This year, for the first time, Starboard has supported Arendal Kayaking and Rowing Club at Årens dag 2022. The collaboration included a local clean-up competition, plastic offsetting, as well as calculating and offsetting all event emissions 10X over!
Årens dag is an annual event organized by Arendal Kayaking and Rowing Club in Arendal, Norway. The event is a low-threshold, 13 km paddle competition around an island in Arendal called Hisøya. This year, both kayaks, rowboats, and SUP boards participated and completed the race around the island. Furthermore, there was also a shorter race option for Stand Up Paddlers. Not to mention, the Kayaking Club arranged two free SUP courses for participants leading up to the event on the 30th of July.
Calculating and offsetting
At Årens Dag, on the 30th of July, Starboard calculated the events’ CO2 emissions and is offsetting this 10X over by planting Mangroves. The total emission ended at 9,919 tons of CO2e, which we are offsetting by planting 298 mangroves. The carbon footprint calculations include:
- Travel emissions from athletes, spectators, staff, and volunteers
- Emissions from fuel used by safety boats
- Life-cycle emissions associated with the caps & t-shirts handed out at the event
Furthermore, Starboard committed to picking up 1.1 kg of plastic per attendee at Årens dag through our Plastic Offset Program – representing the average amount of plastic that each person is responsible for reaching the ocean every year.
Local clean-up competition
Moreover, another environmental element was added to this year’s agenda too. A local clean-up as part of the competition, combining competition and teamwork for the environment! The competition description was to gather the most plastic, though non-plastic waste was not left behind. Henceforth the competition was divided into two parts:
- Gathering waste during the race
- Gathering waste during the first hour after the race. For this part, spectators were encouraged to participate.
After the race, the plastic was weighed and all waste was gathered together and sorted to be recycled or disposed of properly. In the end, we weighed it all, and saw that we managed to gather approximately 100 kg of waste from the clean-up! Starboard supported the clean-up competition with 3 inflatable SUP boards as prizes that were awarded to:
- 1 randomly drawn attendee from each part of the clean-up competition (above.)
- The attendee who gathered the most plastic.
Feedback/Media coverage
The clean-up and the rest of Årens dag received positive attention from the local media, who were at the site covering the event. Both the Norwegian Canoe Association and Arendal Kayaking Club emphasized the success of the event’s environmental activities in their online articles summing up the event. (Articles: NCA & AKC.) Furthermore, the Norwegian Canoe Association expressed eagerness to the events’ environmental focus, thus desire to convey such inspiration and engagement to their future events. This is exactly what we want to accomplish through such collaborations, namely to set an example for all other sporting disciplines to follow and even go beyond these environmental efforts.
Certification from Sailors for the Sea
In recognition of the event’s efforts, Årens dag 2022 received a silver rating from Sailors for the Sea through their Clean Regatta Program.
Starboard looks forward to continuing this environmental partnership with Arendal Kayaking Club, and next year aiming for even higher ratings.
About Arendal Kayaking Club
Arendal Kayaking Club was founded in 1968 in Arendal, Norway. Today, the Kayaking Club holds 529 members of all ages.
Arendal Kayaking Club is a sea kayaking club where the members mostly do tour-paddling in the local sea and river. Although, there are also eager competitors in the club. In season, the club has weekly training for children, as well as weekly organized kayaking trips.
About Starboard
Since 1994 Starboard has been an industry leader. Championing innovation and quality in Windsurfing and Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Whilst, always striving to be the best in the world. Building upon this, the vision is to become the best FOR the world.
Starboard has pledged to be an advocate for the planet. Encouraging, all stakeholders to practice an environmentally friendly attitude. Whilst, inspiring others through projects that protect the big blue playground for future generations to come.
About Sailors for the Sea and their Clean Regatta program
Sailors for the Sea, founded in 2004, is an organization encouraging and educating the international sailing and boating community. Read more about them here.
Their Clean Regatta program is the world’s only sustainability certification for water-based events and engages sailors and race and marina managers to improve their environmental footprint.
Contact
Ella Lund Fasting
Eco Project Intern, Starboard
ella@star-board.com
