sustainable style foundation*

from haberdash.org...As a rower and occasional sailor, I have a strong affinity for the water. Perhaps that's why I couldn't pull myself away from the display booth of Sea Bags, Inc. while attending the 2008 ECOLLECTION event at MAGIC. Or perhaps it is the fact that the bags have a great utilitarian design, that they are made from recycled sails, or that they are the perfect gift for anyone that is connected to water in some way (I have plenty of those). But I think what really grabbed me is that this is the perfect manbag. Sure its appealing to everyone from your Aunt Sally in Maine to surfers on Maui, but it truly is a perfect manbag. Its durable, its manly, its all about sailing, etc. Plus they also offer duffels, storage bags, and weekend bags that are just as cool as their totes. Each bag is different which in the end only made me want to by all of them.

from haberdash.org...Flushing Meadows' blue tennis courts are going green. Sustainability in the sports world is pretty prevalent these days and the latest entry into the green arena is the United States Tennis Association (USTA) who has worked to create a green US Open this year. Leading the charge at USTA is none other than Billie Jean King. The efforts include waste recycling, green energy, financial contributions to nonprofits, donations of used tennis equipment to youth organizations, and a line of green sportswear designed by Billie Jean and Heidi Klum. Many of the athletes are behind the campaign as well making it even more impressive.

I recently took part in the 2008 Paddle to Cowichan, BC, the destination for this year's Tribal Journeys event that takes place each summer in which Tribes from around the Puget Sound and Canada paddle traditional canoes to a host tribe. I was invited by Dannny Marshall, Tribal Leader of the Steilacoom Tribe to be part of their canoe family along with the Carver Camp Canoe Family headed by Phil Red Eagle. The group had just finished carving a hunting canoe called "Flicker" and were getting ready to take her on her first voyage. I've been volunteering with the Steilacoom Tribe for a couple years now, helping with the website and a ethnobotanical garden. Having grown up in Steilacoom, WA it's been great fun and very rewarding to help out since the Steilacoom are not a recognized tribe so have no state or federal funding sources. So it was a big surprise and great honor to be asked to help paddle. I met many wonderful people along the journey, took many pictures, and have many wonderful memories. One of groups that impressed me greatly was the Pink Paddle Canoe Family. They not only paddled many miles with the other 100 or so canoes on the journey, they did it to raise awareness for breast cancer and to honor the many people who have survived or have been lost to cancer of any type.

One of the first statements in our SSF vision is "seven generations" which honors the wisdom of native peoples to act today in ways that respect and benefit those who come seven generations after us. So the opportunity to participate in the 2008 Tribal Journey was very meaningful for me personally and for SSF. I am very humbled to have been part of the journey, to paddle alongside the Pink Paddlers, as well as the many other Tribes that took part in this year's journey.

We first covered pro skater Bob Burnquist's enviro actions and sustainable style way back in summer 2004; he was working with Frank Scura (they're pictured together on the right) and the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC) to spread the word about sustainability to the X Games crowd -- when he wasn't busy on his organic farm, that is. Grist recently caught up with Bob to check in on what he's been up to lately; turns out that he's still working on spreading the good word, when he isn't launching himself off a ramp into the Grand Canyon, that is. He's a smart guy, and has some good things to say about being a celeb, a pro athlete, and an environmental advocate all at once. About ASEC, he says, "ASEC became the perfect thing to do to be able to get the word out using my celebrity status -- whatever that is in skateboarding and beyond -- and connect with other like-minded skateboarders and BMXers and whoever's involved. We called it 'Action Sports' because we wanted to be all-involving. I think it involves surfing because of the coastal [aspect], and snowboarding because of all the mountains and the wilderness there, and skateboarding's important because of the urban impact. So if we try to get across to all the different lifestyles, we'll make an impact together." Keep up the great work, Bob! Read the full article over at [Grist]

I was completely blown away and inspired by this latest find in the sports world. Founded in 1996 by Olympic Downhiller and World Freestyle Champion Suzy Chaffee and Colorado Ute Unity Leader, Alden Naranjo, the Native Voices Foundation is a unique partnership between First Nation tribes, ski resorts, and sports legends to both honor and heal the past, as well as provide hope for the future. NVF was established to provide an opportunity for First Nations youth in Canada and the United States to learn and excel in alpine sports. Their latest project, Snow Riders, is doing just that and even includes a Winter Olympics bid. Sustainable wisdom is a big part of NVF's programs as well. From haberdash.org.

I already think Surfur's Path is one of the coolest mags out there (they were one of our 2005 OSSA Award nominees after all). Just ran across Issue 53 which, as usual, has all sorts of great articles on what's up in the surf world regarding sustainability. Diggin Surfers Against Sewage and of course SurfAid. One thing that caught me this time was Grean Wave Awards. Not only does Surfer's Path print on 100% post-consumer paper with non-GMO soy-based inks, they have the Green Wave Awards. SO Cool! Time for me to take up surfing.