The Volcom Pipe Pro, which wrapped up on Thursday, was not only a great barrel riding competition but also an example of how contests can be run with minimal impact to the environment. While the likes of John John Florence, Kelly Slater, Bruce Irons, and event winner Soli Bailey went toe to toe against other competitors in the line-up, a collaborative effort to keep the ocean clean was underway on the shoreline.
Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, an organization dedicated to cleaning up and preserving Hawaiian beaches, partnered with Volcom to make sure the contest met Deep Blue Surf Event™ requirements as defined by Sustainable Surf. Some of the tactics included powering the event through 100% locally made bio-diesel and solar power, running daily beach clean-ups, implementing an event specific recycling system, and setting up water filling stations for reusable containers.
Humanitarian progression was also in the spotlight during the contest. All proceeds from merchandise purchased at the event site went to Sunset Elementary School, while sales from retail stores and Volcom.com were designated to supporting the Sion Memorial Fund.
The push to conserve and strengthen the local area was reflected in the battle out in the water. Here’s a short video with highlights from the event:
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Had no idea! Awesome. Thanks for sharing. 🙂