Founded by the Surfrider Foundation and SURFING Magazine, ISD unites surfers worldwide and encourages ocean enthusiasts to help protect our oceans, waves and beaches by participating in family-friendly events.  ISD started in on June 20th, 2005 with only 16 domestic locations and one international, and has since grown to over 200 events in 30 countries.

Along with local the Surfrider Chapter of South Orange County, Ocean Minded will host the official ISD beach clean up, and join the beach BBQ, ISD giveaways and Surfing America’s contest viewing of the best amateur surf talent in the United States.

“Surfing America is proud to host ISD during the contest at Lowers as this is a worldwide celebration of our sport and how important it is to protect our premiere surfing resources, California State Parks and oceans,” stated Greg Cruse, Executive Director, Surfing America.

Ocean Minded’s Marketing Director, Bob Tanner commented, “This year is an extra bonus of being at our local spot, Lower Trestles, during Champs.  Please join us in our backyard, as we look forward to a fabulous day of surfing, hosting the beach clean-ups and Ocean Minded giveaways!”

In addition to ISD festivities and the Surfing America Surf Championships being held at Trestles on Thursday, this famous surf break will be seeing a ton of love and support today as well. At 1:00 p.m. today in San Diego, California, countless surfers and environmental activists will join forces to help persuade the Regional Water Quality Control Board to deny the Transportation Corridor Agency’s (TCA) toll road plans and save this beloved surf break.

In 2008, 3,500 people gathered to fight the TCA’s initial toll road plans, creating the one of the largest public hearings in State history, and together they successfully persuaded the Coastal Commission to deny the plan and Save Trestles. Not even five years later, San Onofre State Beach and Trestles are calling on the public again, to help persuade the board and take a final stand to save trestles.

The meeting starts at 1:00 p.m. today, June 19th at 9174 Sky Park Court, San Diego, California, 92123. Public comment will be taken shortly after and Ocean Minded will be present with Surfrider to help save Trestles. For more information on Surfrider’s Save Trestles campaign visit savetrestles.surfrider.org. To find an ISD beach cleanup or event near you, visit isd.surfrider.org.

Photo: Chris Klau Photography

With warm water, sunny skies and countless beach days, summer is a perfect time to get out there and try out some new water-sport activities. To help kick-start that motivation train, Ocean Minded Ambassador and  Yoga Journal‘s current cover feature, Gillian Gibree has three simple Standup Paddle (SUP) Yoga poses that can be done by everyone!

By Ocean Minded Brand Ambassador, Gillian Gibree

I got into SUP Yoga about four years ago. I never really thought it would turn into what it is today, that’s for sure! I had been practicing yoga for a while and did a few different trainings, and I always loved the ocean and was hooked on SUP. The combination just seemed like the perfect way to bring together two practices I love!

SUP Yoga has helped me achieve my fitness goals because the unstable surface makes poses more challenging, and basic poses like plank will trigger different muscles groups than on land. Plus there is nothing better than being out in nature! It’s important to do a workout you love, because it’s the only way you will stick to it. SUP Yoga can be done by everyone, as long as you keep your practice basic and modify poses for the board. You will get the cardio and strength benefits from the paddling side, and the flexibly and coordination with the yoga. Here are a few poses you can try out during your next SUP Yoga session:

Photo: Shadow Van Houten

Mountain Pose- Tadasana
“I am deeply connected to the earth, expanding into the heavens and radiating from the core of my being.”
Mountain pose is a simple, yet very powerful grounding and spiritual posture. Begin with feet hip width distance apart on your paddleboard (on land it’s feet together, but we need the feet spread wide for added stability on water). Press the toes and four corners of the feet into the board. Engage the core and release the tailbone down, creating elongation in the spine. Roll the shoulders down the back and lift through the crown. Bring your hands to heart center, and take three deep breaths as you relax into your center. Take this time to connect to nature and bring your awareness to the present.

Photo: Luke Simpson

Modified Warrior 2- Virabhadrasana 2
“I encounter life with energy, courage, determination and fortitude, sensing the power of the courageous hero within.”
From three legged dog, sweep the right foot through between the hands. Drop the back knee down to the board while keeping the back toes tucked for stability. Lift the arms up to shoulder height and stretch the fingertips away from each other, creating lines of energy alongside the arms. Relax the shoulder blades down, widen across the pelvis, and bring the right knee over the ankle. Remain here for three breaths.

Photo: Shadow Van Houten

Bow Pose- Dhanuransana
“I balance and surrender to reach my true self effortlessly.”
Begin by lying on your stomach, with arms overhead and forehead down to the board. Bend the knees, reach back and grab the ankles while flexing the feet. Exhale out. On the inhale, lift the thighs off the board, creating both length and height in your ‘bow’ as you press the legs and chest away from each other. With each breath, you will rock gently back and forth, allowing prana to flow freely. On the third breath, release the ankles and rest on your board.

Photo: Chris Klau Photography

Feel like taking a class? There are many yoga and surf schools that offer instructional classes, but be check out Gillian’s SUP Yoga school, Paddle Into Fitness if your in California this summer. Paddle Into Fitness also offers instructional classes, SUP Yoga Retreats and certifications courses for yogi’s of all ages and abilities.

With my high school graduation less than two weeks away, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on the cool things that I have done recently and where I am headed next year. Last month, I went on a field study to Baja Mexico with my Marine Ecology class. We camped in one of the most beautiful, untouched places in the world.

This was extremely gratifying and life changing. We slept under the stars, caught our meals, and enjoyed every bit of our time there. Not only did we swim, hike, and SUP, we also studied the diverse ecosystems surrounding our camp. By studying the pristine Baja environment I obtained a greater appreciation for all that I have. This adventure reminded me that the Earth is extremely fragile and deserves a ton of TLC.

My passion for protecting the environment is one of the reasons that I am so happy to be going to UC Santa Barbara next year. Studying Aquatic Biology at UCSB will give me an opportunity to continue protecting what I love most, the ocean. Moving to SB and starting a new chapter in my life will be challenging, but Santa Barbara is a beautiful place where I will be able to study what I love, surf, SUP, hike, and recreate close to the ocean.

One of the most important things about life is to follow your passions, and to enjoy every moment that you have! Take a chance every day to look outside or do something that you love, and do all that you can to protect our beautiful environment and most importantly… Be Ocean Minded!

Ocean Minded is excited to feature Beach House as our shop of the month this May. Located just a block from the beach in sunny Santa Barbara, California, this is a true destination shop that is highly respected by the local surf community. Since 1986, Beach House has provided the most extensive selection of surfing and beach gear while focusing on quality customer service for both local surfers and traveling tourists alike.

City View. Santa Barbara is Central California’s gem. The city has perfect weather, right swell, excellent waves and a great mix of people. Beach House was originally located in the heart of downtown, Santa Barbara (209 W. Carrillo Street), but in the 80′s, they decided to make their move closer to the beach and have never looked back. As shop owner, Rodger Nance explains, “it’s all about location, location, location.”

From the Street. Located across the street from the beach, Beach House is an 11,000 square-foot, warehouse style building that houses over 100 classic longboards. In addition to new and used long and shortboards, Beach House also has a huge selection of apparel for both men and women from your favorite brands that will not leave you disappointed.

In the Store. Customer service is a top priority at the Beach House and they greet every customer with equal respect. From a shovel and bucket for the kiddos or classic Hawaiian shirts for Dad… to the hottest bikinis for the fashionista or custom shapes for the core surfers, the Beach House has something for everyone.

Be Ocean Minded. Since day one, Beach House has carried Ocean Minded footwear and they truly believe in the importance of being Ocean Minded. Because the ocean drives the surf business, the Beach House believes it is part of their job to educate their customers and make sure they are aware of how important it is to keep our ocean clean.

Live… like it’s your last day
Protect… your family first, then your environment
Respect… your elders if they earn it

The Knitty Gritty.
Shop Name: Beach House (Surf N Wear)
On the Map: 10 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Shop Online:www.surfnwear.com
Become a Fan: https://www.facebook.com/Surf.N.Wear
Dialed In: (805) 963-1281
Profile By: Rodger Nance, Owner

This crazy van life journey was born in part from our desire to live simply. To minimize our belongings and maximize our experiences. One of our driving reasons for simplicity is our need as human beings to leave as little of an impact as possible on this planet. To tread lightly so future generations can enjoy the beauty that we are so blessed to witness.

A recent trip to the Ocean Minded headquarters in San Clemente, California reminded us of the interconnectedness between all of Earth’s systems. Each wave like our breath, to us the ocean is our home just as much as the land below our feet. While the land grounds us and provides us security, the ocean inspires, invigorates and reminds us that everything is connected.

We obviously can’t put the ocean in our van and we cannot clean up beaches via Skype. So… how can we be ocean minded as we explore the landlocked states? We put our brains together and came up with this list of Five Steps to Be Ocean Minded Anywhere:

1. UNDERSTAND the interconnectedness of all earth systems and the issues at hand

• The majority of oceanic litter and pollutants enters the sea indirectly
• 4.7 million tons of garbage reaches the oceans each year through storm drains, rivers, intentional dumping of garbage into waterways, and trash left along the coast
• 80 percent of marine debris comes from land-based sources
• In the North Pacific there’s a spinning Trash Vortex the size of Texas
• It’s not just plastic! Atmospheric Co2 emissions causing climate change also affects the chemistry of ocean water, making it more acidic and threatening coral reefs (reports predict complete coral extinction by 2050!)

2. IDENTIFY needs versus wants to simplify and reduce
Making a good look at our purchasing habits, we realized we were spending an exorbitant amount of money on unnecessary products. Not only packaged in plastic, these items also contained chemicals that pollute our water system and end up in the oceans. Do I really need body moisturizer, feet moisturizer, face moisturizer and the ever-growing collection of makeup?

3. REPLACE essentials with more environmentally-friendly items
Once we reduced our purchasing, we set out to replace our essentials with more environmentally-friendly versions. For example, what plastics could be replaced with a more eco-friendly product like glass, sustainably harvested wood or stainless steel? Here are the replacing decisions we have made:

• Stainless-steel food storage containers instead of plastic containers
• Re-usable produce bags instead of plastic disposable produce bags
• Purchase food in bulk to cut back on packaging (and save us money!). Foods like nuts, seeds, grains are easy to buy in bulk.
• Stainless steel water bottles instead of bottled water
• All-natural cleaning products (we recommend tea tree oil cleaning spray!) instead of harsh chemicals that end up in our water system
• All-natural health and beauty products that have better packaging (Dr. Bronner’s Castille soap and coconut oil!)
• Completely paperless by leveraging the technology of today

4. RECYCLE and reuse
Van life recycling is HARD. Many places we stop at (campgrounds, cafes, restaurants, hotels) surprisingly DON’T recycle, so it takes a lot of effort to hang on to recyclables until we are able to toss them in a recycling bin. We aren’t perfect and find ourselves with plastic shopping bags and disposable coffee cups occasionally. When this happens, we reuse it then recycle it.

5. PURCHASE from companies who leave the least impact
Of course, life is meant to be enjoyed and if certain purchases are necessary or bring us much joy, we go for it. However, as often as possible, we choose companies that are in alignment with our beliefs. Companies that stand for something positive in this world. Every dollar spent is a vote. Who are you voting for? How are you ocean minded?

Learn More! SOURCES:
The Peril of Plastic, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/business/energy-environment/23green.html
Debris Delimma, http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/educators/kure/debris.html
World Ocean Review, http://worldoceanreview.com/en/ocean-chemistry/
Ocean Acidification, http://oceanacidification.net/
Trash Vortex, http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/

Read more about Where’s My Office Now? in the blog, “Redefining the American Dream” or visit their website at www.wheresmyofficenow.com. Follow along on their adventures on Instagram @wheresmyofficenow or on Facebook!

Memorial Day Weekend is finally here! Save 30% OFF all Ocean Minded footwear Friday, May 24th through Monday, May 27th when you enter promo code “MemorialDay30” at checkout. Have a fun, relaxing and safe holiday weekend!

Now is your chance to step into summer in comfort and style, for FREE! Enter to win a $1,000 Ocean Minded shopping spree in the Step Into Summer Sweepstakes. Get pin-spired and pin to win today. Click here to enter to win or for official rules and details, click here.

#EUROCHUCK

Ready or not, here he comes!

Day 1: The eagle has landed... in Germany!

Day 2: Visited the SUP Shop de Paddle Center just 30 minutes outside of Heidelberg, Germany

Day 5: Nothing better then Spring in Hamburg, Germany.

Day 6: Fun day SUP racing on the Naish One 12'6 inflatable at the German SUP Trophy Championships at Pelzerhaken.

Day 7: Euro road trip of Awesomeness! Now Off to Holland.

Day 8: Amsterdam, land of water, canals, windmills & tulips.

Day 9: The paddling possibilities in Holland's thousands of canals are endless. Get out there!!

Day 10: Traveling is all about exploring & enjoying the culture. Funny & different.

Day 12: My great #eurotrip has come to an end as I make my way back home to reconnect with the sun & mother ocean. Thank you to everyone in Germany & Holland for your Aloha

Be sure to follow @beoceanminded for more fun photos of our Ocean Minded adventures. Follow @chuckpatterson on Instagram for a peek into the life of this non-stop, thrill seeking, one-of-a-kind, true waterman.

It’s National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and with summer just around the corner, you have every reason to get up and get moving this May! For a little added inspiration, we asked Ocean Minded Ambassador (and fitness queen!), Candice Appleby what she does to stay fit and motivated all year long.

by Ocean Minded Ambassador, Candice Appleby

Ever since I was a baby, I’ve been in the ocean. When I was just two weeks old, my mom took me for my first dip in the sea. Since then, I have grown to love the ocean so deeply that I can honestly say I don’t know who I would be without it. It has not only been my goal, but my purpose to utilize the ocean in as many ways as possible, and in doing so I find fulfillment. With that being said, I am so fortunate to be able to call myself a Professional Ocean Athlete. The ocean is my office, my gym, my play ground; it’s my happy place.

Now at age 27, I compete in a variety of ocean disciplines including standup paddle (SUP) surfing and racing, longboard and short board surfing, body surfing, lifeguard competitions, traditional paddleboarding, canoe surfing, tandem surfing… the list goes on.  In order to be successful and compete in a variety of disciplines, I am required to maintain a high fitness level. Because of this, my training consists of a combination of specialized regimes for each individual discipline along with various cardiovascular, balance, core and strength training workouts. Although my fitness goals may be a bit more demanding than the average person, it is much easier than it seems to get moving and reach your individual fitness goals.

As human’s, we are made to move. Our bodies are temples full of endless capabilities and once you tap into your physical potential, you will discover it feels so good to move that you won’t want to stop. Here are a few simple ways to get moving this May and to get your body feeling fit, healthy and ready to take on the summer:

1. Learn to SUP. This is currently the fastest growing sport in the world and for a very simple reason…it’s fun! The first step is to get a lesson from an accredited professional and you’re on your way to the most fun workout you will ever experience. You will have so much fun that the term “work”out won’t even apply.

2. Walk/Ride to Work. If you live within 10 miles of your work place, leave the car keys at home at least once a week and ride or walk to work. If work is too far, try substituting easy errands with walking or riding a bike. It’s also great for the environment.

3. Clean Your Local Beach or Park. A 30-45 minute beach or park clean up is a great way to not only get moving outdoors, but to help the environment too! Invite some friends and make it a weekly social engagement; you will cover more ground that way and spread a positive message to those around you.

4. Join a Gym. For many, these tips might seem a little monotonous… but not if you join a CrossFit Affiliate Gym. CrossFit is a very intense style of training that incorporates cardio, strength, balance and core training all in one workout. Each workout is completely different from the next, and this makes CrossFit exciting, challenging and new every time. In San Clemente, I train at Beachfit CrossFit with Heather Braunwalder and it has greatly helped improve my athletic performance.

5. Dance. I love dancing. In my room, in public, in a club… dancing is so good for you and it’s fun! Whether it’s playing Just Dance on a Wii console, fine tuning your moves in front of the mirror or getting dressed up and heading out for a night on the town, dancing is a super easy way to get fit and have a good time.

Being fit and staying active is so important in maintaining a healthy balanced lifestyle. Without physical health, your mental health can suffer or vice versa. I’m very fortunate that my profession revolves around a healthy lifestyle, but for those of you who are not professional athletes, getting fit and moving can be as simple as walking to the grocery store instead of driving and picking up a fun new hobby like stand up paddling. However you chose to get moving, do it now because the longer you wait, the more fun you will miss out on. Aloha!

For more fitness tips or motivation, follow Candice on Instagram at @candiceappleby or on Facebook by clicking here. To learn more about SUP clinics be sure to check out Performance Paddling, founded by Candice Appleby and Anthony Vela.

With summer just around the corner, we know your thoughts are consumed with upcoming vacation plans and wanderlust daydreams. Whether your travel plans are near or far, take a break this week and join us as we #InstaTravel with our friends at SwimVacation to paradise in Kona, Hawaii. Today is the first day of this amazing weeklong trip and Heather Perry from SwimVacation is here to tell us all it! Discover true paradise and follow our hawaiian adventures on Instagram at #KONASWIM. Mahalo!

By Heather Perry, SwimVacation Guide and Photographer

Eventually, everything ends up in the ocean. If you follow Ocean Minded on Instagram (@beoceanminded), you’ll see that powerful sentence on their profile page. It rang true for me the second I read it. True in the ecological and environmental sense, and for me and everyone at SwimVacation, true on a very personal level. No matter what is going on in my life, eventually and inevitably, I always end up in the sea. It’s where I find balance and restoration; it’s where I find joy. It’s not always an easy place to be, but it’s where my body and soul wants to be, and when I’m submerged I feel like I’ve come home.

I’m Heather Perry, underwater photographer and swimming guide for SwimVacation. We are a company providing all-inclusive, small-tour swimming vacations in tropical places. In the British Virgin Islands, we live aboard a sailing yacht for a week. In our newest destination, Kona, Hawaii, we will be living in a water front Hale amongst native Hawaiians and their ocean-minded culture. SwimVacation is more than just a vacation in the waves; our trips are about paring down the clutter in your life for a while and helping you uncover your true potential. It’s about unlocking the part of you that brings a smile to your face while the ocean breeze washes over you; it’s about proving to yourself that you can swim 3 miles and sharing the best parts of yourself with the world. We cater to people who find the best of themselves in the sea.

When I met Bob Tanner, the Marketing Director at Ocean Minded, at a trade show last year, it became clear that SwimVacation and Ocean Minded could find synergy in our connection with and appreciation of the sea. Last night I took a trip down memory lane and re-read my first blog post from just almost a year ago, about my preparations to scout Kona for SwimVacation. At the time I could only imagine, but I remember wondering if and how Hawaii would fit into our roster of swimming destinations. When I arrived in Hawaii, not only was I greeted by beautiful weather and the deep blue Pacific Ocean, I found a culture of very ocean-minded people; I found home. Hawaiians are folks whose veins the ocean drives a pulse. The Pacific is an intrinsic part of their lives; it surrounds them. Men, women and children alike, all swim, surf, SUP (standup paddle board), canoe, free dive, and in between the various ocean-borne activities they sit along the shore. Their conversations are carried on while looking out into a vast, rhythmic expanse; the Pacific is part of their family.

What was most important to me upon my return from Kona was that the indelible ocean-minded culture of Hawaii be a major character in this SwimVacation experience. One year has passed and SwimVacation President, Hopper McDonough and I have worked hard to put together what will be an outstanding and rejuvenating adventure for our guests. We found a modern yet traditional home designed by a local architect, to be our base of operations and this spectacular Hale celebrates Hawaii’s tradition of open air living along the water’s edge. The beautiful structure is built exclusively with sustainable hard woods, harvested from less than 50 miles away. For nourishment, we found the perfect private chef duo in Clare and Dan Bobo who will prepare the finest and freshest ingredients Hawaii has to offer from local fishermen and farmers’ markets. We will have local lifeguard, Ryan McGuckin, join us as our guide, SUP with us and be our man on the ground sharing his exciting stories of a life spent in Hawaii. We’ve also forged relationships with other local providers in our effort to give our guests an authentic Hawaiian experience. As the colors, flavors and spirit of this place seep into us, we’ll embark into the Pacific with nothing but suits, caps and goggles; simple and pure for an unfettered connection with this ocean and all it has to offer.

It’s mid May here in our home state of Maine. Spring was here about a week ago but it must have gotten tired of our desperate exuberance for it, and today felt more like fall. I’m wearing a few more layers than I’d like as I sit here in my studio, preparing for my second swimming trip to Kona. A year ago I had no idea what was ahead of me and today I am antsy and ready to get back.

As you can see, it made perfect sense to collaborate with Ocean Minded for our first SwimVacation experience in Hawaii. Their sea celebrating philosophy is a perfect fit with ours and they were kind enough to send along some cool goodies for our guests upon their arrival. So here we come Hawaii; here we come Pacific! Like Ocean Minded, we’re ready to “Live, Protect, Respect” everything you have to offer us and “swim, relax, repeat” as we do best at SwimVacation. I already feel like a week won’t be long enough.

Click here to follow this incredible adventure on the Ocean Minded Instagram, #KONASWIM. To learn more about SwimVacations, visit their website at www.swimvacation.com