Surfing has become an increasingly popular way to recreate here along the seacoast, and across the US as a whole. During the summer, it’s hard to drive anywhere without seeing a longboard strapped to the roof of a fellow commuter’s car.

But why has surfing become so popular in recent years? From 2019 to 2020, the surfing population in the US grew an astounding 28 percent, and over the past five years the sport has experienced 8% average annual growth.

On this month’s two-part episode of Time and Tide, we’re paddling into the lineup with local legends of surfing to look back at the sport’s past along NH’s coastline, attempt to understand who today’s cold-water surfers are, and unpack what coastal issues New Hampshire surfers care about most?

In part two, we explore how the sport of surfing can create community, a sense of responsibility to protect the natural world, and monetary value for coastal towns. What is the value of clean water? And just because you surf, does that mean you’re more likely to support healthy coastal ecosystems?

Becs O’Brien and Christina Dubin are two surfer friends who have formed a community of female surfers along the seacoast and are actively involved with marine conservation organizations, including Surfrider New Hampshire and Beyond Plastics. In an age where our screen-time is quickly outpacing our face-time with one another, we discuss how the antidote might just be something as simple as floating on boards with friends in the ocean. Becs and Christina also share their thoughts on how to meaningfully engage the surfing community with the issues facing our coast.

Last but not least, Scott Lemos, a Research Economist and Senior Lecturer at University of New Hampshire, gives us a lesson on surf-onomics. How much money is clean water worth, and how can a sport like surfing impact a local economy? Scott also coins the term ‘positive localism’ as we speak about how surfing can become less extractive from the natural world and leave people with a lasting connection to the natural world instead.

Full episode transcript is available below.

Guest Speakers:

Becs O’Brien, Volunteer, Surfrider New Hampshire

Christina Dubin, Major Gifts Manager, Beyond Plastics

Scott Lemos, Research Economist and Senior Lecturer, University of New Hampshire

Hosted by: Brian Yurasits, Science Communication Specialist, New Hampshire Sea Grant

Co-hosted by: Erik Chapman, Director, New Hampshire Sea Grant

Produced by: Brian Yurasits

Further reading

Surfrider New Hampshire

Beyond Plastics

Scott Lemos’ Research

New Hampshire Sea Grant works to enhance our relationship with the coastal environment to sustain healthy and resilient ecosystems, economies, and communities through integrated research, extension, education, and communications efforts. Based at the University of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Sea Grant is one of 34 programs in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program, a state-federal partnership serving America’s coasts. Learn more by visiting: seagrant.unh.edu

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