Global Wave Conference 2018

SANTA CRUZ TO WELCOME GLOBAL WAVE CONFERENCE MARCH 4 – 7, 2018

Save The Waves Coalition, Surfers Against Sewage and the Surfrider Foundation are pleased to announce the 5th Global Wave Conference in Santa Cruz, March 4 – 7, 2018. The conference brings together the best international minds from the surfing, conservation, and innovation communities to tackle the world’s most challenging ocean issues.

“We are excited to co-host the 5th Global Wave Conference, the world’s largest gathering of surf and conservation organizations. Given the scale of threats to our coasts and waves there could not be a more important time to come together and protect what we love,” said Surfrider CEO Dr. Chad Nelsen.

This year’s conference will feature three themes of Land to Sea Connection, Surf + Protected Areas, and Climate Change and Innovation, in a mixture of keynotes, presentations and workshops. Our keynotes for this year are World Surfing Champion, Shaun Tomson; Social Media Guru Guy Kawasaki; famed Marine Biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle; Big Wave Champion Greg Long; Conservation International CEO, M. Sanjayan; acclaimed IMAX filmmaker Greg MacGillivray; Imperial Beach Mayor and Wildcoast CEO Serge Dedina; NY Times bestseller Dr. Wallace J Nichols; and Patagonia Ambassador Liz Clark.

The full agenda can be found here: https://www.savethewaves.org/gwcagenda/

“We are blessed to have some of the most amazing speakers from around the world, like Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Mexico, Australia, the UK and many more. The quality of the speakers will make this conference unforgettable”, said Save The Waves Executive Director, Nik Strong-Cvetich.

Surfers Against Sewage delivered the Global Wave Conference in the UK in 2015:

Hugo Tagholm, CEO of SAS said: “I was delighted that Surfers Against Sewage could deliver such a significant event for the world’s enviro-surf community. We were honoured that so many luminaries of the surf and environmental world participated in the Global Wave Conference and have shown their true commitment to protecting waves, oceans and beaches.”

“The need to act has never been more acute, with our oceans under more pressure than ever. From plastic pollution to raw sewage discharges, in places we’re witnessing the wholesale destruction of unique and irreplaceable habitats and coastal spaces so vital for healthy and happy communities.

“The Global Wave Conference in Santa Cruz will be another big step forward in uniting and enhancing the impact of the global enviro-surf community.”

The goals of the conference are to unite the surf, conservation and technology/innovation communities in conserving our oceans, raise awareness and share best practices from across the world in addressing shared challenges, and create new working connections between diverse geographies and communities.

The conference will kick off Sunday, March 4 with a welcome registration, and run through Wednesday, March 7 with an additional day on March 8 for closed session workshops. Registration is now open and only 250 spots are available. Early bird pricing ends February 1, so get your tickets today.

The Global Wave Conference is supported by: Dream Inn, Resources Legacy Fund, Don Q Rum, Danny Kwock Family Foundation on behalf of SALT. Optics, Ocean Foundation, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Patagonia.

For more information on the conference please visit ​www.globalwaveconference.org