HARDWARE WHERE IT’S NEEDED MOST
Surf hardware icon Creatures of Leisure has just partnered with the grassroots charity Surfers Not Street Children. The sponsorship will see Creatures provide premium hardware to the group, who empower street children and kids at risk to find a healthy outlet in the ocean. 7x world champion (and Creatures teamrider) Steph Gilmore has been involved in the charity before, visiting coaching sessions for the kids while on tour in Africa. This latest material support is something welcomed by all.
“I’m really proud that Creatures are getting involved with Surfers Not Street Children,” says Gilmore of the partnership. “Tom and the team in Africa give a lot of young people an amazing chance to find the joys of surfing, which some of us can take for granted. When you’re there with them, you see the incredible influence it has on these kid’s lives. An epic movement, doing epic things.”
“We’re so stoked to have Creatures support us both materially and morally,” continues UK-born, Tom Hewitt, who has been helping street kids in South Africa since 1998. “Having the right equipment to take them out not only helps us out financially, but gives the kids a big boost to have new gear and see that the global surfing community genuinely cares about them”.
With the hard work from a team of local staff, plus the generous support of donors over the years, Surfers Not Street Children have been able to expand their programs, from starting in Durban, across South Africa and now into Mozambique. There’s also a specific GIRLS SURF TOO program, aimed at helping underprivileged females get in the water, as well as supporting them in other ways.
To learn more about Surfers Not Street Children and how you can help, head to https://www.surfnotstreets.org/ or follow them on Instagram here.
ABOUT CREATURES OF LEISURE
Purpose-built surf gear for a lifetime of discovery. Since 1987. Creatures was started to support the surfing lifestyle and shaped by the coast we call home. Founder John Malloy left Los Angeles in 1972 on a container ship to surf through the Pacific to West Oz. When he arrived in Yallingup, he realised he’d found paradise. Uncrowded waves, stunning coastline, great friends.
To earn a living, John began making surf leashes. He learned the hard way that the raw waves of our South Indian Ocean would snap inferior materials. Good wasn’t good enough. They had to be better. John introduced the first-ever urethane cord, providing the most reliable connection from board to surfer yet. He became obsessed with improving other solutions, inventing a self-lubricating stainless steel swivel as well. These pioneering innovations remain industry standard today.
That same focus on rugged reliability and premium detail has since been expanded to other surf essentials. Board covers, traction, tie-downs, and more – it’s all geared toward a lifetime of discovery. After all these years, we’re still based in South West WA. John has since passed the torch to a new generation, but every design is still tested by staff and the world’s best surfers, both here, in Hawaii and other unforgiving locations. We could move somewhere more central to make travel easier, but that’s all part of the fun. Most surfers get that right away. After all, we’re a different breed. We’re Creatures.
