By Hugo Tagholm, CEO
Surfing, waves and the ocean have been my North Star for over 40 years. My fascination with the sea started from an environmental perspective, as I found myself captivated by the spell of ocean life as a youngster, endlessly discovering the diverse and specialised lifeforms that live beneath the waves. As a teenager, this fascination became equally as dominated by surfing, as I found the pure thrill of gliding along waves, riding the energy from far-off storms, surrounded by the nature that I already cared so passionately about.
Surfing was still a relatively fringe sport in the UK when I was young, only really embraced year-round by a hardy cohort of enthusiasts, amateurs and a handful of homegrown professionals. Emerging from the wild western fringes of Cornwall and other rugged coastlines, the excitement of the sport, culture, anti-establishment spirit and creativity quickly drew me in and has played a dominant part of my life ever since. I couldn’t imagine a life without waves or the ocean.
I’m so grateful for all the incredible experiences, friendships, projects, travels and happiness that surfing and the sea has brought me. Indeed, there’s no doubt that if I hadn’t started riding waves, I would never be running Surfers Against Sewage. To lead this amazing charity and the remarkable community of supporters we have around the world is a huge honour. You energise and inspire me every day. Of course, the charity today represents more than simply the surfing community. However, I’m sure that the vast majority of our supporters feel a deep and passionate connection with the ocean, or riding waves, just like I do. This could come from any number of experiences – wild swimming a calm cove; walking the South West Coast Path; kayaking through Scottish archipelagos; researching rare sea creatures; or spending weekends and holidays by the sea with loved ones. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
The ever-changing seas holds endless appeal and excitement, the winds, tides, waves, weather and wildlife never the same from one day to the next. These fleeting moments, the heartbreakingly perfect days, the groomed swells, the passing dolphins and all the other temporary joys are what will always keep us coming back for more. A richness no single lifetime can fully absorb. The gift that keeps on giving.
The experiences the ocean provides connects and inspires us all as a global community of Thalassophiles. This ‘stoke’ we get from the ocean also helps create a potent force for good. From environment campaigns to humanitarian projects, I’ve seen so many brilliant charity endeavours emerge from the surfing and ocean community. I’ll be forever thankful for the opportunity to be part of this. And for that first wave I rode, and for all the waves to come.
Surfing has hit the mainstream, with the joy, pleasure and stoke rippling across more diverse communities and nations. It’s even reaching the inner cities, with the boom in wave pool technology. It’s great to see more people than ever sharing waves, and the stoke. Let’s make sure this growing ocean and surfing community is a force for good.
Thank you for bringing your stoke to SAS and helping us drive positive change for our blue planet. The next perfect wave is for you!
@HugoSAS