The Cigarette Surfboard by Taylor Lane

***This is why we do this.***

 ~~~

 Our Vissla & Surfrider 2017 Creators & Innovators Upcycle Contest brought us Taylor Lane - a San Jose State University graduate that created a surfboard from over 10,000 discarded cigarette butts found along the California coastline. Rightfully so, he took the win, but this wasn't the end of his journey.

 What started as an idea from our #creatorscontest has turned into a full-time pursuit of using cigarette butts and surfing to inspire, address and build ocean mindfulness and stewardship.

 Taylor Lane and Ben Judkins are creating an **environmental surf film** that uses the cigarette surfboard to question the mentality of **littering cigarette butts** and how this l**argely represents our single-use plastic culture and its effects on the ocean.** The film will provide a toolkit for surfers & non-surfers alike to become more engaged stewards of the sea, as well as feature surfers of all types gliding and sliding on the quiver of cigarette surfboards that Taylor created upon the original boards inception.

 Scroll through the gallery above for photos and videos of the cigarette surfboard's journey, including Taylor & Ben's recent appearance on KTLA news where they discuss the project and their hopes for where it will lead them.

 Lastly, If you're feeling inspired and would like to enter this years Vissla and Surfrider Creators & Innovators Upcycle Contest, head to vissla.com/creatorscontest for entry details and dates.

 **Resources:**

Learn more about The Cigarette Surfboard here