In Indonesia, behind the palms of some of the world’s top surfing destinations, are villages so remote that basic government services don’t reach them. Beach Burrito is a proud supporter of SurfAid, an international non-profit humanitarian organisation that works to improve the health, wellbeing and resilience of families living in these isolated regions connected to us through surfing.
SurfAid specialises in improving access to healthcare, water and sanitation, and food security in very isolated villages where the maternal and child mortality rates are some of the highest in the world. Their geographical focus is on the heartlands of surfing where few visitors but surfers go, supporting communities in the Mentawais, Nias, Sumba & Sumbawa in Indonesia, Solomon Islands, and Baja California, Mexico. SurfAid works with each individual community to affect long term behaviour change, while respecting the unique culture and customs of these communities.
For the past six years, Beach Burrito has supported SurfAid through their SurfAid Cup events in Bondi and Manly. These iconic surf contents bring together the local surf community to fundraise and surf together, to turn one day of surfing into a year of support for SurfAid.
The SurfAid Cup Manly 2022 is fast approaching, and Beach Burrito team is gearing up to help raise $100,000 for women in children in SurfAid’s partner communities.
We sat down with the team at SurfAid to share why Beach Burrito chooses to support SurfAid’s work in remote surf communities.
How did the connection between Beach Burrito and SurfAid first begin?
Travelling the world and chasing surf breaks is an easy life, whether it’s a charter in the Mentawai Islands or from a shack on a beach in Lakey Peak. When in these remote surf paradises you’re never far from the humbling experience of the local communities hosting us. Stumbling across SurfAid just after a recent trip to Indonesia, we found the answer to a question we’d long been asking. We made contact with the awesome crew at SurfAid and the rest is history
Beach Burrito is a natural fit for our SurfAid Cups with our shared values of community, giving back, and of course surfing. Can you tell us a bit more about how SurfAid aligns with your brand, goals and culture?
We’re always looking for ways to give back to the wider community and working with SurfAid is one of the many charity efforts we make, but there’s something special about working with SurfAid. Our brand values align so well with each other, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle that looks out for others and makes a conscious effort to make the world a better place. The work that SurfAid does overseas in communities of need really inspires us.
Beach Burrito has been supporting SurfAid for over five years now, through sponsorship as well as entering teams into the event. What keeps you coming back each year?
It’s always so fun to be a part of the day, but it’s also such a great cause and the work SurfAid does really resonates with us. A lot of our team are always travelling the globe surfing, so to work with a charity that focus on improving the lives of people in those areas is really special for us.
Can you tell us some of your highlights from the SurfAid Cups over the years?
SurfAid Cups are always a blast! The Bondi Cup in 2021 was a standout for us. We raised the most money we ever had, and we made the final which was a personal best for us. We had a big Beach Burrito cheer squad on the beach that day and all of them were very proud of our fundraising efforts.
The waves for the 2022 Bondi Cup were also pretty epic!
As part of Beach Burrito’s ‘feeding culture’ mantra, you make a conscious effort to support surfers, skaters and creatives alike. Can you tell us a bit more about this?
We are always looking for ways to give back and support those communities that give our brand it’s life and culture. We sponsor events such as the Bowlzilla skate competition on the Gold Coast, and of course the SurfAid Cups in Bondi and Manly. We also support local boardriders clubs (Curly & South End Maroubra).
We also have our ambassador program where we work with surfers, skaters, creatives etc. on creative projects and content generation, and provide them with as much Mexican food as they like!
Each of your venues captures the essence and nostalgia of the local art, music, surf and skate community. Your Dee Why store are currently gearing up to compete in the SurfAid Cup Manly. Can you tell us about your Dee Why community and what makes it so special?
Since its birth in 2015, our Dee Why venue has bled a thick surf culture. Perched right next to the popular surfbreak of Dee Why point, it’s been a go to destination for a post-surf beer for many locals; and the first job for many groms. The venue itself features murals from from popular artists Mulga & Lauren Webster, who both intertwine with our brand values and surf culture.
The SurfAid Cup Manly is fast approaching! How is your team shaping up?
Our team is looking DEADLY! We’ve got a group of frothing groms who are going to fly the Beach Burrito flag for us, they’re all roaring to go and shred pretty hard. It’s the next generation of the Beach Burrito family who continue to keep our culture alive and well.
Our fundraising efforts are off to a good start, but we’re hosting a big fundraiser event at the Dee Why store on Wednesday the 26th of October in an effort to beat our personal best! There’s over $2k in prizes to raffle and auction off so be sure to get on down! You can RSVP to the event here.
