OC Q & A: A new ride for Surfrider Foundation leader

Chad Nelsen has big sandals to fill.

Since September, he has been steering the Surfrider Foundation as its chief executive officer. The San Clemente-based nonprofit is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches.

It’s a mission that began 30 years ago when a few surfers from Malibu were concerned about health hazards at their favorite surf spot and protested the environmental threats.

Since its founding in 1984, the foundation has developed 85 nationwide chapters, more than 90 international affiliates and 30 high school and college clubs, and welcomed more than 250,000 volunteers and activists around the country. The organization is currently working on about 100 different campaigns dealing with beach access, clean water, coastal preservation and ocean protection.

In 2006, Surfrider began counting positive conservation outcomes and has logged more than 300 coastal victories. Last year, the organization celebrated its 30th anniversary and is marching on with its campaigns, including the anti-cigarette-litter movement “Hold On To Your Butt”; plastic bag and foam container bans in Aliso Viejo, Huntington Beach, Irvine and San Clemente; and the effort to delay and remove permits for crude oil export terminals at Gray’s Harbor in Washington.

Nelsen, who served as the foundation’s environmental director for 16 years, spoke to Weekend about his vision for the organization.

*

Weekend: Why is the mission of the Surfrider Foundation important to you?

Nelsen: I grew up on the coast surfing, swimming and fishing, and eventually got my first job as an ocean lifeguard in Laguna Beach. These formative experiences gave me both love and respect for the power and fragility of the ocean.

Weekend: Over the last 16 years as environmental director for the Surfrider Foundation, you have helped lead developments for healthier coasts. What are a few of your biggest accomplishments?

Nelsen: I’d say our work on establishing the first marine reserve on the mainland of Puerto Rico that both protects endangered Elkhorn corals and the amazing waves at Tres Palmas and the tough fights with our Save Trestles campaign that helped halt a toll road that could have negatively impacted Trestles surf break. And my work on surfonomics — studying the value of a surf spot to its community and the money that surfers infuse into the communities where they surf through their spending while they visit.

Weekend: What are your priorities you plan to achieve during your new role?

Nelsen: The first is to build more support for our 85 chapters and the activists throughout the coasts of the United States, including the Great Lakes and Hawaii, who work tirelessly for our coasts. The second is to shift energies from a reactive strategy to a proactive approach. We are really good at fending off bad projects, but we need to get ahead of the curve and start advancing conservation instead of waiting for threats to come to us. And the third goal, last, is to address the impacts of climate change on oceans and coasts, such as rising sea levels.

Weekend: What would you list as the biggest challenge the Surfrider Foundation faces?

Nelsen: It would be the impacts of climate change on our coasts. This will be the biggest challenge we face in the next 30 years.

Weekend: What’s your favorite Southern California beach?

Nelsen: The small pocket coves of Laguna Beach, my hometown.