Water Sports Icons and Conservationists Join Forces for Philanthropic SURFARI at WATER/WO/MEN 2011

• +H20 and Six Senses Resorts & Spas partner for this unique fundraising event in Laamu, Maldives from September 30-October 4th.
• International water sports icons will showcase surf, windsurf, kitesurf, stand up paddleboard, free dive and wakeboard. Including: Kai Lenny, Duncan Zuur, Levi Siver, Danny Fuller, Jake Miller, Keith Teboul, Pascal Bronnimann, Layne Beachley, Alex Caizergues, Buzzy Kerbox, Takuji Masuda and more.
• Renowned conservationists will address global water and marine concerns. Including: Fabien Cousteau, Sylvia Earle, Jim Thebaut, Jane Seymour, Charles Clover and more.
• Limited number of cabanas available to the public. For more information:    http://www.sixsenses.com/E-brochure/SixSensesWaterWoMen/

Maui, Hawai’i (July 1, 2011) — WATER/WO/MEN 2011, presented by Six Senses Resorts & Spas and in partnership with +H20, will unite the world’s greatest water sport icons together with marine and water conservationists in an event that raises funds and awareness for marine preservation, coral restoration and clean water and sanitation projects. Joining them at the prestigious Six Senses Resort & Spa Laamu, Maldives will be musicians, artists, celebrities, guests and media for five days of water exhibitions, clinics, eco-activities, one-on-one teaching opportunities, conservation debates, movie screenings, delicious meals and festivities. Proceeds from guest stays will benefit Plant a Fish Foundation founded by Fabien Cousteau; Water Charity founded by Averill Strasser; and Blue Marine Foundation founded by Chris Gorell Barnes.[1]

The first annual WATER/WO/MEN event pairs +H20, surf collaborative and water activism platform based out of Maui, Hawaii, with Six Senses Resorts & Spas, a recognized innovator in environmental sustainability and the pioneer of intelligent luxury.[2] Legendary surfers, windsurfers, kite surfers, swimmers, divers and free divers will offer their expertise to Six Senses guests. Special watermen activities include exhibitions and lessons by the world-renowned athletes of +H2O, stand up paddleboard with current world champ Kai Lenny, wakeboarding show by pro Duncan Zuur and more.

When not in the water, Six Senses WATER/WO/MEN will host diverse and stimulating events including a marine restoration in the Maldives workshop with Fabien Cousteau, Chagos Islands marine conservation update by Blue Marine Foundation and debates among the marine biologists and water sports legends on the most pressing global water issues and challenges. Outdoor activities like beach cleanups and coral reef restorations will balance out the intellectual while a mural painting workshop will engage the local community alongside the legendary Watermen. After dark, the lights will shine on cinematic features under the stars, featuring groundbreaking environmental documentaries Running Dry and The End of the Line and surf movies like Walls of Perception and The Windsurfing Movie II. Producers and stars will be on site to lead discussions.

The conditions are perfect. Set on the privately owned Olhuveli Island in the Laamu Atoll, in the south of the Maldives archipelago, the event rides on the crest of the opening of Six Senses’ latest luxury eco-resort, Laamu. The Maldives boasts an array of breaks that have lured international surfers for more than 35 years, complemented by a rich underwater eco-system.

The featured guest list includes WATER/WO/MEN: 

Pascal Bronnimann (SUI, +H2O long time pro wind surfer and Diamond Head Pro-Am winner)

Levi Siver (USA, +H2O windsurf wave riding champion and surfer)

Jake Miller (USA, +H2O windsurf wave riding and freestyle rider)

Keith Teboul (MAD, +H2O long time pro wind surfer)

Herbie Fletcher (USA, longboard surfing legend and artist)

Chris Garrett (AUS, Gold Coast eco-surfer)

Buzzy Kerbox (USA, World Cup surf winner, co-inventor of tow-in surfing with Laird Hamilton and longtime face of Ralph Lauren Polo Sport)

Kai Lenny (USA, Maui-born 17 year old stand up paddling world champion and Naish protégé)

Takuji Masuda (JPN, Kamakura born longboarder and surf documentarian)

Tripoli Patterson (USA, surf champion and New York gallerist)

Terry Simms (USA, 25 year surf pro and one of the finest surf coaches in the world)

Alex Caizergues (FRA, kite surf speed world champion)

Mark Shinn (GBR, 2 times kite surfing World champion)

Duncan Zuur (NED, one of Europe’s most successful kite surfers and wake boarder)

Matt Meola (USA, Innersection Award Winner, young surfing star)

Layne Beachley (AUS, first woman in history to gain 7 World Championships, six of them consecutive)

Danny Fuller (USA, professional surfer and photographer)

Anna von Boetticher (GER, record holding free diver)

Additional musicians and leading marine conservationists:

Fabien Cousteau (FRA, third generation French ocean explorer, aquatic filmmaker and Founder of Plant A Fish)

Dr. Jacqueline Chan (USA, co-founder of Water Charity)

Carl Gustaf Lundin (SUI, Director, Global Marine Programme, International Union for the Conservation of Nature)

Dr. Callum Roberts (GBR, marine conversation biologist and oceanographer)

Jane Seymour (GBR, actress and environmentalist)

Averill Strasser (USA, Founder of Water Charity)

Prahlad Kakkar (IND, Indian filmmaker, diver and Reef Watch Marine Conservation co-founder)

Shekhar Kapur (IND, Golden Globe winning Indian filmmaker of the forthcoming Paani, exploring Mumbai’s shrinking water supply)

Jim Thebaut (USA, Documentary filmmaker of Running Dry and hydro-philanthropist)

Christo Edwards (AUS, Margaret River winemaker and surfer)

Mick Scott (AUS, Australian winemaker and waterman)

Jason Mraz (USA. International chart topping singer and surfer)

Sylvia Earle (USA, award-winning oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer) 

Packages to participate in this exciting, one-of-a-kind gathering are available for four nights (US$6,000 for two people or US$4,400 single) and seven nights (US$9,900 for two people or US$7,400 single), including all breakfasts and dinners, the Barefoot Gala Dinner, activities on site, a limited number of spa treatments and round trip seaplane transfer flights.

Six Senses Carbon Offset Programme will also offset international flights to the Maldives.

For further information and additional images please contact Kristin Hettermann, Director of Marketing, +H20, at Kristin@gracedelivers.com.

A limited number of cabanas open to public! To inquire about guest reservations, contact Faisal at reservations-laamu@sixsenses.com.

Six Senses is a world leader in creating enlightening and nourishing luxury travel experiences that rejuvenate and refresh, focusing on the delivery of all of the beauties of clean living and the slow life to a discerning, conscious and aware customer.

+H20 is a platform for water awareness that brings together a community of athletes, conservationists, non-profits and corporations to create purposeful solutions that facilitate positive change on a local to global scale. Leveraging the visibility of professional athletes combined with a mission for the greater good, +H20 was founded by windsurfers Levi Siver, Pascal Bronnimann, Jake Miller and Keith Teboul and is based on Maui, Hawaii. The +H20 network celebrates water sports and extends inspiration for clean living practices that are in support of health, wellness and environmental balance.

EDITOR’S NOTES

(1) WATER/WO/MEN 2011 in benefit of:

Blue Marine Foundation (www.bluemarinefoundation.com) is working to place 10% of the world’s oceans into secure marine reserves by 2020, beginning with Chagos Islands, an area rich in marine biodiversity, south of the Maldives. Created by Chris Gorell Barnes, the producer of “The End of the Line” (the defining documentary about over-fishing). Proceeds from WATERMEN will help secure marine protected areas in the Maldives.

Plant A Fish (www.plantafish.org) is a hands-on marine education and restoration effort led by 3rd generation ocean explorer Fabian Cousteau to engage local communities around the globe through schools, businesses and government agencies to "re-plant" aquatic plants and animals in environmentally stressed areas.

Water Charity (http://www.watercharity.org) is a top ranked non-profit that provides safe drinking water, effective sanitation and health education to those in need. Since 2008, Six Senses contributions and cooperation by banning the importation of plastic water bottles from our properties has given over 350,000 people access to safe drinking water.

(2) WATER/WO/MEN will promote: 

+H20 Principles:

•            Clean Sports: Water sports as energetically clean and green activities that are environmentally friendly and wellness balancing.

•            Clean Living: The importance of health, nutrition, wellness and environmental awareness to a happy and balanced society.

•            Clean Water: Awareness and activism surrounding water issues locally and globally, addressing challenges surrounding pollution, sanitation and clean water access for those in need.

•            Clean Ocean: Water is energy and energy sustains. Our oceans energize our entire delicate ecosystem and need to be protected and nourished.

Six Senses SLOW LIFE Positioning Philosophy:

Sustainable – Local – Organic – Wholesome Learning – Inspiring – Fun – Experiences

(3) Image Gallery: 

http://www.sixsenses.com/Laamu_Surf.jpg

http://www.sixsenses.com/Gallery/images/300dpi/gen/MLELA/Surfing-Trip-on-Dhoni.jpg

http://www.sixsenses.com/Gallery/images/300dpi/gen/MLELA/Surfing_panaramic.jpg

http://www.sixsenses.com/primage/Beach.jpg

http://www.sixsenses.com/primage/Water-Villa2.jpg

http://www.sixsenses.com/Gallery/images/300dpi/gen/MLELA/Surfer2.jpg

For more information: 

http://www.positive-h2o.com  

http://www.sixsenses.com/SixSensesLaamu/ 

http://www.sixsenses.com/E-brochure/SixSensesWaterWoMen/

+H20 Media contact: