Nick Hounsfield is a British surfer, social entrepreneur, founder and chief visionary officer of The Wave, the first inland surfing destination in Bristol. Hounsfield has a particular interest in surfing and "blue health", adaptive and para surfing, and policy-shaping and development.
1. Why is conserving and protecting the oceans important to you?
It’s important to me personally as oceans are where I feel healthy, happy, supplies food I love and is a huge part of my life. Objectively, it’s an enormous resource for food, carbon-capture, cultural communities as well as health and recreation.
2. What are you doing that is better for the oceans?
Connecting people to water and health to further help understand the need to protect those environments. Educating the importance and then researching the human health benefits of oceans and therefore their protection becomes more pertinent.
3. What do you think the surfing industry specifically can be doing to support the health of the oceans?
Surfers need to be the voice of the oceans, spreading the word on protecting like SAS and Surfrider etc do. Campaign, protest, get involved in political change…
4. Can you recommend any books, brands, organisations or people our followers should check out for inspiration?
Finisterre, Patagonia, Vivobarefoot, Yvon Chouinard - let my people go surfing, Empire of the Waves, Surfers Against Sewage, Blue Earth Summit, Wave Wahines, Surfers Not Street Children, Chris Hines MBE, Sam Bleakley, Easkey Britton, Blue Marine Foundation and International Surf Therapy Organisation
*This interview wouldn't have been possible without thanks to Matthew Barr from Looking Sideways from his Open Thread Substack Q&A HERE.