Global Surf Industries (GSI) has announced a partnership with Stoked Mentoring, an action sports organization whose mission is to bring together “at-risk” youth with professional adults to learn a new, non traditional sport. Stoked Mentoring is a unique organization that develops multi-week seasonal programs in snow, skate and surf supporting factions in New York City and Los Angeles. Currently targeted at teens whose ages range from 13 to18, Stoked Mentoring aims to encourage communication, commitment and perseverance while learning to surf in a mentor pair.

Through hands-on partnerships with social service agencies, Stoked Mentoring has impacted over 60 youth participants by boosting their confidence, pushing their limits, connecting them with the ocean and getting them hooked on the ultimate stoke of riding a wave. By matching a caring adult with a young person in need, Stoked Mentoring and GSI hope to motivate participants to grow within the sport and build strong values for a successful life.

Mark Kelly, founder of GSI remarks, “In our society today I am in awe of organizations like Stoked Mentoring who help reinvigorate the sense of community, pride and self worth in our youth, while getting the message across that life is to be shared and enjoyed by everyone. My hat goes off to Stoked Mentoring and GSI will always support them and organizations such as this, because we know they make a real difference in people’s lives.”

As part of the sponsorship, GSI has donated 40 boards from its Sunset soft board line, allowing for each mentor pair to be outfitted with one of these beginner boards. The Sunset soft board line is an epoxy-wrapped board featuring a securely mounted tri-fin set-up for beginner to intermediate surfers.

“Stoked Mentoring is thrilled to have GSI onboard as a sponsor of both the New York and Los Angeles Surf Mentor programs. By graciously donating surf boards to the program, all of our mentor pairs are able to learn skills in the water together. GSI’s support of the program demonstrates a commitment to changing lives of our youth through the combination of mentoring and action sports,” said Jennifer Palmer, director of programs and policy.