--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think when a surfer becomes a surfer…" description: "\"I think when a surfer becomes a surfer, it's almost like an obligation to be an environmentalist at the same time.\" — Kelly Slater" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/kelly-slater-16785_environmentalist_i-think-when-a-surfer-becomes-a-surfer-i_1158600.jpg" --- # I think when a surfer becomes a surfer, it's almost like… ![“I think when a surfer becomes a surfer, it's almost like an obligation to be an environmentalist at the same time.” quote by Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/kelly-slater-16785_environmentalist_i-think-when-a-surfer-becomes-a-surfer-i_1158600.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/kelly-slater-16785_environmentalist_i-think-when-a-surfer-becomes-a-surfer-i_1158600.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/kelly-slater-16785_environmentalist_i-think-when-a-surfer-becomes-a-surfer-i_1158600.jpg) > “I think when a surfer becomes a surfer, it's almost like an obligation to be an environmentalist at the same time.” [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Surfers feel a duty to protect the environment because of their deep connection to the ocean. **In simple terms:** Surfers feel obliged to be environmentalists. Key Takeaway Use your passion to inspire ecological action. Themes environment responsibility identity Mood passionate determined Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - coastal clean‑ups - eco‑friendly gear - public advocacy - youth programs Key Concepts sustainability sports culture Questions to Reflect On - How can you motivate others in your community? - What concrete steps can you take today? A Different Perspective Not all surfers share this view. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Environmentalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmentalist/) [Environmentalist Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmentalist-time-3307459/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Obligation Environmentalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation-environmentalist-3307456/) [Surf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surf/) [Surfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surfer/) [Surfer Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surfer-like-3307457/) [Surfing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surfing/) [Think Surfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-surfer-3307458/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know what I think of George W. Bush when he first got in, but I've grown fond of the man, and maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/i-don-t-know-what-i-think-of-george-w-bush-when-he-first-got-in-but-i/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [For a surfer, it's never-ending. There's always some wave you want to surf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/for-a-surfer-it-s-never-ending-there-s-always-some-wave-you-want-to/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [Not to sound too deep or weird, but I think that the times when you really appreciate surfing are the times you're really sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/not-to-sound-too-deep-or-weird-but-i-think-that-the-times-when-you/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [I want to surf better tomorrow. I want to surf better in 10 years. When I'm 50 I want to be a better surfer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/i-want-to-surf-better-tomorrow-i-want-to-surf-better-in-10-years-when/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [The joy of surfing is so many things combined, from the physical exertion of it, to the challenge of it, to the mental side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/the-joy-of-surfing-is-so-many-things-combined-from-the-physical/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [It's like the mafia. Once you're in - your in. There's no getting out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/it-s-like-the-mafia-once-you-re-in-your-in-there-s-no-getting-out/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [Your surfing can get better on every turn, on every wave you catch. Learn to read the ocean better. A big part of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/your-surfing-can-get-better-on-every-turn-on-every-wave-you-catch/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [When I'm 50 I want to be a better surfer than I am now - for me it's a lifelong journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/when-i-m-50-i-want-to-be-a-better-surfer-than-i-am-now-for-me-it-s-a/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [It's all about where your mind's at](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/it-s-all-about-where-your-mind-s-at/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [Surfing also teaches quality . I will wager that it is not the number of waves that makes a session memorable for any given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-tomson/surfing-also-teaches-quality-i-will-wager-that-it-is-not-the-number/) [Shaun Tomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-tomson/) > [My background was art school, documentary director and surfer with a keen interest in thrilling acts of life threatening stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahoo-serious/my-background-was-art-school-documentary-director-and-surfer-with-a/) [Yahoo Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahoo-serious/) > [“A surfer who “hangs ten” is performing a maneuver on a surfboard, not staging a mass execution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-surfer-who-hangs-ten-is-performing-a-maneuver-on-a-surfboard-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many people bypass search engines altogether and still find what they're looking for online. These Internet surfers are using direct navigation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/many-people-bypass-search-engines-altogether-and-still-find-what-they/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [I'm more of like a recreational surfer, not a consist surfer. Some people get out every week or every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-moreau/i-m-more-of-like-a-recreational-surfer-not-a-consist-surfer-some/) [Marguerite Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-moreau/) > [Traders and Surfers both have to deal with feelings of missing out on the small ones, until the big one comes along. They also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-seykota/traders-and-surfers-both-have-to-deal-with-feelings-of-missing-out-on/) [Ed Seykota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-seykota/) ## More by Kelly Slater > [Maintaining marriage seems to be tougher than fatherhood: apparently its the most difficult thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/maintaining-marriage-seems-to-be-tougher-than-fatherhood-apparently/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [It's a perfect wave when small and the most beautiful and scary wave on Earth when it's big, as the swell from deep water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/it-s-a-perfect-wave-when-small-and-the-most-beautiful-and-scary-wave/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [It's all about where your mind's at](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/it-s-all-about-where-your-mind-s-at/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [When I'm 50 I want to be a better surfer than I am now - for me it's a lifelong journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/when-i-m-50-i-want-to-be-a-better-surfer-than-i-am-now-for-me-it-s-a/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [Most of what Hawaii has to offer is no secret. Pipeline is probably the most famous wave in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/most-of-what-hawaii-has-to-offer-is-no-secret-pipeline-is-probably/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [There are so many different elements to surfing. Small waves, big waves, long boards, short boards. This makes it a sport you can share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/there-are-so-many-different-elements-to-surfing-small-waves-big-waves/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [I surf more now for other people than myself. I feel a lot of support from people wanting me to do well, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/i-surf-more-now-for-other-people-than-myself-i-feel-a-lot-of-support/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [Surfing is my religion, if I have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/surfing-is-my-religion-if-i-have-one/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [A lot of times I'll see guys who are nowhere near the level of the board they're riding. They might love surfing and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/a-lot-of-times-i-ll-see-guys-who-are-nowhere-near-the-level-of-the/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [Your surfing can get better on every turn, on every wave you catch. Learn to read the ocean better. A big part of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/your-surfing-can-get-better-on-every-turn-on-every-wave-you-catch/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [A wave isn't like a skate ramp or mountain; everything's moving around and you have to time how to move along with it. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/a-wave-isn-t-like-a-skate-ramp-or-mountain-everything-s-moving-around/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [Well I'm always working on constantly everything. I never take the approach that I'm doing as well as I possibly can... I always think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/well-i-m-always-working-on-constantly-everything-i-never-take-the/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [I feel like an ambassador for surfing at this point. I'm happy to go and play that role and share that where I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/i-feel-like-an-ambassador-for-surfing-at-this-point-i-m-happy-to-go/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [I was stuck for 16 months without a win there, and now I've had five this year. Once you break that barrier for yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/i-was-stuck-for-16-months-without-a-win-there-and-now-i-ve-had-five/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [I've been in a poor physical shape many times in my career and I've had some of my best results. My best performances happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/i-ve-been-in-a-poor-physical-shape-many-times-in-my-career-and-i-ve/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) [Explore all 39 Kelly Slater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) ## More Environmentalist quotes > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [I'm an environmentalist; I recycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyrsten-sinema/i-m-an-environmentalist-i-recycle/) [Kyrsten Sinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyrsten-sinema/) > [I absolutely am an environmentalist. I am probably more of an environmentalist than most people who live in the world, but I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/i-absolutely-am-an-environmentalist-i-am-probably-more-of-an/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [In fact, because of their connection to the land, farmers do more to protect and preserve our environment than almost anyone else. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-skelton/in-fact-because-of-their-connection-to-the-land-farmers-do-more-to/) [Ike Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-skelton/) > [I believe strongly that we need to get beyond rhetoric, beyond industry and environmentalists fighting with each other, and seriously solve problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-norton/i-believe-strongly-that-we-need-to-get-beyond-rhetoric-beyond/) [Gale Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-norton/) > [Despite one or two minority appeals our society is not outraged at man's unremitting use of the animal world. Ecologists and environmentalists may talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/despite-one-or-two-minority-appeals-our-society-is-not-outraged-at/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [“To save our dying earth, any government which is not environmentalist must go because on earth there are thousands of governments but there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-save-our-dying-earth-any-government-which-is-not-environmentalist/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“MichaelTobias Evolution does not condemn us. Only our choices can do that. It is imperative that we cherish, nurture, and endeavor to protect all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/michaeltobias-evolution-does-not-condemn-us-only-our-choices-can-do/) [michael tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [Energy is a sector of the economy that has been particularly resistant to innovation. This is precisely the problem. It is why we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/energy-is-a-sector-of-the-economy-that-has-been-particularly/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [I'm a Christian-libertarian-environmentalist-capitalist-lunatic. It's a humorous way for me to describe that I'm not stereotypical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/i-m-a-christian-libertarian-environmentalist-capitalist-lunatic-it-s/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [I am not a veteran environmentalist. I don't live in a house made of recycled tires, I've never handcuffed myself to a tree, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-mathewson/i-am-not-a-veteran-environmentalist-i-don-t-live-in-a-house-made-of/) [Christy Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-mathewson/) > [I am an environmentalist. ... I am for clean air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-am-an-environmentalist-i-am-for-clean-air/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The philosophy that I have worked under most of my life is that the serious study of natural history is an activity which has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-tory-peterson/the-philosophy-that-i-have-worked-under-most-of-my-life-is-that-the/) [Roger Tory Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-tory-peterson/) > [If I had to catalog all the moronic plot turns in The Day After Tomorrow, we'd be here until the next ice age. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edelstein/if-i-had-to-catalog-all-the-moronic-plot-turns-in-the-day-after/) [David Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edelstein/) > [I'm an environmentalist. Most of my jokes are recycled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-m-an-environmentalist-most-of-my-jokes-are-recycled/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) [Browse all 228 Environmentalist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmentalist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think when a surfer becomes a surfer, it's almost like an obligation to be an environmentalist at the same time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kelly Slater" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/i-think-when-a-surfer-becomes-a-surfer-it-s-almost-like-an-obligation/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Environmentalist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/i-think-when-a-surfer-becomes-a-surfer-it-s-almost-like-an-obligation/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/kelly-slater-16785_environmentalist_i-think-when-a-surfer-becomes-a-surfer-i_1158600.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/kelly-slater-16785_environmentalist_i-think-when-a-surfer-becomes-a-surfer-i_1158600.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/kelly-slater-16785_environmentalist_i-think-when-a-surfer-becomes-a-surfer-i_1158600.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think when a surfer becomes a surfer, it's almost like an obligation to be an environmentalist at the same…” — Kelly Slater", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kelly Slater", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think when a surfer becomes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/i-think-when-a-surfer-becomes-a-surfer-it-s-almost-like-an-obligation/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/i-think-when-a-surfer-becomes-a-surfer-it-s-almost-like-an-obligation/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```