DOOR PRIZES courtesy of Remember Your Roots

Door prizes at RIPPLE tonight are courtesy of Remember Your Roots Eco-friendly Clothing!



We are very thankful of our retail partners, Remember Your Roots (RYR), for their support of Surfrider's mission and the DC Chapter. For every t-shirt sold, the guys at RYR pick up a pound of trash at our cleanups. In addition to their volunteer work, RYR offers Surfrider members a 10% discount on their total order (use code SURFRIDER10). Visit www.iamryr.com to view their awesome line of organic tees and hoodies!


RYR's Paul and Michael at our April Potomac River Cleanup. Paul is sporting the Roots Flake Organic Tee in River Blue - just 1 of the tees we'll be raffling off this evening!


Remember Your Roots is a clothing company whose goal is to provide consumers with a more ecological clothing alternative without having to sacrifice style. Unlike other major clothing brands, they believe in creating quality products by utilizing only 100% organic and/or postconsumer recycled materials.

"The importance of being an organic clothing company cannot be understated. Environmental damage done by companies making clothing out of conventional cotton is immense. Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, federal regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for organic farming. All cotton sold as organic in the United States must meet strict federal regulations covering how the cotton is grown. Remember Your Roots not only reflects the inner passions of our consumers, but is also a symbol to remember and care for the environment around us." -- RYR

DONOR SPOTIGHT: Potomac Paddlesports

Big thank you to guys and gals at Potomac Paddlesports for their donation of 2 SUP Membership Packages!

Potomac Paddlesports--DC's premier paddlesports outfitter and retailer--now offers top quality stand up paddling instruction for those who wish to join a proficient, social, stand up paddling community. The "SUP" Membership includes four lessons, free coached weeknight practice sessions, and free board rentals and a 10% discount at our retail store. Learn at your own pace as your time permits over a two year period--manage your class schedule online--and take our boards out anytime you want from May through September.

Potomac Paddlesports is located at 11917 Maple Avenue, Rockville, MD. Visit www.potomacpaddlesports.com for more information on their products and services.

RIPPLE Is TONIGHT!

RIPPLE is tonight, tonight, tonight!

Please join us for our annual fundraiser, RIPPLE, tonight (Friday, June 22nd) at 8pm at the Hill Center!

RIPPLE is an art show and silent auction celebrating International Surfing Day.  The event helps raise vital funds for the DC Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.

The gala includes art from Chapter favorites Marissa Roche and Sally Gilliam, as well as jewelry, 2 tent packages courtesy of REI (www.rei.com), a 3/2 mm men's wetsuit courtesy of Wetsuit Wearhouse Inc. (www.wetsuitwearhouse.com), and many other fun surprises!

You don't have to be a member of the Surfrider Foundation to attend -- all are welcome!

Date/Time: Friday, June 22 @ 8pm

Attire: black tie and boardshorts (or "aloha formal," or "beachy dressy," as you prefer), but feel free to come wearing whatever you're most comfortable in.

Tickets at the door: $25, all proceeds go directly to the chapter's efforts to keep our rivers and oceans clean (and tickets include wine, beer, and hors d'oeuvres, sweet!).


Metro Directions:  Take the Orange or Blue lines to the Eastern Market Metro station.  From there, just walk two block southeast on Pennsylvania Ave and you're there.

Map: 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003


(View Larger Map)

Paddle out with your new Carbonerro Paddle!

A BIG thank you to our regional Carbonerro rep, Greg Miller, for donating a Carbonerro Carbon Fiber Paddle for this year's RIPPLE! Look for this item in our Silent Auction!



Carbonerro's carbon fiber paddles are beautifully constructed with an elongated ten-degree teardrop blade, smooth drawn out dihedral spine, and reinforced ABS edge. Their carbon fiber shafts have just the right amount of flex to evenly distribute the energy from your body to the blade. This allows for a smoother transition without compromising performance or sacrificing your body to stress and fatigue.



These paddles retail at $339. Greg is offering Surfrider members a discounted price of $299! For more information, e-mail him at gmansurf@gmail.com.

INTERNATIONAL SURFING DAY -- Special Membership Offer!

In just a few short days, the Surfrider Foundation will offer a FANTASTIC opportunity for you to join or renew your membership AND score tons of great free stuff!

A special International Surfing Day membership, available online only, will be offered during International Surfing Day on June 20. Different membership levels entitle you to different swag. Please see below!

Standard ISD Package -- $30
• Limited edition International Surfing Day t-shirt – Soft, slim fit ENOVA tee made with reclaimed cotton fiber and GOTS certified dyes.

• On A Mission ECO Surf Wax – High traction surf wax packaged w/ biodegradable vegetable shrink film and post consumer waste paper

• One year subscription to Transworld SURF magazine

• One year's membership to the Surfrider Foundation


Deluxe ISD Package -- $125
• Everything listed in the Standard ISD Package

- PLUS -

• ECO Logical all-natural SPF 30 sunblock – Water resistant, UVA / UVB protection, hypoallergenic, non-nano, non-whitening zinc oxide

• DaKine Point Backpack – Roomy 1800 cu. In pack features a seam sealed wetsuit pocket, skate carry straps, organizer pocket, fleece lined sunglass pocket, mesh side pockets.

• Creatures of Leisure 6' Pro Leash – Perfect summer wave leash. Heavy duty cuff, double bearing swivel, Surefire leash release, key pocket, 2-year guarantee.


VIP ISD Package -- $300
• Everything listed in the Standard ISD Package

- PLUS -

• ECO Logical all-natural SPF 30 sunblock

• DaKine Point Backpack

• Creatures of Leisure 6' Pro Leash

• AND a GoPro Hero2 Surf Edition Camera - Waterproof housing to 197 feet (60m), capable of capturing professional full 170º wide angle 1080p video and 11 megapixel photos at a rate of 10 photos per second. 2 Surfboard mounts. Rechargeable Li-ion Battery.

For more information, visit: http://isd.surfrider.org/join-surfrider/

RIPPLE Featured Artist: Marissa Roche

Marissa’s work draws inspiration from her reactions to the natural world. Her artwork seeks to capture moments when, with reawakened senses, we re-establish our connections to nature. The quiet presence and flowing patterns of these elements - vast skies, expansive oceans, rolling hills, are represented on wood. In an effort to bridge The dichotomy between the natural world as subject and the actual representation as art is lessened through the re-purposing of utilitarian cabinet surfaces which would otherwise be discarded. Elements of realism and an abstract presence imbue Marissa’s images to create an external expression of her deep appreciation for and connection to the natural world.

Marissa holds a degree in art from the University of Maryland, has the pleasure of working with children as an arts educator and as an artist. She has featured her artwork in the past 3 RIPPLEs. We are excited to welcome her back for this year's show!

Donor Spotlight: REI

After this past weekend's sweltering heat, are itching to get out to the beach? Are you excited for another summer full of surfing and camping? Let Surfrider and REI outfit you for your adventures ahead!

This year, REI has donated 2 TENT PACKAGES for our silent auction!



TENT #1 – REI Base Camp 4

A robust, livable structure, the REI Base Camp 4 tent is for camp enthusiasts who favor more remote, exposed sites. Its time tested, proven design will serve you well for years to come.

Two REI Camp Chairs are included with this package. The REI Camp Chair is built for adventure, making it a must have item for car camping, tailgate parties and barbecues. The Camp Chair includes a storage bag with adjustable shoulder straps for easy carrying.




TENT #2 – REI Half Dome 2

The new REI Half Dome 2 is a lightweight, weather-worthy backpacking tent for 2 that maximizes livability, access and storage. In 2010, The Half Dome 2 won the Backpacker 2010 Editors’ Choice Gold Award. (Check out the video review here.) This tent has the same successful design but with technological updates.

With this tent, REI has donated the corresponding footprint and 2 REI Trail Chairs!

Each year, REI donates millions of dollars to support conservation efforts nationwide and sends dedicated teams of volunteers-members, customers, and REI employees- on projects such as building trails, cleaning up beaches, and restoring local habitats.

REI has been a generous supporter of the DC Chapter of Surfrider for many years. In 2010, REI awarded the DC Chapter a grant to build the David Stemper Memorial Rain Garden.

Introducing Sean Kelley -- RIPPLE Featured Artist

Sean Kelley moved to Northern Virginia from Hawaii in 1977. His specialty is travel photography.

“I try to shoot different parts of the world with a unique perspective, to inspire folks to get off the couch and go there themselves! Immerse myself into culture and record landscape and human interest images.” – Sean Kelley

Sean owns and operates a full-service photography business that creates and sells fine art photography, sells a photography-based surf clothing line, and provides event coverage. More of his photography will be on display June 21st (6:30pm - 10:30pm) at the “GET WET” Surf Art & Photography Exhibit at NORTHSIDE SOCIAL Coffee & Wine.

RIPPLE Featured Artist: Megan Bousquet

"The ocean is and always will be part of who I am. It is my grounding source, my inspiration, and the place that nourishes my creativity. It is where I feel most at home, and most connected to the universal currents of life." ~ Megan Bousquet


We are excited to welcome back Megan Bousquet – artist, surfer, and past DC Chapter Board member – for this year's RIPPLE: Art Affecting Oceans.

Megan grew up spending her summers down the Jersey Shore. She first saw the beach when just a baby, started surfing when she was fourteen, and has been making art for as long as she can remember. So it’s no doubt that her two passions – for the ocean and for art - would eventually merge together.

As an artist and a surfer, the term “pura vida” captures the essence of Megan’s life and work. It is the Costa Rican motto for life, a phrase that describes a way of living in the moment and with passion. Megan first discovered its essence while surfing along the coast in Nosara, Costa Rica, and quickly adopted it as a guiding principle for her own life. The spirit of “pura vida” has infused her style of art making – and provides a source for noticing joy in the simple, & capturing the life that occurs within a moment.

Megan holds her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and her MA in Art Therapy from the George Washington University. She is a registered Art Therapist and practicing artist.


Megan Bousquet with current Chapter Chair, Cheryl Norcross

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Wetsuit Wearhouse Inc.

We are incredibly thankful to Wetsuit Wearhouse Inc. for their donation of a 3/2mm Men's Large Wetsuit for RIPPLE's auction!




The 3/2mm Hyperflex AMP-3 is the warmest and most flexible suit ever produced by the guys up in Jersey. Highlighting the AMP-3 is the new AQ3 thermal lined interior fabric which promotes core warmth without sacrificing flexibility. The suit is made of 100% AmpStretch superstretch neoprene for unrestricted mobility without added bulk. The sealed and liquid taped seams work together with the waterproof short back zipper (with anti-flush gasket) to eliminate flushing.

In addition to their donation, Wetsuit Wearhouse Inc. has extended 15% off any order over $50 PLUS free shipping to all DC Chapter members! Simply use the redeem coupon code SURFRIDERIPPLE at checkout. This offer is good from today until May of 2013.

Wetsuit Wearhouse Inc. is the largest wetsuit specialty shop in the world! They carry a wide selection of wetsuits and neoprene accessories for surfing, wakeboarding, kayaking, SCUBA, triathlon swimming, and more. Visit their online store at www.westsuitwearhouse.com, or watch their promo video below for more information.

Volunteers Needed!

RIPPLE is right around the corner, and we are looking for volunteers.



Want to help?

We need a small army of volunteers (10-20) to help on June 22nd with setup, take down, guest check in, and behind the bar. If you can help, please e-mail Cheryl Norcross at dcchapter@surfrider.org. All volunteers will receive a special gift bag to thank them for their hard work!