Phoresia.org

– stripping surfing back down to its most elemental form

Buy less shit.

That’s pretty much the culmination of two years of digging, building, interviewing and scratching our heads on how to best move forward in our lives (collectively and personally) to leave less of an impact on our surroundings. When we first started Phoresia it was with an eye towards products intended to lessen their impact and provide alternatives that were less harmful to people and the environment. There were only a handful of relevant surf-related products out there at the time that were following an intentional low-impact model and most of them were pretty underground and hard to find.

Fast-forward a couple years. Everybody and their uncle are pushing “eco-green” goods, to the point where you’d think you can buy your way into global bliss and harmony, when if fact quite the opposite is true.  Companies have latched onto the “green” movement to push more product which is the exact antithesis to what a more sustainable movement was all about in the first place. The revolution has been co-opted and marketed back to us in the guise of passionate consumption.

It’s not the trappings that are important in surfing, it’s the experiences. We’ve gotten away from reviewing products and goods and leaned towards the people involved in those unique experiences. What tends to be the memorable experiences in surfing are the people you meet and the places you go, not necessarily the equipment you’re using or what you’re wearing while doing it, although so much of the surfing lifestyle (marketing) is focused on those aspects.

As for our focus here on Phoresia, it has shifted from its original intent somewhat as we realized along the way how  many ways we can say “I don’t need that shit”. Instead we just go out and surf. When necessary we buy gear that fits our needs and is built to last. That’s the beauty of what we do, it’s simplicity. Mother Nature provides the rest.


Buy less shit, go surf.

• Category: environment, phoresia.org

13 Responses »

  1. Word.

  2. Sometimes you have to go on a roundabout journey to really understand a very simple conclusion. I like it and look forward to more critique and celebration of surf ‘culture.’

  3. Love it.

  4. completely agree

  5. I do need a new springsuit but now I feel guilty. It’s 5 years old and been repaired twice so I really need a new one, it’s soooooo leaky.
    What suit should I get and what do we do with our old suits?
    thanks.
    JP

  6. Oh but I’ve really got my heart set on that new fair-trade organic hemp Snuggie!

    Seriously good point. Also if you need to buy- buy used, also saves cash.

  7. Check out these guys as far as getting rid of old suits with no life left in ’em:
    http://www.greengurugear.com/reclamation

    Quote from their site:
    ” We accept all wetsuits regardless of size and design.
    Some partners are incentivizing their clients to recycle their old wetsuits by offering a discount on the purchase of a new wetsuit and a 15% off coupon for their next Green Guru purchase.”

    I think that’s the next big step, is finding ways to recycle/reuse/repurpose products after their useful life (5 years and 2 repairs) is up. Guys like resurf.org are really on point with this as far as surfboard manufacturing goes and more and more retailers are offering incentives to return old gear to be recycled in exchange for discounts on new gear.

    David

  8. I came to this conclusion after learning about recycling plants (e.g. glass sits in piles and is rarely recycled) and landfills. And learning about production process and delivery of goods. The best option for having less of an impact on your surroundings is to reduce your consuption.

    The next conclusion in my thought process was that if I buy less, I have extra money in my pocket. How do I deal with this without buying more? I work less! which results in less money in my pocket but also less consuption (gas to drive to work etc.) and more happiness.

  9. Fuck yeah!

  10. so simple. so right.

  11. Another play is, when you feel like you have to get stuff, to get stuff that’s built to last. I’ve got an old BMW motorcycle used, and I’ve rode the hell out of it since 1993. Still going. It’s almost thirty years old.

  12. nice writing- i couldnt agree more.
    i remember seeing an ‘Innovations’ style catalogue (printed on glossy paper) of “environmentally friendly” products to buy. so wrong– e.g. a plastic (oil!) brick thing you put in yer toilet to save water. oh the irony! any old solid object would do as well, and save wasting money too.

    i also cant stand all the fake-ass green marketing – i saw a wetsuit ad boasting it was ‘green’- it had a recycled zip. wow! that’s a planet saver! and dont get me started on built in obsolescence (sp?)….i agree: just buy less, buy secondhand.
    you may be interested in a related post on my blog: http://droog79.blogspot.com/2009/12/blog-post.html

  13. Truth in all of this. minimalist is the way to go if you can. The Whore that is the surf industry is on the wrong path and it is not going to change because it is not about the sport and art of riding waves it is about the fashion and we all know how imprtant fashion is…*rolls eyes*

    Keep it coming fellers, some of us are llistening!