PRESS
2nd Annual Liberian Surf Contest on Yahoo News
“Competitors carry surfboards and walk out of the water at the third annual Surf Liberia Contest at Robertsport on the coast of the West African nation September 4, 2011.”
2nd Annual Liberian Surf Contest featured by The Atlantic
“A competitor rides a wave at the third annual Surf Liberia Contest at Robertsport on the coast of the West African nation September 4, 2011. Scarred by two civil wars between 1989 and 2003, Liberia is still recovering from years of brutal conflict, but a fledgling tourism industry has emerged, along with a nascent surfing scene. Among surfers, the country is celebrated for its faultless point breaks and some world-class tubes.”
Poor Specimen/Taylor Steele partnership with Surf Resource Network featured on Surfing and Surfer Magazine websites!
Surf Resource on Hungry Walrus
“Surf Resource Network doesn’t just show up with donations an provide the services, but they actually integrate into communities, training and educating the local’s on how to continue the projects and improvements themselves.
Surf Resource Network is a positive jump start for communities – so to speak. Teach a man to fish instead of give a man a fish.”
Surf Resource Website Launch and Center for Surf Research on Surfline
“The SURF RESOURCE NETWORK has joined forces with Dr. Jess Ponting, a leading expert on sustainable surf tourism and a current professor at San Diego State University, to help develop the world’s first CENTER FOR SURF RESEARCH. This collaboration effort takes a step in the right direction at addressing an exponential problem within surf tourism.”
The Surfer’s Journal Article – “The Wave Call:
“Sitting on our boards we dipped down the back side of a meager passing wave; as we bobbed up the face of the next wave to a better vantage point we caught a glimpse of the approaching set. Corduroy lines stacked on the horizon and ,with a promise of size and power, they steamed in like runaway train. I shot a quick look at Benjamin and with a grin that said, “I told you so,” he repeated, “Big wave coming.” There was a great rumble as the waves drew nearer and, like passengers in line for a roller coaster, we each got into position and, one by one, embarked on the ride of a lifetime.”
SRN article & Sean Brody Photo Portfolio on Fuel.TV:
“It is wildly important to empower the locals so they can build their own sustainable communities, meaning the locals are thriving from the resources and opportunities available to them, including the niche tourism industry of surfing. The local communities do not benefit much when huge businesses come in and buy up massive plots of land; very little goes back to local economies. If the locals own more business or are involved in more joint ventures (as opposed to all out land sales) and the tourists traveling through these communities are supporting these businesses the locals can benefit, not just foreign investors.”
Surfing Liberia and Sean Brody’s photos featured in the New York Times:
“When we finally arrived at Nana’s Lodge there — think safari camp on the beach — the rain was pouring down so hard that I, surfing novice that I am, was sure all the surfers would be taking shelter and drinking Club Beer at the beachside bar and restaurant that serves as the only real gathering spot. To be sure, there were the usual scraggly California, Hawaii and South Africa types digging into a buffet lunch of chicken stew with rice, cabbage, potato salad and the hot pepper sauce that Liberians use as a seasoning for everything. West African highlife music, steel drums and all, filtered from speakers.”
Surf Resource and The Center for Surf Research Partnership on Surf News Italy
Lobitos, Peru Trip Covered on Matuse News
International Rescue Committee Surfing Day with On Surfari on the Rusty Blog
