Kyle’s Bio

Kyle speaks around the world! Click here to book him at your school or event

 

“At first I looked at Kyle’s goals as audacious, but he accomplished everything he set out to do.
He’s a bold activist” -Chris Carter, creator, X-Files

“There’s a lot of talk about engaging the youth in world change, Kyle is unique because he’s actually part of the demographic.” – Kaj Larsen, CNN Correspondent

Kyle Thiermann

 

Kyle Theirmann is a 21 year old pro surfer who has created some serious waves around the world. He is the creator and host of the hit youtube series, Surfing For Change.

Combining surfing great waves with making a series of short films about current issues, Thiermann focuses on the power you have to create a better world through everyday decisions.

His first youtube movie in the series, Claim Your Change, details how money kept in multinational banks is used to finance destructive projects all over the world. One such project, a proposed coal-fired powerplant in Constitucion, Chile, home of a world-class surf spot and fishing village, is the subject of the movie.

This video inspired people to move hundreds of million of dollars out of centralized banks into local banks and credit unions, and reached people throughout North America, South America, Africa and much of Europe.

Since then, he has made movies ranging from the importance of shopping locally, to following a plastic bag to Hawaii.

Kyle has surfed his way across Indonesia, Chile, Peru, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Australia, Hawaii and throughout the US.

He graduated from Gaia University with a BA in Green Business. He uses the support from his sponsors, including Patagonia, Sector 9 and Clif Bar to generate publicity that encourages people to take action to transform their communities, and the world.

Kyle’s work has been featured in dozens of media outlets worldwide including Surfer Magazine, The Huffington Post, Outside Magazine, Discovery Channel, and Surfing Magazine to name a few.

Kyle Speaks at Universities and high schools throughout the country and he has been the keynote speaker at One World Children’s Fund. He was the recipient of the Peter Benchley Blue Vision Youth Award, the Brower Youth Award, and the Surfrider Environmental Achievement Award.

Kyle lives in Santa Cruz, California and recently built a skateboard ramp in his backyard with friends.

 

 

 

Comments

Comment by Kyle Thiermann, Santa Cruz Surfer for Change | Grass Rootz Cafe – Santa Cruz Sustainable Culture and Style Guide on June 17, 2011 @ 4:45 am
[...] You’ve raised an incredible amount of awareness and money, and you’re 21. How old were you when you [...]

Comment by 21-Year Old Pro Surfer Starts ‘Surfing for Change’ to One-Up Recycling | MTV Act Blog on August 11, 2011 @ 10:08 pm
[...] Where is 'Away'? Solving Plastic Pollution in 4 Minutes, a new short film by 21-year old pro-surfer Kyle Thiermann, featuring Jack Johnson's musical warning to "fancy-pants" consumers. With only five percent of all [...]