PADDLE BOARDERS ARE MAKING A BEAUTIFUL DIFFERENCE NOW

FIRSTWAVES

Stand up paddleboarding, or SUP, has become a popular sport. It’s a beautiful way to move. It’s even more beautiful when it makes a social impact.

FirstWaves is a new program, in the Pittsburgh, PA area, that teaches underprivileged teens how to SUP, while also teaching them the importance of conservation.

Pittsburgh is an ideal area for both SUP and conservation efforts. Three rivers converge here, along with other waterways, as have pressures imparted by the heavy industry in the region.

FirstWaves was founded by Ian Smith, an experienced stand up paddleboarder and owner of SurfSup Adventures. He developed innovative SUP programs to inspire conservation for the Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, Citi Parks, and the City of Pittsburgh.

Now, he’s working with at-risk teens to share the beauty of stand up paddleboarding and its connection to conservation.

First, these teens learn the practical skills that enable them to SUP through the whitewaters of Pittsburgh. Then, they work with Paddle Without Pollution, a local conservation organization, to clean up the city’s waterways from atop their paddleboards.

As an added bonus, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Filmmakers Youth Media program, these teens are also taught the art of filmmaking, video technology, and digital media. They learn to document their adventures to help spread the word about the importance of conservation.

Their debut film, entitled Conservation Starts with One Wave, premiered earlier in 2015. They have since released another film, SurfSup Kon-O-Kwee, which is available to watch here.

If you want to get involved or donate to this incredible organization, check out their website. You can also keep up with them through their Facebook page.

Read more about Beautiful Movement, as it relates to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact including Beautiful Images & Ideas That Will Move You Now, Waves Are Found to Move the Whole Planet, Beautiful New Spins on Flying Food Now, AD and The Most Beautiful Stations Punctuate the Beauty of Movement Now.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Courtesy of GlideSup. Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Pittsburgh.
2. Image: Courtesy of SurfSup Adventures. Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Pittsburgh.
3. Image: Courtesy of SurfSup Paddle Boards. Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Pittsburgh.
4. Image: Courtesy of SurfSup Adventures. Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Pittsburgh.
5. Image: Courtesy of SurfSup Adventures. Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Pittsburgh.
6. Image: by Laura Pontiggia. Stand Up Paddleboarding - Schuylkill River.
7. Image: by Renee Rosensteel. Courtesy of First Waves. Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Pittsburgh.
8. Image: by Renee Rosensteel. Courtesy of the Sprout Fund & First Waves. Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Pittsburgh.
9. Image: by Renee Rosensteel. Courtesy of the Sprout Fund & First Waves. Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Pittsburgh.
10. Image: Courtesy of SurfSup Adventures. Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Pittsburgh.
11. Image: Courtesy of SurfSup Adventures. Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Pittsburgh.
12. Image: by BN App - Download now!
13. Image: Courtesy of SurfSup Adventures. Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Pittsburgh.