ASP-WCT surfer/coach Jeff Deffenbaugh was just named Surfrider Foundation’s Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter Ambassador for community outreach. Deffenbaugh has an extensive background in competitive surfing as a former World Tour Competitor. He is one of America’s most decorated surfing professionals and still maintains a high profile in the competitive community. Deffenbaugh is one of three legendary Huntington Beach surfers to qualify for the ASP World Tour (along with Timmy Reyes and Brett Simpson).

Deffenbaugh (pictured above with Brett Simpson at this year’s International Day of Surfing in Huntington Beach) said, “As Ambassador to the Surfrider Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter, my goal is to help spread the word to the  younger kids, who don’t really understand what Surfrider Foundation is all about. They don’t recognize how dirty the oceans and the beaches really are. They enjoy the ocean or the beach, but don’t understand what can be happening.” For example, he stated, “There could be danger like broken glass on the beach or the ocean could be polluted.”

Tony Soriano, HB/SB Chapter Chairman, and Seth Matson, Vice Chairman, both emphasized how pleased they were to have Deffenbaugh on board as the Chapter’s new Ambassador. “Jeff Deffenbaugh is a stand up guy, an unbelievable surfer and a truly positive role model throughout all the OC beach cities. We are honored to have him represent our Chapter and look forward to doing great things with him,” said Matson.

Matson (shown above with Deffenbaugh and Soriano) explained that Deffenbaugh’s responsibilities as the Ambassador for Surfrider’s HB/SB Chapter include: acting as a positive liaison/role model between the local chapter and the public, as well as helping to bring in new members and volunteers.

As a former World Tour Traveling Pro (1996 – 2004), Deffenbaugh is a surf coach for ASP-WCT special events and a technical coach for kids who are advanced or looking to be professional surfers. He is also currently involved in marketing and promotion for surfing companies HDX Hydration Mix and FCS Fins.

Deffenbaugh’s extensive world class surfing experience includes: Team Manager for Split USA; Former Top 44 ASP – WCT competitor; US Tour – Two Time Runner Up; numerous WQS wins; three-time HB Surf Series Pro/Am Champ; Huntington Beach High School National Champ and Surf Team Captain in 1992.

For more information contact: http://hsbsurfrider.org/

Article written/donated by:
Sunny Magdaug & Patti Kishel
SurfWriterGirls
HSB Surfrider – Media Consultants

Blog: http://www.SurfWriterGirls.blogspot.com

Wells Fargo Volunteers join Surfrider to keep local beaches clean! Wells Fargo team members join forces with up to 400 Surfrider volunteers from the Huntington Beach/Seal Beach chapter twice a month, removing an average of 400 pounds of trash from our local beaches during the 4-hour beach clean-up. Trash doesn’t fall from the sky, it falls from human hands. And human hands have the power to stop it.

Beach cleanups are a fun and easy way to volunteer your time by helping to keep our beaches and ocean clean! For future beach clean up dates go to myvolunteertime.com and search Surfrider.

During June 2011, Wells Fargo Dealer Services in Irvine held a casual week fundraiser and $1,690 was donated to Surfrider’s “Rise Above Plastics” program. R.A.P. is a starting point for raising awareness of the problems that plastic brings to our oceans. To learn more about the R.A.P. program, or get involved with Surfrider Foundation Huntington Beach/Seal Beach chapter, visit the chapter website at hsbsurfrider.org.

For more download .pdf flyer here

The Surfrider Foundation Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter’s float “Tidal Wave of Trash” took first place “Best in Show” honors in the 107th Annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade, the largest parade on the West Coast.

As a newcomer to the parade, Surfrider made a big splash with a massive tidal wave “sculpture” constructed out of 580 lbs. of trash made up of plastic bottles, caps and bags, styrofoam cups and plates and other debris that Surfrider CORE Volunteer Andre Faubert picked up along the Huntington Beach shoreline. The Chapter calls this the “30/30 Experiment Project” because Faubert gathered the trash for 30 days and 30 hours. Surfrider’s float was sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank and the music was provided by “The Fabulous Nomads.”

Tony Soriano, Surfrider Foundation HB/SB Chapter Chairman, said “Surfrider is a big organization world-wide that advocates a common goal to protect our oceans, waves and beaches. The message of our float is about getting involved… from kids to grandmas and grandpas doing their part to be aware and voice to others to keep our beaches clean for the future health of our planet.”

The HB/SB Chapter commissioned Laguna College of Art and Design students Hannah Cosner and Tierney Moses to create the distinctive wave centerpiece for its float. Choosing the wave shape to emphasize the damage that trash is doing to the oceans and beaches, the artists noted that while they were working the stench from the trash could be overwhelming, but they kept at it because they wanted to “jolt” viewers into an awareness of this environmental problem.

Soriano said that he was glad that the group’s float could make such an important statement. He added that the float was “a team effort…the result of planning, coordinating, assembling, and financing. Surfrider’s members and Farmers & Merchants Bank joined forces to help turn Faubert’s efforts and the ‘Tidal Wave of Trash’ sculpture into a great story. The float is having a tremendous impact in promoting our goals. We’ve already gotten calls from other chapters wanting to borrow it for their environmental awareness campaigns.”

The Chapter’s Vice Chairman Seth Matson said, “This float has a powerful message. Our members should be proud of what they accomplished. We couldn’t have done it without them. In addition to volunteering, they fund each and every one our programs with their annual memberships.”

Emily Lewis, with Farmers & Merchants Bank, said that the float embodies “the iconic nature of the city of Huntington Beach. If the ‘Tidal Wave of Trash’ represents the work of one man’s effort in just 30 days, think what we could accomplish together if each of us were to make the same commitment.”

Chapter Volunteers Coordinator Corey Fogel didn’t have any trouble rounding up volunteers to work on the float. “People were happy to participate,” he said. “Surfrider’s mission, Andre’s project and the artists’ unique sculpture made the float special.” He believes it was the float’s originality and Surfrider’s positive presence in Huntington Beach that helped it win the prize.

Watching the artists and volunteers turning beach trash into such a strong environmental statement was empowering. Those who decorated the float and/or rode in the parade include: Jeff Coffman, Andre and Summer Faubert, Seth Matson, Manuel Florence, Hannah Cosner, Tierney Moses, Corey Fogel, Tony and Alex Soriano, Merle Moshiri, Emily Lewis, Jay Fuller, Gary Horgan, Sunny Magdaug, and Patti Kishel.

Just a few really cool facts about the Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Surfrider Chapter

• It is a 100% Volunteer-based / non-profit organization

• Over 24 beach cleanups are held per year from Bolsa Chica to the River Jetties (the most cleanups of any Surfrider Chapter in the USA)

• The beach cleanups average about 250-350 participants and weigh in approximately 300 lbs. of trash per cleanup (over 6,000 lbs. of trash per year)

• The HB/SB Chapter has many programs such as:

1. Beach Cleanups

2. Rise Above Plastics

3. Education/Kids Education

4. Ocean Friendly Gardens

5. Blue Water Task Force

The Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Surfrider Foundation Chapter Website is: http://www.hsbsurfrider.org.
Follow Andre Faubert’s 30/30 Experiment Project on our blog at: http://hsbsurfrider.org/category/blog-8-3030-experiment/

Welcoming the opportunity to get its message out to the public, the non-profit Surfrider Foundation now has more than 60,000 members in the USA and 100 chapters worldwide. Committees focus on the foundation’s goals of “Conservation, Activism, Research, and Education,” with members speaking at schools, instructing homeowners in ways to plant “ocean-friendly gardens,” and working with communities to protect the environment.

To learn more about the Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation contact:

Tony Soriano

Chairman, SURFRIDER FOUNDATION

Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter

Phone: 949-355-4571

Email:  hsbchair@surfrider.org

Written by Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

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Come join the Huntington Beach/Seal Beach and Newport Beach Surfrider Chapters for a special ISD – Beach Cleanup and Paddle out at the River Jetties on June 19th from 8am to 12noon. Parking is free from 7:30am to 11am. Enter at Brookhurst St. and drive south. Look for the Blue Surfrider Tents/Banners.