AltaSea Open House: ReUp Our Ocean

Join us for AltaSea’s first Open House of 2026, centered on the power of recycling and ocean stewardship through the ReUp Campaign. This special edition will feature Ryan Harris, surfboard shaper and sustainability innovator, who is transforming trash collected from the ocean into functional surfboard fins for boards he upcycles.

Learn how Ryan’s hands-on approach turns waste he encounters while surfing into high-performance surf components—demonstrating how recycling and creative reuse can directly protect our ocean playground. This event highlights practical solutions, circular design, and the role individuals and communities can play in reducing marine debris.

Whether you’re an ocean advocate, student, educator, or curious about recycling innovation, this open house offers an inspiring look at trash reimagined.

Ryan Harris grew up in Oregon where surfing required dedication fueled by passion. When he moved to Southern California, he fell in love with the sacred craft of board shaping, a natural extension of his artistic background. While working in a traditional poly glass shop, he met Rey Banatao from Entropy Bio Resins. Rey opened Ryan's eyes to greener methods of making surfboards. Within a year Ryan was one of the leaders of green board building.

In early 2018 Ry launched the Zero Waste Initiative, another industry first. Just like the Surfboard Industry the Zero Waste system is constantly evolving and he looks forward to the growing list of upcycled sustainable products we can make in it.

33 billion pounds of plastic trash ends up in our ocean every year! That’s two garbage truck loads full, every minute.
Ryan developed a way to #upcycle one of the worst and most widely spread single use plastics that is littering our beaches and oceans: plastic straws!!!! (And other Ocean Bound Plastic trash and plastic trash I’ve fished out of the ocean)

It’s a game changer.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher AltaSea