Salvemos Puerto (Save Puerto)

PUERTO Escondido, commonly referred to as The Mexican Pipeline is an internationally recognised surfing paradise and desperately needs the help of the global surf community. The International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) today announces the launch of its "Salvemos Puerto" (Save Puerto) global fundraiser auction. The campaign will run till October 7, 2012 and all help and support is most welcome. The town of Puerto Escondido was devastated by Hurricane Carlotta on Friday 15th June, 2012.  Two children died when their house was taken by a mudslide, and one 56-year-old woman passed away when the wind from the Category 2 Hurricane flipped her car.  The beach side town has been severely damaged and is in need of urgent assistance to rebuild a community reliant on tourism. The Puerto Escondido lifeguards are in need of help due to damage caused by the hurricane. They previously had eight towers along the beach at Playa Zicatela, they were all destroyed and the rebuilding process is proceeding only as fast as funds allow. This is just one example of what is required to help rebuild the local community; another is to promote tourism back to the area to stimulate the local economy. Over the coming weeks there will be a series of ebay auctions to rise funds: sales you will not want to miss of one-of-a-kind signed canvas prints by top photographers. Commencing the photo and art auction are prints by top Australian photographer, Ray Collins and South African's finest, Sacha Specker. Check them out here. © 2013 Sacha Specker

Included in the auction are signed 16"x20" canvas prints of locations such as, Mexico, Hawaii, Indonesia and Australia. Photographers featured include: Sacha Specker, Edwin Morales, Ray Collins, Mickey Smith, Todd Glaser, Matt Catalano, Scotty Carter, and Mickey Edwards. Included in the art portion of the auction is an epic wooden wave painting piece, by highly recognized Surf artist - Erik Abel; along with a metal sculpture of an empty wave designed by Sean Tuttle, plus an exceptionally large surf painting by Ryan O'Connor. There is more to come, so stay tuned, for now the complete list of auction items being sold on ebay are here. © 2013 IBA

In addition to the photography portion of the campaign, you may also donate directly to the InvestedIn fundraiser here. Also available to purchase are Salvemos Puerto Campaign tee-shirts, singlet's and packages at, which can be ordered here. And for weekly contests and prize give-a-ways stay tuned on the IBA Facebook page here. The IBA is hopeful about the launch of this campaign. "We want the global surf community to get involved together, as this is the best way to raise funds for Puerto. Together we owe this special beach town so much because it feeds surfers with amazing waves and good vibes," IBA Salvemos Puerto Campaign Coordinator, Michelle Rozzen, said. © 2013 Edwin Morales