PLAYLIST

THE SELF-ISOLATION PLAYLIST

Stuck inside for a bit are we? Practising hardcore social distancing? If you are ill, family isolating or just “working from home” then here’s a bunch of awesome surfing visuals to remind you of the joy and wonder of the big old surf world that’ll be waiting for us out the other side of this mad moment we’re living in. There’s plenty of stuff you can buy to support creators in this tough time on iTunes etc as well. Not to mention a score of vlogs...

SURFING @ 1000 FRAMES PER SECOND
West Oz booger turned in demand high-speed cameraman Chris Bryan is one of the best in the biz at pointing his expensive Phantom camera at the surf world. He’s been doing stuff for BBC wildlife docs lately as well. Mesmerising stuff.

ELECTRIC BLUE HEAVEN
Dion Agius, him off of the Tassie article deeper in the mag, and his wild Middle Eastern opus. From eight years ago when the Wadi Wave pool was state of the art. The models, supercars and weirdness are just a bonus.

DUCT TAPE SURFING
One of those unusual but moving surf clips that hits your right in the feels. Pascale Honore (RIP) surfing with friend Tyron Swan is the kind of good stuff we need right about now.

WATER
Morgan Maassen is a wonderful photographer and filmmaker. This is the kind of clip that’ll have you lusting for the brine.

SPACE
John John’s phenomenally powerful short with flawless editing of his launches and landings to the beat. A stunning piece of work. Best watched on a big screen with the sound up loud.

DARK SIDE OF THE LENS
Mickey Smith’s ode to life as a surf photographer is a brooding masterpiece filmed in the cold corners of Ireland. 

DONE
20 minutes of prime John in his first solo film project.

CHAPTER 11
Dane Reynolds. Don’t need to say much more do we?

LOST ATLAS
Dion, Owen, Ando, Jordy, Dane, Dusty, Jools, Mitch, Chip, JJF and more. The peak of high performance surfing.

THE QUIETER YOU ARE THE MORE YOU CAN HEAR
Craig Anderson’s solo movie is a treat. Dive in.

MUCH BETTER NOW
A joyous animation that’ll have you smiling from ear to ear.

UK RNLI lifeguards set up solidarity campaign to lobby for financial support

UK RNLI lifeguards set up solidarity campaign to lobby for financial support

UK Lifeguard Solidarity Group “Return to shore’ was formed in March 2020 to represent professional Lifeguards, Lifeguard Supervisors and Lifeguard Operational Assistants seeking financial protection under the Government’s Covid-19 job retention scheme (furlough).

Beach lifeguards were left without pay when contracts were not renewed due to government restrictions and being seasonal they fell out side the furlough scheme

They aim to bring positive change to the current government legislation though lobbying MP’s, publicising our efforts and by working with the RNLI to formulate a suitable support package.

The group  say “We believe that as operational staff we deserve financial protection until we are able to
return to our work – keeping beaches a safe, fun and inclusive space for all.”

They have set up a petition you can sign here

Or you can write to your local MP with this letter template here

Hundreds of surfers right around the UK rely on lifeguarding for work so please give them your support

 

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Into the mist

Into the mist

 

Seb Smart surfing Pedra Branca in Ericeira, Portugal on a misty foggy day.

The other cuttings are bits of footage from the London docks, circa 1940. Seb’s grandfather Stanley was the skipper on a tugboat on the thames and around the docks at around that time, and how times have changed.

Filmed by Calypso Mzera
Edited by Seb Smart