The World Surf League (WSL) is pleased to announce a broadened vision and scope for its ocean health program, PURE. PURE (Protecting, Understanding and Respecting the Environment) is the WSL’s nonprofit whose mission is to educate, motivate, and empower global ocean enthusiasts, to engage deeply in the fight to protect our oceans. Initial plans include collaborations with world class partners in research, conservation, and advocacy. In addition, the WSL has hired a new Executive Director, Reece Pacheco, to lead the effort.
“As surfers, the ocean is our home and we recognize that we have an opportunity to amplify the issues, showcase initiatives around the world, and ultimately inspire action.” Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO, said.
WSL PURE’s initial partners include North Shore Community Land Trust, NRDC, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, VICE Impact, Lonely Whale and Surfrider Foundation across various ocean health initiatives. PURE plans to expand this network of partners throughout 2018.
“We’re thrilled about the hiring of Reece Pacheco as PURE Executive Director,” said Goldschmidt. “Reece will be working internally to ensure the WSL is leading by example with our own sustainability initiatives as well as externally with credible partners. PURE, and ocean health, will be at the center of everything we do at the WSL moving forward.”
Pacheco, a tech entrepreneur and avid outdoorsman, has dedicated his time and energies to conservation groups in recent years – including Surfrider Foundation, The 5 Gyres Institute, WAVES for Development and more.
“This opportunity with WSL PURE is a dream job for me,” Pacheco, said. “My real passion has always been the ocean, and now more than ever, the ocean needs our help. It is amazing to be a part of something this special — collaborating with world class organizations to spotlight and amplify their work to protect our oceans.”
“We’ll work with these groups to identify projects where PURE can help tell their story, from getting people to #stopsucking to protecting reefs to making sustainable beach access points on the North Shore,” Pacheco continued. “We’ll also be working to reduce our own footprint, most importantly, at our tour stops around the world.”
For more information, check out WSLPure.org and WorldSurfLeague.com
About the World Surf League
The World Surf League (WSL), formerly the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), is dedicated to celebrating the world’s best surfing on the world’s best waves through a variety of best-in-class audience platforms. The League, headquartered in Santa Monica, is a truly global sport with regional offices in Australasia, Africa, North America, South America, Hawaii, Japan and Europe.
The WSL has been championing the world’s best surfing since 1976, running in excess of 180 global events across the Men’s and Women’s Championship Tours, the Big Wave Tour, Qualifying Series, Junior and Longboard Championships, as well as the WSL Big Wave Awards. The League possesses a deep appreciation for the sport’s rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation and performance at the highest levels, and in doing so crowns the undisputed world champions in Men’s, Women’s across all divisions within the tour.
Showcasing the world’s best surfing on its digital platform at WorldSurfLeague.com as well as the free WSL app, the WSL has a passionate global fan base with millions tuning in to see world-class athletes like Tyler Wright, John John Florence, Paige Alms, Grant Baker, Phil Rajzman, Tory Gilkerson, Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Kelly Slater, Carissa Moore, Gabriel Medina, Courtney Conlogue and more battle on the most unpredictable and dynamic field of play of any sport in the world.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com
