1. The first story comes from Surfer Mag on Electrical Powered Jet Skis.
2. The second story is an announcement from Northcore Boardriders, “Trees for Jet Skis: Big Wave Tow-in Jet Ski Goes Carbon Neutral”

STORY 1

Barrett Taylor and the crew at ECO have developed an environmentally friendly PWC that has zero emissions and no sound. On the surface this seems like a no-brainer. Surfers have been leading the enviro-conscious movement for decades. We thought we should check into the Eco Watercraft and talk with Barrett Taylor to find out more about this exciting environmental PWC improvement.

Barrett, the concept of an environmentally friendly PWC seems like something that makes a ton of sense. You have a YouTube video making the rounds, which is interesting, but for those that haven’t seen it, give us a quick overview of the Eco Watercraft.

This is the first of its kind, a fully electric PWC that runs on a few hundred pounds of lithium-ion batteries. They are fully sealed, waterproof, airtight, and destruction proof. We think it is the future of PWC. It has zero emissions. It is completely silent. When you are done using it, you pull it up to the dock and plug it into a solar-powered generator.

check out the rest of the interview here

STORY 2

Northcore Boardriders made the announcement today that they are extending their annual CO2 offsetting program to cover the Jet ski (Personal Watercraft- PWC) used by their brand Ambassador Richie Fitzgerald, by neutralising its annual Carbon emissions by investing in a tree adoption and re-forestation scheme.

Northcore spokesman said of the Jet ski- initiative “Richie Fitzgerald and his tow-in partner, Gabe Davies have a Jet-ski on permenant standby on Ireland’s West coast which they use for charging some of the biggest waves on the planet at places like Aileens in Co Clare.

However the use of Jet Skis can pose a moral environmental dilema for tow-in teams worldwide. Its no secret that the use of Jet Skis isn’t the most eco-friendly addition to the surfing way of life, so until a viable “green” alternative to internal combustion for PWC’s is available these vehicles and the emissions they create will remain in the line ups as essential equipment for chasing down monster waves. So Northcore in conjunction with Richie have taken the decision to offset the annual CO2 emmissions of his and Gabe’s PWC by extending our tree planting scheme administered by the Dutch based organisation, Climate Neutral Group.

The CO2 offsetting is based upon the annual fuel usage for Richie’s Jet ski which creates approximately 1.28 tonnes of CO2 and it requires 64 mature rainforest trees to offset this emmission. These trees are growing in a re-forestation scheme in Malaysia and through the adoption programme both offset the PWC’s CO2 and allow continued investment in the scheme with the planting of new trees extending the project”

Richie Fitzgerald says of his Jet ski going Carbon neutral “Jet Skis are a ‘necessary evil’ in the pursuits of big waves, so I am really delighted to be working with Northcore on their initiative to offset the annual emissions of our ski .”

The Climate Neutral group are in permanent partnership with the FACE foundation who manage the reforestation project in the forests of Sabah in the Malaysian part of Borneo. Here the forests are being seriously damaged by intensive and large-scale logging. The area has become overgrown with lianas, preventing the natural re-growth of most trees. The FACE foundation set up a project to recover the damaged tropical rainforest by planting trees and through sustainable management. Left to its own devices the rainforest would not be able to return to its original state. Besides extracting a volume of CO2 from the atmosphere each year, this project is preserving the outstanding biodiversity of the area. Moreover, the project provides jobs for local people in tourism, research and nature management.

For more information visit:

www.northcore-europe.com

The SIMA Environmental Fund raised more than $50,000 at the fifth annual Waterman’s Weekend Underwriting Party on Friday, June 5. More than 100 surf industry executives and friends attended the underwriting party, held at the oceanfront Cyprus Shore Community Park. The money raised from the evening will help underwrite the costs for the upcoming 2009 Waterman’s Weekend to be held August 6-7, which will benefit 18 ocean-related environmental organizations.

“The SIMA Environmental Fund is excited to be going into our 20th year for Waterman’s Ball,” said Paul Naudé, SIMA Environmental Fund president. “This year’s economic climate has presented many challenges, but through a combined industry effort we are determined to maintain our support of 18 proven ocean-related environmental organizations, and look forward to achieving our fundraising goal of more than $400,000 raised at Waterman’s Weekend this year. The success of this Underwriting Party was a tremendous step toward meeting this goal. We know the very deserving event beneficiaries much appreciate the support of all the event underwriters.”

Throughout the night, guests tasted gourmet appetizers from San Clemente’s own Vine restaurant, and an array of drinks, with island lager donated by Primo Beer. Attendees mingled amongst blue-linen tables decorated with orchids and acoustic musician Rachel McGoye provided relaxing music as the sun set on the ocean. Many guests took advantage of the raffle tickets available, with a trip to the North Shore of Hawaii, tickets for the 2009-2010 Lakers vs. Magic grudge match, and a Stand Up Paddle Board plus Ritz-Carlton Spa package as the prizes. Raffle tickets can be purchased at http://www.sima.com/watermans.aspx. Guests were also given the opportunity to underwrite several components for the upcoming Waterman’s Ball. Centerpieces, wine, cocktails, D.J., VIP Reception, and more were all generously underwritten.

“We are proud to see the significance of Waterman’s Weekend continue to grow in ocean-related environmental circles,” said Naudé. “The surf industry and the surfing lifestyle’s very survival depends upon a healthy ocean and preservation of surf breaks. Surfers automatically become stewards of the ocean, as every time they paddle out they are engrossed in the environment around them. Surfers realize the work our beneficiaries are doing greatly affects our surf lifestyles, and in turn, we are glad the SIMA Environmental Fund serves as an avenue for surfers to support these groups.”

The Waterman’s Weekend begins Thursday, August 6, with the Waterman’s Classic Golf Tournament at the Monarch Beach Golf Links, and culminates on Friday, August 7, with the 20th Annual Waterman’s Ball and Auction. SIMA is excited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Waterman’s Ball by returning the event to the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, Calif. This year’s honorees include Waterman of the Year Rob Machado, Environmentalist of the Year Dave Rastovich, and Lifetime Achievement Award for the late Dick Baker.

Waterman’s Weekend Underwriting Party event photos are now available upon request from Mandy Johnson, SIMA Communications Coordinator, by calling 949. 366.1164 x 7 or by e-mailing mandy@sima.com. Individual tickets for the Waterman’s Ball are scheduled to go on sale in July. For more information about the Waterman’s Weekend, visit http://www.sima.com/watermans.aspx.

The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is the official working trade association of more than 300 surf industry suppliers. Founded in 1989, SIMA is a non-profit organization that serves to promote awareness of the surf industry and participation in the sport of surfing through public relations efforts and a variety of services, educational programs and research. In addition, SIMA actively supports oceanic environmental efforts through its 501(c)(3) charitable environmental foundation, the SIMA Environmental Fund. In the past 19 years, SIMA’s Environmental Fund has raised more than $5 million for the environmental groups seeking for protect the world’s oceans, beaches and waves. The SIMA Humanitarian Fund, also a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, was established in 2006 to award grants to various surf or boardsport related social and humanitarian non-profit organizations whose efforts are focused on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people. Please visit www.sima.com for more information.

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A British kite-surfer was left fighting for life after he became trapped in a two mile slick of poisonous jellyfish off the coast of Costa Rica.

Father-of-three Crispin Freeman, 42, was stung repeatedly for more than 40 minutes after he crash landed into the middle of the swarming mass. His ripped kite meant he could not re-launch to escape the treacherous waters. Mr Freeman sustained so many stings that his body shut down from shock and his airways began to constrict.Strong currents eventually swept him clear of the jellyfish and he was finally plucked from the waters off Bahia Salinas, near the Nicaragaun border. Mr Freeman, who had swelled up “like a balloon”, was rushed to a local clinic by his horrified friends and given an emergency antihistamine injection to save his life.But he survived the horrific ordeal on May 23 and has since made a full recovery.

Mr Freeman a former businessman from Solihull, West Midlands who has re-trained as a carpenter, relived the terrifying moment he crash landed.

“I tried to keep my neck out of the water to prevent them stinging me there but I was so exhausted that I couldn’t,” he said.
“I panicked initially but after a while I couldn’t feel anything at all. I thought I was going to die.”

Mr Freeman moved to Costa Rica in 2004 with his wife Jo and their three children Estrella, five, Arturo, three, and Ruby, one, to set up a property business.The family now spend around half the year in Central America and half in Britain.Mrs Freeman said: “He had been stung a couple of times the previous day so knew there were jellyfish around.

“But I don’t know where this slick came from – it must have been a cycle of the moon. His kite ripped when he landed in the water so he could not launch it again. He said it was like sitting in a bath of jellyfish. They were stinging him anywhere he didn’t have hair – on his inner thighs, upper arms and neck.”

A friend tried to help but Crispin screamed at him to go away because there were millions of jellyfish. He said it was agonising and his skin looked like it was covered in third degree burns. His friends on the beach were helpless but luckily the tide current washed him in away from the jellyfish. He has just been left with a bit of a rash, but at the time he swelled up like a balloon.

“Thankfully he is okay, but it could have been so different. I was so upset when I found out – I was crying my eyes out.”

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