Yvon began surfing in the 1950’s, and during his youth witnessed the destruction of many a favorite surf spot by ambitious coastal development projects carried forth by the Army Corps of Engineers. Yvon also saw the damage that rudimentary rock-climbing equipment was doing to the famous granite cliffs in Yosemite and other popular locales, which led him to design equipment that was not only safe but would leave no marks on the natural stone after a climbers ascent. When he founded his outdoor clothing company, Patagonia, he instilled a corporate philosophy that demanded that every product be made with as little an impact on the environment as possible.

Today Yvon remains with Patagonia as “Chief Philosopher,” and is also hard at work with a non-profit he founded called 1% For The Planet, which encourages corporations to donate 1% of their pre-tax profits towards environmental causes. He also rock-climbs, fly-fishes and surfs whenever possible, maintaining a healthy relationship with what’s left of the natural environment.

He holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a Bachelor of Arts in Policy Studies and Economics from Dartmouth College. In his free time, Greg enjoys surfing and other sports, fatherhood, and working with non-profit organizations including Unidos Y Adelante, Peninsula Open Space Trust, and Save The Waves.

In those years the surf world has become increasingly aware of the damage being done not just to our waves but to our whole planet, and he thinks it’s important that we all keep the pressure on, where ever we can, to stop the anti-nature madness that so defines our era. Surfing is the metaphor in which lies the answer.

Prior to joining Surfrider, Chad was a NOAA Coastal Zone Management Fellow working with Oregon’s state coastal zone management program. He is an alumni of Brown University and Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment and is currently pursuing is Doctorate at UCLA in the Environmental Science and Engineering program on the economics of surfing. Through his work on coral reef conservation in Puerto Rico, he earned recognition from the US Coral Reef Task Force.

Chad is a member of the Board of Directors for The Coastal Society. Chad is an avid surfer, swimmer, and beach enthusiast who lives in Laguna Beach with his family.

Her love for surfing led her to surf big waves in Hawaii, Peru, and the California coast. In March of 19991, she became the first woman to surf Maverick's, a large wave in Northern California, where she continues to surf with her husband, fellow big wave surfer Mike Gerhardt.

Sarah's love for science led her to complete a doctorate degree in Physical Chemistry from UC Santa Cruz in June 2003. She is currently teaching Chemistry at Cabrillo College and living and surfing in the Santa Cruz area.

She is a director and past president of the California Shore and Beach Preservation Association, a director and treasurer of the Association of Coastal Engineers, and director of American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. She co-chairs the Coastal Zone Management Committee for the American Society of Civil Engineers/Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute, and is on the Board of Directors for the Coastal Zone Foundation. In additional to these professional associations, she is past chair of the Northern California Chapter of The Explorers Club.

Ms. Ewing has an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Brown University, a master’s degree in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a second master’s degree in Coastal Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a licensed engineer in California and Virginia.

He is the author of The Book of Waves (1989), The Art of Christian Riese Lassen (1991), Stoked: A History Of Surf Culture (1997, 2003), The Way Of The Surfer (2003), The Lost Coast (2004), Waves: From Surfing To Tsunami (2005), Dora Lives: The Authorized Story Of Miki Dora (2005), and Greg Noll: The Art Of The Surfboard.

Drew continues to write about surfing and other subjects and is currently the American Editor of the international periodical, The Surfer's Path, world’s first “green” surf magazine. Married with two children, he lives on an island in Washington State.

Tony Butt holds a PhD in physical oceanography and is a visiting fellow at the Coastal Processes Research Group at the University of Plymouth in England. He is on the board of directors at Surfers Against Sewage and is an 'International Liaison' for Australian National Reserves. Tony lives in a forgotten corner of Northwest Spain, where he enjoys surfing massive waves, in relative peace and quiet.

Black serves as Director of the Australian Research Institute, Professor at Waikato University, and a top research scientist in the esteemed National Insititute of Water and Atmosphere in New Zealand. He has published over 400 scientific documents and written or been the subject of hundreds of popular articles, television interviews, radio interviews and newspaper articles.

His personal goal is to achieve the highest level of understanding about the marine environment, both in pure and applied science and to use this knowledge to help the community and environment. His company also is committed to providing more surf spots for the ever-increasing crowds to enjoy, and has provided sound arguments for the use of surfing reefs both as functional solutions for coastal protection and as tourist attractions that can bolster local tourist economies.

Dr. Shaw Mead is currently with ASR ltd., a New Zealand-based specializing in multi-purpose artificial surfing reefs, and a variety of coastal environmental and ecological projects.

Currently he serves as director of the Sierra Club's California Coastal Campaign. He also founded Surfers Environmental Alliance and the National Association of Surfing Attorneys, and writes on coastal and environmental legal issues for surfing magazines and other publications. He is also frequently seen pulling in to massive barrels at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach.

Nell Newman: Nell launched Newman's Own Organics in 1993 with business partner Peter Meehan. Nell is the daughter of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, and grew up in a Connecticut home with a deep connection to natural, homegrown foods. After attending college in Maine, she moved to the coast of Northern California, working for the Ventana Wilderness Society and later for the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group. A long-time advocate of organic foods and sustainable agriculture, she convinced her father to establish an organic division of Newman's Own. Based in Santa Cruz county, it became a separate company in 2000. Paul Newman gives away all his royalty payments after taxes from Newman's Own Organics to educational and charitable organizations. Since 1982 he has given over $200 million to thousands of charities worldwide.

As a resident of Capitola, Nell also developed a keen interest in the sport of surfing, and is often seen streaking across glassy walls at nearby Pleasure Point. Her continuing support for Save the Waves Coalition and other ocean conservation organizations has made an enormous impact on marine conservation efforts worldwide. Her kind spirit and limitless surf-stoke has provided inspiration for us all.

Since then the band has become a worldwide sensation. What many of his fans might not know about Noodles is that he is also an avid surfer, and is happy to use his high rock-star status to fight for coastal preservation. Plus, every advisory board needs a rock star, right?

Peter manages several water resources development projects for the San Francisco District Corps of Engineers Civil Works and Continuing Authorities programs. Projects managed include aspects of ecosystem restoration, navigation, harbor development, coastal storm damage and shoreline protection, beneficial use of dredged material, beach restoration, flood control and endangered species habitat restoration.

Peter’s expertise on the ever-changing sand bar formations along Ocean Beach has also proved useful for many local water enthusiasts, who have his mobile number at the ready whenever the wind turns offshore.

The Mother Hips played the First Annual Ocean Revolution benefit concert in Santa Cruz in June 2005 (coinciding by chance with a beautiful south swell), helping to raise money for Save the Waves and the Santa Cruz Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Tim nicely rounds out the advisory board, which has not one rock star but two.

João became an important ally for Save the Waves during the battle to save surf spots from destruction on the island of Madeira, a Portuguese outpost in the Atlantic Ocean that is host to some of the best big-wave spots on the planet. João and his close friend, Zé Seabra, were actually the first Portuguese surfers to ride the waves on the island, predating the first visit by Americans Sam George and Evan Slater by one year.

João continues to avidly support coastal conservation efforts in his home country and abroad. His writing and photographs have been published internationally, and he continues to stand vigilance against the ever-present threat of coastal development in the EU.

Terry’s knowledge of coastal resource management is extensive, and his willingness to stand up against powerful industry leaders shows a level of fearlessness that is unrivaled in today’s corporation-dominated world. His recent advice regarding beach re-nourishment in Dade County, Florida, proved to be the final straw in allowing Save the Waves and Surfrider to stop an ill-conceived plan that would have all but ruined the fishing and surfing habitat along this beautiful stretch of Florida coastline.

Terry can be frequently found harassing young groms at the Lake Worth Pier, when not buried by deadlines in the editorial offices at Shallow Water Angler.

During his stint at UCSD, Evan visited Madeira Island, stunning the world with the first pictorials from this undiscovered big-wave paradise. By the time Slater graduated from college, he had become one of the most recognized young big-wave riders in the world.

Evan also established himself early-on as an excellent writer, working on the staff at Surfer Magazine for many years, while still competing as a professional surfer. Currently the editor of Surfing Magazine, he still manages to prove himself as a formidable big-wave surfer, finishing second in the 2004 Maverick’s Contest.

Keith and Save the Waves director Will Henry developed a friendship on a trip to Chile in 2004, and Keith has continued to be an avid supporter for Save the Waves ever since. Keith’s recent trip from Bend, Oregon to Baja, was fueled entirely by vegetable oil in his Dodge diesel truck.

Steve has been working in the Internet industry since 1998. As an original member of Save The Wave Coalition's board of directors, Steve helped map out the Internet strategy. This strategy has been to reach out to surfers and supporters around the globe, and to bring global attention to local environmental issues.

Steve currently resides in London, England with his family. He dosen't get enough sun or surf, though that would be true for him anywhere.