Petroleum has leaked its way into every aspect of surfing. We’ve all driven countless hours looking for surf only to put on our neoprene wetsuit, wax up our board with petroleum-based wax, slather on our chemical-laden sunblock, and paddle out on our polystyrene surfboard. And think about how far all of those products had to travel just to get to you. With the state of the world today, it is more important than ever to reduce surfing’s dependence on oil. More and more companies are developing products that work toward this goal and it is up to us to make responsible choices, vote with our dollars, and slowly swap out our petroleum-based surf products with natural, biodegradable, chemical-free ones. Not only is it better for Mama Earth…it’s better for you.

Surf wax is generally made up of paraffin and other hard waxes, as well as petroleum jelly, but now there is a wide range of biodegradable surf wax for you to choose from, available in local surf shops or online. …here’s a sample.

Still haven’t found a gift for that special surfer in your life? Or maybe you just need to fill a stocking with a few last minute gifts. Here are some ideas…

Korduroy.tv is launched and live and full of new content.

Here’s a video for your viewing pleasure.

Cyrus Sutton’s style, energy, creativity, and vision offer a breath of fresh air and a reminder of why we surf. He has developed a new website centered around making, repairing, and recycling things that correlate with the surfing lifestyle – from tepees, to smoothies, to bikes, and more. The site is Korduroy.tv and it focuses on just about anything that’s free, gravitational fun – surfing, snowboarding, climbing, downhill skating, whatever your pleasure.

The launch party is August 14th! Read on for more details.

In a sleepy lagoon off the coast of Japan lies a shocking secret that a few desperate men will stop at nothing to keep hidden from the world. At last, the truth of THE COVE comes to the fore in an act of covert filmmaking that turns a documentary into a gripping action-adventure thriller . . . and a heart-pounding call for help from the world’s oceans.

THE COVE will open in select theaters July 31, 2009. Find out where you can see the film and how you can take action.

Jeremy Sherwin is a ripping surfer who cares greatly about the health of the planet, the ocean, and his body. Read on to find out what he thinks the key elements to living a healthy and sustainable lifestyle are.

Hummus is a Mediterranean spread made of garbanzo beans and tahini, a sesame seed paste, and is perfect for those who live an active lifestyle. Filling, satisfying, and full of health benefits, it is also incredibly easy to make. If you keep your pantry stocked with the right ingredients, this hummus recipe is a great food that’s always easy to whip up.

Over the last decade, the Mentawai Islands have become a premier surfing destination. The tiny island chain now hosts almost 60 surf charter boat operations and 3 land-based resorts. As the number of surfers seeking out these world-class waves grows, so do the impacts on the marine ecology. In order to reach each surf spot, surfers must travel by boats which anchor on live coral. This can cause incredible damage to the coral reefs, which not only create perfect waves but also make up important marine habitat and sustain the Mentawaian people.