SOLID Surfboards has always had close ties with the surf community in Puerto Rico. We aim to be sustainable–for the planet and for the people. One of the ways we like to do this is by giving back to local communities. Especially in areas that face greater economic barriers to participate in surfing. Photographer/filmmaker Sean “Santi” Santiago and our team manager Juan Carlos “Burger” Gerena approached us with a brilliant idea. As soon as we heard it, we knew we had to make it happen.
Juan Carlos is the SOLID Surfboards team manager and Sean is a talented filmmaker. Both are longtime friends of SOLID. Juan Carlos grew up in Puerto Rico and saw firsthand the barriers to becoming a professional surfer in this area. They both want to help give local kids the resources to achieve their goals. But often, board giveaways focus on athletic talent only. This tells kids their academic or professional goals are not equally as important.
What is the SOLID Surfboards Scholarship?
We are running a board giveaway for talented surfers in association with the Puerto Rican Surf Federation. But, surfers also have to submit a copy of their report card. And, must also submit a short essay on environmental conservation and sustainability. This way, young surfers are encouraged to pursue their passions, but also to stay in school and be aware of environmental issues. Puerto Rico is an incredibly biodiverse island, but this biodiversity is rapidly disappearing. Raising a new generation that is conscious of this threat is imperative to conserving the environment.
The board giveaway will coincide with the five events of the Puerto Rican Surf Federation’s competitive circuit. Juan Carlos and the Surf Federation of Puerto Rico will work together after each event to choose the best candidate. A winner from each event will receive a custom SOLID surfboard of their choice. We will be featuring the winners in a short video released at the end of the giveaway.
