news release
    8th June 2005

Sas/Quiksilver Ecogrom Tour Finishes In Ireland

Around 200 young surfers (groms) have benefited from the SAS/Quiksilver Ecogrom UK Road show, which finished in Ireland last weekend.

The eco grom road show is all about providing surfing youngsters with the tools they need to be better informed about the marine environment and ways in which to act so as to protect it against pollution.

This is the 6th year that Quiksilver have teamed up with SAS campaigners to bring this unique form of environmental education to the UK and was once again a big hit with all those taken part.

The tour kicked off at a sunny St Ives in Cornwall on Sunday 29th May before moving on to Croyde in North Devon, Jersey in the Channel Islands, Llangennith on the Gower and Bundoran in Ireland. Joining the SAS campaigners were top Quiksilver surfing pros – Gary Elkerton, Nathan Phillips, Gabe Davies and Roxy ripper Sarah Bentley. They were designated as team captains as the groms separated into groups to carry out litter picks, draw campaign posters and compete in the fun tag team surf competition.

Each day would start with a litter pick and then an analysis of the litter found – much of it was marine litter but there was a surprising amount of beach litter left by those using the beach for recreation. SAS campaigners supported by the Quiky riders spoke at length on the threats such litter presents in the marine environment and highlighted some of the campaign actions SAS were undertaking to stamp this out.

Throughout the week there was also enough rideable surf for the groms to make a contest out of the tag teams. These were highlights of the day for the groms as it gave them a chance to surf with and against some of their surfing heroes.

Following the tag teams there would be a few more beach games with throwing a Frisbee at some of the marine litter found earlier in the day – extra points were scored if groms remembered how long this litter can trash the environment for and what could be done to stop it littering in the first place.

The tag team winners were announced at the end of the day and all the groms were presented with an eco grom certificate and a goodie bag from SAS and Quiksilver.

Whilst the tour was all about education, education, education – there was enough time for the crew to make a quick campaigning stop in Brighton. SAS are in the middle of a campaign that aims to bring the city of Brighton and Hove full sewage treatment. At present the equivalent of 80 Olympic swimming pools worth of raw sewage is discharged to sea every day here. Here the crew re-enacted Guinness Cold style advert. Running down to the water ready to hit the surf the crew found themselves confronted by a group of foam Vik the Virus costumes emerging out of the water intent on making them sick. At which point the crew turn round and hotfoot it back up the beach- scared of falling sick from a sewage related virus!

Another batch of emerging surfing youth has now been given the tools to protect, conserve and campaign to safeguard the beaches they use for recreation. Over the last 6 years hundreds of surfing kids have now been given environmental education which SAS and Quiksilver hope will make them both responsible and eco aware surfers of the future.

SAS would like to say a big thank you to the Quiksilver crew who have given up their time to take part in this tour and for the support they have given to make it possible to undertake.

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