Do you use Wikipedia? 

I know I do. 

I’ve spent hours wandering its lengthy digital hallways, absorbing facts of all levels of importance from trivial to game-changing. As an ad-free, arguably unbiased - but please don't argue with that - database, its existence has improved humanity. Big call yet it's true.

That’s why, whenever Wiki’s landlord passes the hat, it hasn’t taken much arm twisting to get me to wire a few dollars and help keep the lights on.

At the end of the day, the world would be a worse place if they were switched off.

So, what about surfing’s great database?

Founder of the Encyclopedia Of Surfing, Matt Warshaw, has just put out the word the platform is in need of financial support. 

For those who haven’t visited, EOS is the single most important historical archive for surfing. It’s a not-for-profit site, “dedicated to the preservation and celebration of all things surf.” The website hosts everything from digitised old footage, to scanned print media, contest results, and many more core artifacts from yore.

We’re all aware of the current state of the internet and the perception of free media. However, the old jungle saying, 'if you're not paying for the product, then you are the product', has never been more relevant. 

Paywalls do more than protect privacy, they promote quality. Since last year's fundraiser, Matt has added new features to the site, he's now documenting iconic boards and famous contests, and he's split the site into six colour-coded regions - Wikipedia has never looked so sexy! - so your donations make a tangible difference.

Matt’s calling this a ‘Level Up’ fundraiser, a push to help keep the staff - all two of them - working wholeheartedly for the cause, to provide a better service for subscribers and mildly curious visitors alike.

As it's a not-for-profit it's completely tax deductible. You can simply donate, or subscribe and get full access to the goods.

Read more about it here