Positive Vibe Warriors: Spreading Positivity, Good Energy, and Willpower Across the World

Positive Vibe Warriors: Spreading Positivity, Good Energy, and Willpower Across the World

Humanitarian

Positive Vibe Warriors: Spreading Positivity, Good Energy, and Willpower Across the World

Well known for their beaming smiles and world-class surfing, the San Clemente, California-based Gudauskas brothers—Dane, Pat, and Tanner—are much more than a trio of professional surfers. Using their platform as professional athletes, the brothers have been able to share a message of positivity, energy, and willpower across the world. We’ve been talking with the Gudauskas and wanted to share their perspective on their foundation—the Positive Vibe Warriors—and the world of nonprofits. – KH

Who are the Positive Vibe Warriors and what do they do?

The Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation supports youth water safety programs and emerging surf cultures around the world. Since the birth of the foundation, we have managed to raise and donate over a thousand new and used surfboards to communities in Jamaica, Trinidad, and Tobago, and all over Africa. We also donated over one hundred thousand dollars to support junior lifeguard and youth ocean safety programs. My brothers and I truly believe that providing a surfboard or boogie board represents the first access point for kids to be introduced to the ocean, a space that can allow them to explore their own creativity and growth, form new bonds, overcome challenges, and experience therapeutic healing. All of these benefits encourage positive growth forward in their own lives and in their communities. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to support great organizations in these regions from Waves for Change and Surfers Not Street Children in South Africa, to Waves For Hope in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Jamaica Surf team that connected us nationwide with the emerging youths in communities across Jamaica. As well as providing surf equipment to developing surf communities, we’ve always felt that it’s important to support youth water safety programs. These tools of understanding allow people to enjoy all the positive benefits of the ocean responsibly, minimizing risk for themselves and others. Along with supporting Junior Lifeguard Programs on the East and West coast of the USA, we most recently worked alongside the Big Wave Risk Assessment program to develop a youth scholarship opportunity to help foster a new generation of leaders in the lineup. Seeing the next generation thrive in the energy of the ocean really has been a satisfying experience.

 

 

What inspired you guys to start the foundation?

We started the foundation as a result of raising funds through our first “Stoke-O-Rama” surfing event that we started with Vans nearly 10 years ago. We wanted to utilize that event as a way to support youth water safety programs, something that had a profound impact on our own childhoods. Developing the PVW Foundation allowed us the opportunity to narrow the focus on how we could be most effective in supporting those organizations. The idea for our first board drive came after a trip to Jamaica, where we saw such a pure passion for surfing and an incredible talent pool, but they didn’t have access to equipment because it was too expensive. They were absolutely ripping on boards that had been put back together so many times…we were blown away! When we came back home, we knew we wanted to find a way to help, so we created a call to action on social media and were able to raise over 200 boards for communities all across Jamaica. They were loaded up on a shipping container here in California and we freighted them over. The foundation has been a great outlet for us that allows us the opportunity to act on ideas we are passionate about.

 

What has been the best part about spearheading the Positive Vibe Warriors movement?

The best part of the PVW movement has definitely been the opportunity to meet and connect with such inspiring people and communities around the world. There are so many great people out there working hard in their own communities to make that positive change, and that inspires us daily. We’ve met people like Duane Desoto, who created the Na Kama Kai organization that teaches ocean safety and Hawaiian culture on Oahu. Another inspiring person is Chris Dennis, a good friend of mine who I used to share time with surfing contests around the world, who is now leading the way for progress and support with the next generation in Trinidad and Tobago. Tom Hewitt, and Tim Conibear from South Africa, Billy Mystic in Jamaica, Johnny Irwin with the City Surf Project. There are so many people from such diverse backgrounds and stories who are all working to create a better way of life for future generations. That really fills me up with a great feeling. It has been a real honor to learn from watching these organizations operate within their communities and we try to embody that spirit wherever we go.

 

Where do you see the Positive Vibe Warriors in one year? Five years?

This year has been unique with Covid-19, so we’ve had to shift our focus from building out activations to support emerging surf communities internationally to looking at ways we could be most effective in our own backyard here in the USA. We’ve collaborated with Channel Islands Surfboards to release a new lineup of soft tops, and the proceeds from those boards will be supporting the City Surf Project in San Francisco. Those guys are doing incredible work and we couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to support them in their journey. As far as the future goes, we are currently building out some fun, new ideas and we remain with open hearts and open minds, excited to continue connecting communities and cultures through the incredible power of riding waves.

 

Lastly, what’s the story behind the name, Positive Vibe Warriors?

The story behind the name came from a desire to create a positive headspace to carry forward when we were facing adversity in our own lives. Positive—representing optimism and hope. Vibe—an energy or life force that connects us all as humans. Warriors—meaning that sometimes we have to be brave and have the courage to face uncertainty or challenge in our lives. That’s the origin, and it was something my brothers and I would say on the road to each other to keep us going. It’s been really special to see it grow to what it has become now.

Author Profile

 Justin Cote has lived in Encinitas since he was five years old. Before that, he lived in University City, one of the communities on which Fast Times At Ridgemont High was based. He lived on the North Shore of Oahu for four years after college, but couldn’t resist the call of home and has been in Encinitas ever since. He went to second grade on the Navajo Reservation in northeastern Arizona. He hated it at the time, but looking back it helped shape him as a person. Those kids didn’t have it easy…
When Justin isn’t working the phones trying to sell a house, you can find him at the Pannikin or Stone Steps beach; even off the clock he’s always hustling!
Here’s a quote that helped him get through some rough patches in the past:
“Tough times don’t last, tough people do.”

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Positive Vibe Warriors: Spreading Positivity, Good Energy, and Willpower Across the World
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