ROADSHOW ENCOURAGES YOUNG SURFERS TO BECOME ENVIRONMENTAL GUARDIANS OF THEIR LOCAL BEACHES!

World Water Day sees leading environmental campaigners ‘Surfers Against Sewage’ (SAS) announce an educational tour for young surfers in June. Surf ‘grommets’ will have the chance to learn how to protect their local beaches from pollution, as well as being given the chance to surf with and against some of the best surfers in the world in a fun tag team surf contest.

This will be the 6th annual SAS/Quiksilver tour. It will build upon successful elements of previous tours, adding some extra surprises including the new Quiksilver tour bus. This year’s tour will visit different beaches to last year’s, so if you didn’t get to go along in 2004, make sure you don’t miss out again. (beaches to be confirmed shortly so watch the SAS website for more information: www.sas.org.uk).

The SAS/Quiksilver Eco Groms Tour is designed to teach groms (aged 10-14) why their local beaches are so important and how best to protect them. The day will include a beach clean, with analysis of the litter and its’ potential impacts. Groms will be shown what they can do when a pollution incident occurs and the power they have to bring about change. As with previous SAS tours, this year’s tour will be enjoyable as well as educational. All groms will receive an Eco Grom Certificate.

Groms will also be split into teams captained by Quiksilver pros to take part in a fun surf tag team event. Prizes will then be awarded before the team speeds off in the Quiksilver bus to the next beach. The days will start at 8.30am and finish at around 4pm depending on the surf!! If it goes flat then the Quiksilver team will be treating the groms to an insight into their training regime, so fun and education is guaranteed whatever the waves are like.

A surprise campaign stop will take place en route, when the pro surfers will get behind one of SAS’s high profile campaigns and give their support to a local issue.

Andy Cummins, SAS Campaigns Assistant says: “The tour is always so much fun. As well being a unique educational experience, it gives the groms a chance to learn how to protect what is most important to them – their beaches and their waves. It’s great that SAS delivers vital environmental education needed to protect our oceans for future generations. Quiksilver continue to make this event possible, as well as giving the groms the chance to meet their surfing heroes.”

For further information please contact Andy Cummins 01872 553001 / 07711 767548 or [email protected] www.sas.org.uk