Celebrate Earth Day 2019 With Us!

Celebrate Earth Day 2019 with us!

The first Earth Day was celebrated over 40 years ago on April 22, 1970.  It was founded by Gaylord Nelson, a US Senator from Wisconsin, after seeing the impact of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.  At that time it was the largest oil spill in US history and still ranks at number 3, behind only the Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez oil spills.  It was Mr. Gaylord’s vision to have a “national teach-in on the environment” and energize the public to protect the environment by addressing water and air pollution concerns.  Over 20 million Americans participated in that first Earth Day celebration uniting many in a common cause that had been previously fragmented over several specific environmental concerns.  

This year, Earth Day celebrations will focus on community volunteer clean ups world wide.  Green spaces, urban spaces, waterways, beaches and more will be patrolled by volunteers looking to pick up trash and dispose of it correctly.  Most of these clean ups are scheduled for Saturday, April 20th but Earth Day is officially April 22nd.  I couldn’t find an organized clean up for our area scheduled so I challenge everyone to take some time during the month of April, while walking down the sidewalk, through a parking lot, along a walking trail or beach to stop and notice what is in the environment.  Appreciate the plants, trees and flowers you see, the birdsong you may hear but also take note of any trash that may be present and pick it up to dispose of properly.  It only takes a moment and it is a way of sharing some love with Mother Nature.  If you would like to share with us on Facebook or Instagram your contribution to Earth Day, take a pic and post it to our Facebook page or DM us on Instagram and we will choose a picture at random on April 23rd.  The winner will receive a Final Straw collapsible travel straw worth $24.50!

Lastly, consider making every day an Earth Day.  Join us here at the store as we strive to continue reducing the number of single use bags that are used by saying ‘No’ and entering for a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate back to the store.  A winner is drawn each month from all the entries!  Also, think of ways to reduce other plastics you use, like single use water bottles, straws, plastic lids, plastic wrap and many other items that have become an integral part of our lives.  Many times there are alternatives and when there aren’t please consider reusing, recycling or repurposing the item.  Together we can make a change!

Sources-

https://www.earthday.org/about/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Santa_Barbara_oil_spill

https://cleanup.earthday.org

Celebrating Women in Skateboarding

March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the impacts women have made to our communities and societies.  These impacts are as varied as a field of wildflowers and just as beautiful and precious.  History has deigned to record some names while others are remembered only by loved ones, family and friends, for those contributions, while not noteworthy to historians, are just as important to the individuals affected.  Earlier this month I wrote briefly about some of the women that have influenced surfing through the years but then I began to wonder about skateboarding as well.  It is regarded as a predominately male sport like surfing, so who are the women that have left their mark in skateboarding? 

The name that first comes to mind is Patti McGee.  Perhaps best known for the picture of her cruising gracefully with ease on a skateboard, her shoulder length blond hair pulled away from her face and wearing a colorful cropped blouse with mint green thigh length shorts, she was also the first Women’s National Skateboard Champion in Santa Monica in 1965.  Other firsts she is known for include being the first professional female skateboarder and first female to be inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.  All of this began with her first skateboard, a gift from her brother, that he had made in shop class using her roller skate shoe.  

Another prominent name from those early years is Peggy Oki.  She was the only girl on the Zephyr or Z-Boys competition team in the 1970’s, skateboarding with the legendary Tony Alva and Jay Adams.  At the historic 1975 Del Mar Nationals she was the only member of the team to take home a first place trophy which was in Women’s Freestyle.  She was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2012.  

 Since those early years many names like Ellen O’Neal (often referred to as the Godmother of Freestyle skateboarding), Cara Beth Burnside (first president of the Action Sports Alliance and winner of more than 16 competition titles), Elissa Steamer (winner of four X-Games gold medals), Patti Hoffman, Jen O’Brien and many others have continued to pursue the joy of riding concrete waves on a board with wheels. Some have their names are recorded in the history books for their impact on the sport of skateboarding, others, their names remembered and treasured by loved ones, family and friends for the impact they had.  And for us, we recognize and thank all of them today.  

http://www.skateboardinghalloffame.org/projects/

https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-skateboarders/reference

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_McGee

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Oki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elissa_Steamer

Celebrating Wahines History

March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the impacts women have made to our communities and societies.  These impacts are as varied as a field of wildflowers and just as beautiful and precious.  History has deigned to record some names while others are remembered only by loved ones, family and friends, for those contributions, while not noteworthy to historians, are just as important to the individuals affected.  With all of this reflecting I began to wonder about the role women have played in the years with regards to surfing, a sport that is typically identified as a male dominated activity.  

Surfing history takes us back in time to the 17th century and there is evidence men, women and children all surfed together as a family activity in the Hawaiian and Polynesian Islands.  Mamala was a demi-god or kapua in Polynesian culture and was recognized as a skilled surfer taking many different forms including that of a beautiful female or a combination of half shark and half woman.  There are also stories of a mythical princess from Maui named Princess Kelea who was described as the best surfer in the Hawaiian Islands.  In 1905, the oldest known surfboard was found in the burial cave of Princess Kaneamuna and it is believed the surfboard belonged to the Princess and entombed with her.  

Fast forward to 1885 and Princess Ka’iulani demonstrated her skill on a surfboard not only to her fellow Hawaiians but to the English as well when she surfed the English Channel.  From there we meet Isabel Letham, a 15-year-old Australian girl who was proficient at swimming and bodysurfing.  Duke Kahanamoku taught to her ride a surfboard in the early 1900’s at Freshwater Beach and she is considered to be the first Australian, female or male, to have surfed a surfboard.  Since then names like Marge Calhoun, Mary Ann Hawkins, Kathy Kohner (better known as Gidget) Rell Sunn (Hawaii’s first lifeguard), Linda Merrill, Lisa Anderson, Layne Beachley, Bethany Hamilton, and many others have continued to pursue the magic of riding a surfboard as it runs along the face of a wave.  Some have their names recorded in the history books for their impact on the sport of surfing, others, their names remembered and treasured by loved ones, family and friends for their daily actions and contributions.  And for us, we recognize and thank all of them, past and present, for all the paths they have blazed and all the love they have shared.  

https://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/38995/recreation_and_sports/wahines_through_the_ages_the_history_of_female_surfers.html

https://www.history.com/news/women-surfers-1600s-hawaii-princess-gidget

https://www.slydehandboards.com/blogs/news/12878453-women-in-surfing-a-brief-history

Best Run~Best Trick~College Park Style

Lompoc Parks and Rec Annual Skateboard Competition is a community event and fun for all ages!   We have been partnering with Lompoc Parks and Rec since 2000 on this competition featuring Best Run (skate jam format) and Best Trick in five different age groups.  Registration starts at 10AM with competition to begin shortly afterwards by age group, youngest to oldest.  Prizes will be awarded for first through third place in all categories and there will also be opportunities to win some great raffle prizes throughout the competition.  Lompoc Foursquare Church will be joining the fun again with snacks and water!  

We are so very thankful and grateful for everyone that makes this competition possible each year including the skateboarders and the spectators, the businesses that provide sponsorships, Lompoc Parks & Rec staff, Lompoc Foursquare Church Elevate Youth Group, Charles-our emcee and our judges.  Without all of these wonderful people this great event wouldn’t be possible.  

So bring your skate, helmet and pads or perhaps your lawn chair and some sunscreen this Saturday and we’ll see you at College Park for some fun!

World Oceans Day!

World Oceans Day is on Friday, June 8th and a chance to celebrate and bring awareness to a part of Mother Earth that covers 71% of our world and holds 97% of all the water on Earth.  The concept for World Ocean Day was first proposed by the Canadian Government at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992.  After several years and the coordinated efforts of many organizations and tens of thousands of individuals, a resolution was passed in December 2008, and the United Nations officially began recognizing World Oceans Day on June 8th of every year.  This was an important step in turning the effort into a global one.  Since then the network of partners worldwide has grown to include approximately 2,000 organizations committed to preserving our oceans and the marine and plant life that call them home.  

We will be celebrating the day by spending some time enjoying our local beach and recommitting to being better stewards of our environment.  Some changes that we have personally made include: to not use single use plastic bottles and opt instead for stainless steel or multiple use bottles; to use reusable totes or bags when shopping; to not use plastic straws either at home or while out dining; picking up trash when we see it even when it was not ours; recycle/repurpose when possible; and our Save the Plastic Tree promotion.  We are also exploring other ways of reducing our use of plastic and impact on the environment and will be sharing with you in future posts what we have found successful.   

Help us spread the word and share how you plan to celebrate World Oceans Day this year and any changes you have made or plan to make to preserve our oceans and environment. Change starts with each of us…

https://www.oceanicinstitute.org/aboutoceans/aquafacts.html

http://www.worldoceansday.org