Surfers nationwide join Rip Curl’s Wetsuit Amnesty

With less than a week until the in-store event at Rip Curl Europe’s flagship Pro store in Newquay, the UK’s first ever national ‘Wetsuit Amnesty’ has been receiving the praise and support of the nations surfing community with unused wetsuits already arriving at the store in advance of this weekend’s event which will kick off at 6pm on Saturday (May 2nd) with live music in-store from local band Albenaza and the free giveaway of Project Resurrection Flip Flops in return for old wetsuits brought in throughout day.
Surfers have been preparing for the Wetsuit Amnesty by digging out their old rubber, including Rip Curl surfer and Eco Ambassador Tom Lowe who spoke on BBC Radio Cornwall, saying, “as a surfer, I’ve always recycled and tried to do what I can for the environment, everyone in Cornwall must have an old wetsuit, probably an old florescent one” (which they could bring along). Pro surfer Jayce Robinson has also been dusting off his unused wetsuits and commented “it’s great to have a worthwhile use for these old suits, generally if my old suits are still usable I pass them onto other surfers, but these have definitely had it so they'll make some great slaps! It’s great that Rip Curl are so committed to the environment". As well as surfers and wetsuit owners nationwide, Facebook’s online community has also been mobilized via Rip Curl’s Wetsuit Amnesty event page, with group members posting positive comments about the initiative and pledging to attend the event in support of Rip Curl’s environmental initiatives.
Along with the free giveaway of Flip Flops for wetsuits, Rip Curl are also offering free travel journals with in-store purchases and the chance to win a trip to Tahiti for 2 people to see first hand the work of Rip Curl’s Coral Guard activity. In addition to the Wetsuit Amnesty activity in-store, there will also be the chance to meet Rip Curl’s pro team and eco-ambassadors and a very special Rip Curl SEARCH WCT event announcement to be made directly from Rip Curl HQ at Bells Beach Australia. The in-store event will be followed directly by the official after-party, starting at 9pm, at Newquay’s Koola Bar with the film premier of Rip Curl’s RUBBER SOUL II.
Search and RSVP on Facebook.com (“Rip Curl Wetsuit Amnesty”) or email rsvp-ripcurl@coffinoncake.com

Event Schedule (Saturday 2nd May 2009):
6.00pm: Live music in-store from Albenaza
6.30pm: Wetsuit Amnesty announcement and Project Resurrection flip flop exchange + giveaways 6.30 to 7.00pm: Pro team and Eco Ambassadors signing session & discover Rip Curl Planet Foundation
7.00pm: Rip Curl Search WCT event location announcement from Bells Beach
7.00 to 7.30pm: Drinks & Store viewing
9.00pm: Official after-party at THE KOOLA BAR with film screening of RUBBER SOUL II