March 29 & 30, 2008 hold in storage none other than "Sharing the Stoke Invitational," a sequel to Groundswell Society's groundbreaking "Rincon Clean Water Classic."

Starting in 1997, the Society organized a gathering called the "Rincon Clean Water Classic," a surf event whose primary objective was to solve "the pollution issues threatening one of the world's best waves."

In 2006, with the eventual approval of a septics-to-sewers project  and the hard work of Heal the Ocean, the Society was able to claim a significant victory in the fight to clean up Ricon's water. A won battle under its belt, the Society was ready to tackle another issue: the crowd factor. "Now we are ready to take on a new project at Rincon that is not about surfers getting sick from the ocean so much as it is about surfers getting sick of each other."

On the fight in this new front, the Society does not intend to teach groms Jujitsu and fin-breaking techniques. Rather, the adopted approach runs in the geometrically opposite direction. The strategy is to inspire groms and their older counterparts to share the aloha spirit when navigating the crowd.

"Crowding in surfing is not new, and indeed it affects surfers just as much as pollution does. However, the way to combat the problem is simple: sharing waves in a true spirit of the original meaning of the word "aloha": give away everything you don't need. This ancient Polynesian precept has found ready acceptance by many surfers and a number of organizations who are going out of their way to share surfing with many who are not fortunate enough to be out there getting great waves all the time or who can't compete with the crowds in many surfing areas," states the Society's website.

To vindicate the attitude of sharing, the rules of  "Sharing the Stoke Invitational" are virtually the usual contest rules, except they are upside-down.

Format: Team Surfing

1. Invited organizations will be represented by teams of 10 to 15 surfers.
2. The majority of surfers on each team should be under 16 years old, with additional parents, guardians and/or advisors only as necessary.
3. Each team will have the surfing area to themselves for one hour.
4. Eight teams will surf on Saturday, and eight different teams on Sunday.
5. A friendly competition between teams will be based on most waves ridden, most waves shared by one or more surfers, most surfers on a wave, and longest ride by the youngest surfer.
6. Separate awards will be presented for each day's surfing.
7. All participants will receive commemorative poster and t-shirt.

With these rules, the Society's bold, and yet peaceful, approach to the crowding reality gets a chance to showcase its bliss, as surfers collectively and playfully ride one of the world's finest waves in camaradirie. In that, the group leaves its mark and reiterates its guiding philosophy: "to create a positive legacy for future generations." For more see the Groundswell Society's website .