Home Planet

Why caring for Earth is so important, with Patagonia’s ambassadors

 

If there’s one thing all 8.3 billion of us here on Earth have in common, it’s that this blue marble we live on is our home. No matter what street or what country hosts our home address, at the end of the day, we’re all citizens of Earth. Which is why it’s a pretty important thing that we take care of it. The Flow Trip gang likes to celebrate those out there working to make a positive impact on the world. Those who are responsible, accountable, and ultimately, those who care. And our friends over at Patagonia care a whole heck of a lot. Which is why they, and every member of their community, are working to make a difference — to decrease their footprint, give back, and protect and celebrate the natural world around us. We were fortunate enough to team up with a few of Patagonia’s ambassadors to talk about why they care, how they care, and why they can rely on Patagonia to feel good about continuing to not just explore the world, but to protect the place we all call home. Because hey, when you think about it this way, we’re all neighbors. 

 

Lauren Hill | Patagonia Surfing Ambassador

Photo by Christa Funk

How do you adventure — what got you into surfing, and how long have you been doing it? 

I’ve been surfing for 25 years; it’s my first love. My dad had surf posters in our house — relics from his youth. As his eyesight declined, he stopped getting in the water, but he always talked about surfing like it mattered. I’d grown up in and around the ocean on Anastasia Island, Florida, but had not really surfed until I had a vivid dream about riding a wave in my early teens. I woke up and knew exactly what I needed to do: start surfing. 

What piece of Patagonia gear has been with you through it all?

I never go anywhere, not to school drop-off or even to the tropics, without a Yulex Regulator Lite Wetsuit Jacket. If you want to stay in the ocean for a long time, then eventually your body temperature is going to drop. 

But it’s what the suits are made from that really makes them special. Yulex is a prime example of the integrity behind the way Patagonia operates. Most wetsuits are made of neoprene, the raw material that makes up conventional petroleum-based wetsuits, which is literally making people sick. Hub and the wetsuit team at Patagonia invested years in bringing a viable alternative to market: a plant-based wetsuit made of natural rubber. I wear these suits with such pride, as a symbol of what is possible: When we know better, we can do better. 

Photo by Christa Funk

If you were a space traveler and had to do a presentation to a group of aliens about Earth, what is one thing you would want them to know about your home planet?

These outer space beings would see that our planet is mostly blue. But would they know it as water? Maybe not. I’d explain to them that nothing here exists without water, that it is the most precious and essential building block of life on our planet. And then we’d go surfing so they could feel the magic of liquid buoyancy. 

As the author and interviewer of She Surf: The Rise of Female Surfing, what is the biggest message you hope translates to your readers?

That surfing is for everyone. In old and ancient Hawai’i, where surfing as we know it originated, women were some of the most venerated surfers. The modern iteration of surf culture — which has been very white, very Californian, very masculine, and hyper-competitive — is just part of a much longer, global story arc of riding waves. And that story includes all genders because, evolutionarily speaking, the ocean is where we all came from. It’s where so many of us still feel our deepest sense of belonging. 

 

 

Marie-France Roy | Patagonia Snowboarding Ambassador

How do you adventure — what got you into snowboarding, and how long have you been doing it?

I started snowboarding at 11 years old, back at Le Massif in Quebec, Canada. Our single dad made a deal with my older brothers and me that if we helped around the house with the chores (laundry, firewood, vacuuming, and cooking) and if we got summer jobs to pay for our gear, he would buy us season passes every year. So this became our family activity every weekend, every winter, and really shaped the rest of my life in many ways. I’m so grateful for those times.

What piece of Patagonia gear has been with you through it all?

There are many pieces that have been through a lot over the years, but I think I have to pick my very first Macro Puff Jacket, which I still have and wear. It is probably around 10 years old and has so many holes and funky patches, but I love it so much because every time I wear it, it reminds me of so many epic adventures, like the Bugs-to-Rogers traverse and several unforgettable moments and trips in the mountains with friends. 

As a steward of the environment, why do you trust Patagonia gear to help you explore our home planet while doing the least harm possible? 

I believe that it’s impossible to have no impact at all while we’re here on Earth. But I do think that we could do so much better in terms of living in harmony with nature and with long-term thinking in mind — similar to the way that Indigenous people live. I admire Patagonia for being a leader in doing things this way. It is a very rare achievement in today's world, and very few brands have even tried. But if every business followed similar values and intentions, it would make a huge difference in our global impact.

If you were traveling around the world and could only take one thing from home, what would it be? 

My dog Rippy. A woman's best friend.

Where did you first get the idea for the Westcoast Triple Plank? What drove you to spearhead such a community-based initiative? 

It first started from the fact that Vancouver Island is one of those rare places where you can surf, skate, and snowboard all in one day. My friend Alicia Gilmour and I came up with the idea of creating a fun local community event to celebrate that and raise some funds for Redd Fish Restoration Society, a local nonprofit that restores the local watersheds and ecosystems from a long history of unsustainable logging practices and other factors. It felt important to me to not only play but also help protect and restore the land that we all benefit so much from, and help wild salmon and other wildlife come back to those local rivers and streams. 

 

Majka Burhardt | Patagonia Climbing Ambassaor

Photo by Andrew Burr

How do you adventure — what got you into climbing, and how long have you been doing it?

Ice and mixed climbing, rock faces big and small, mountains near and wide — these have been my steadfast adventure obsessions. But adventure started for me in the lakes and waterways of Minnesota and would not have gone vertical had it not been for a particularly effective ice cream offer adjacent to my first rock climb in Taylors Falls over 40 years ago. These days, all of those passions overlap (even the ice cream) in what is the best way to be outside. 

What piece of Patagonia gear has been with you through it all? 

“Sleeping” upright on a granite perch beneath the summit of Fitz Roy Down Hoody creates commitment and favoritism better than anything I know. Having a jacket like the M10 Storm Jacket seals the deal; it’s my go-to layer for ice and mixed routes in New England and beyond. The best part of the M10 Storm Jacket  is its utter versatility, paired with how light it is. I can layer under and over it to get the right level of warmth or breathability I need in the moment — it makes climbing simpler when it’s the one choice you know will work.   

As a steward of the environment, why do you trust Patagonia gear to help you explore our home planet while doing the least harm possible? 

In climbing, conditions are everything. And they change. Constantly. Having the gear that lets you adapt and keep going is pivotal. Patagonia’s gear is made free of intentionally added PFAS, from recycled materials, and with organic cotton, while also meeting the conditions of the moment. I have never wanted to climb in a vacuum of global responsibility. Patagonia shares that commitment.  

Photo by Andrew Burr

Explain what drove you to found Legado, an organization dedicated to supporting Indigenous communities and their relationship with the land? What success have you seen, and what do you wish to achieve through Legado in the future? 

Legado works alongside Indigenous and local communities to design and implement solutions that benefit both their communities and landscapes — resulting in what we call Thriving Futures. Legado began in the mountains of Mozambique in 2014. I was there leading an international team of climbers, scientists, and conservationists onto its granite flanks to discover new species and support local conservation efforts with mountain communities. It was then that the Queen of Mount Namuli, Adelina Jassisone, challenged me to build an organization that considered all aspects of her thriving community, not just conservation. 

Learn more about Legado at www.legadoinitiative.org

 

Caroline Gleich | Patagonia Skiing Ambassador

Photo by Andrew Burr

How do you adventure — what got you into skiing, and how long have you been doing it? 

Growing up in Minnesota, being outside in the cold and snow was a part of life. My parents introduced me to skiing and other outdoor sports from a young age. I started skiing at age 2 ½, but I never skied competitively. It captured my imagination from a young age, and I knew it was what I wanted to devote my life to. On our ski trips, my dad would have an informal competition with my brothers and me — whichever kid was the most aggressive skier would be crowned with the title of “animal status.”

Skiing gave me a place where I could be assertive and aggressive, and where I learned to find confidence on the mountain, but also in life. I’m happy to say now that I’ve permanently achieved animal status. 

Photo by Andrew Burr

What piece of Patagonia gear has been with you through it all? 

My Black Hole Duffel is a piece of gear that has been through it all — over 30 countries, on monthlong expeditions, in rain, wind, and snow — it’s given me the freedom to travel, which is one of the greatest gifts of them all. The moment I pull out my bag, I know I’m going on an adventure. Then it’s like a massive game of Tetris to figure out all the pieces of packing. 

As a steward of the environment, why do you trust Patagonia gear to help you explore our home planet while doing the least harm possible?

I have been deeply inspired by Patagonia’s business model of using business to save our home planet. In the book The Responsible Company, Vincent Stanley admits that there is no human economic activity that is truly sustainable — almost every activity has an impact. We have to begin our stewardship by understanding the impact we have, and only by going in with our eyes wide open can we begin to take responsibility for it. How can we create goods with the smallest impact possible? It is still an experiment. It’s a question that the folks at Patagonia are trying to answer every day. What earns my trust is honesty and taking customers along for the process. 

Photo by Andrew Burr

Explain the connection between fighting for the Earth and being someone who recreates passionately on its land?

To know the Earth is to love the Earth, and the more time you spend on the ground, exploring the rocky ridgelines or trees in the forests or parks, the more you understand the interconnectedness between human health and Earth’s health. Competing with my brothers for “animal status” as a kid on the slopes helped me understand that I am an animal too. Spending time in nature teaches us that we are not distinct from nature — we are a part of it. It is also vital to our wellbeing as humans. When we become disconnected from nature, we suffer. When we harm the Earth, we harm ourselves and our health. 

 

Tommy Caldwell | Patagonia Climbing Ambassador

Photo by Andrew Burr

How do you adventure — what got you into rock climbing, and how long have you been doing it?

My specialty is big wall free climbing, though that discipline has really just become a conduit to human-powered adventure in general. I adventure by traveling to the most inspiring mountains in the world and climbing them. Sometimes I hike, sometimes I run, sometimes I bike — but climbing almost always plays a role. And I love it even more when I get to share it with my family.

What piece of Patagonia gear has been with you through it all? 

Probably the most consistent piece of Patagonia gear in my life is the R1 Pullover Hoody. It’s been around forever, and it has joined me on all my biggest adventures. I’ve worn it in red, blue, and green, and I’ve even worn through a few of them while dragging myself up the biggest walls in the world. It’s one of those dependable layers that just works every time.

As a steward of the environment, why do you trust Patagonia gear to help you explore our home planet while doing the least harm possible?

I’ve been deeply in the Patagonia fold for almost 20 years now, and the insiders know the company truly walks the walk. Their intention to change the systems harming our planet is completely genuine. I’m not sure there’s another clothing company out there that can claim the same with such integrity.

What place in the world — or what person — feels most like home to you?

Yosemite National Park is where my heart lives. I started going there with my family as a small child, and now I bring my own children there. It’s where I express my creativity, where I feel closest to nature, and it’s simply one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Photo by Jeff Johnson

Explain how you push yourself — how do you address fear and turn it into motivation?

I’m driven by big goals. I find unlikely climbing objectives and then build my life around pursuing them. I don’t seek out fear for its own sake, but over the years I’ve learned how to manage it — maybe even draw strength from that process. There’s motivation in knowing I can feel fear yet still move forward.

 

Hilary Hutcheson | Patagonia Fly-Fishing Ambassador

Photo by Andrew Burr

How do you adventure — what got you into fly-fishing and how long have you been doing it?

My greatest adventures are in the backcountry, and I feel lucky to share wild rivers with guests as a wilderness whitewater fly-fishing outfitter. I got into fly-fishing in seventh grade by messing around on the river near West Glacier with a friend. I started guiding in high school and continued through college. I've stepped away from guiding several times in adulthood, but came back to it full-time 13 years ago. 

What piece of Patagonia gear has been with you through it all? 

I'm not superstitious, but I do have a lucky hat that I've had for many years. Also, I still have and use many of the Patagonia products I bought 30 years ago in high school. In college, I would save up to go to the Patagonia Labor Day sale at the Dillon, Montana, store and camp out with my friends on the sidewalk so we'd be the first ones in. I still have the Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T, Heritage Stand Up Shorts, Nano Puff Vest, and of course, Baggies Shorts from the 1990s. 

Photo by Andrew Burr

As a steward of the environment, why do you trust Patagonia gear to help you explore our home planet while doing the least harm possible?

Trusting Patagonia gear comes naturally to me because it aligns so deeply with how I see my role on the planet. As a guide and river steward, I’m out there every day, not just chasing trout — I’m bearing witness to climate change, to wacky streamflow, to ecosystems under pressure. Patagonia's commitment to environmental responsibility is a guide for guides like me. It helps us see how every choice matters — not just in how we recreate or work, but also in how we preserve our outdoor offices. So using gear that’s made responsibly, and built to last, is one way I try to honor those places. I'm grateful to align with companies that support planet-saving, not just in marketing, but in practice. 

What place in the world or person feels most like home to you?

I'm most at home moving on a moving surface as a boater. I'm far more comfortable in the center seat than on the bow. I feel most at peace in environments that are anything but peaceful — dynamic whitewater, rugged terrain, wild landscapes. The challenge forces my mind and body to connect with nature, and that's when I feel most alive and most at home.

Photo by Andrew Burr

 

Ramon Navarro | Patagonia Surfing Ambassador

Photo by Tom Servais

How do you adventure — what got you into surfing and how long have you been doing it?

Everything started 30 years ago, when I was just a beach kid playing with friends with a bodyboard. A year before, a guy older than me gave me a break surfboard, and I’ve never stopped surfing.

What piece of Patagonia gear has been with you through it all?

The Black Hole Duffel 70L has been with me since 2013. The bag has been around the whole world and has become my lucky amulet. I still have it and use it. Also, I have had my blue Down Sweater Vest since that year, now with a lot of patches and dirt, but still my favorite.

What place in the world or person feels most like home to you?

I always feel like Hawaiʻi is my home. I have been traveling there since 1999, and that is where I learned the most. It’s a place that I put into practice every year. I have my ohana there. But it is also always a pleasure to be back home here in Pichilemu, Chile, where my family is. 

Left photo by Tim Davis | Right photo by Jeff Johnson

Tell us about your most spiritual moment in surfing. Set the scene for us.

I don’t think there is only one most spiritual moment in all these years. I’m so grateful because a lot of moments come to my mind. But if I had to choose, it was in June 2012 when Kohl Christensen called me saying there was going to be a big swell in Fiji. I packed, and two days later I was in Fiji, my first time there and first time on that wave: Cloudbreak. At midday, with all Championship Tour surfers there because it was a day off from the contest. I caught one of the biggest waves of my life with a perfect tube. 

 

Learn more about Patagonia's efforts to give back, protect the planet, and keep moving forward responsibly — all a work in progress.