Faces of the Valley: Harmar man uses nature, film to promote waterway conservation

Ian Smith is a go-with-the-flow type of guy.

Whether it’s the flow of an ocean or a river, he’s there. Smith fell in love with surfing after taking lessons on the East Coast and decided to bring the activity home with him.

“I loved the sport and wanted to bring it back to my community,” he said.

By 2011, Smith had started SurfSUP Adventures, a standup paddleboarding company that offers eco-tours, yoga and pilates, nighttime glow paddles, whitewater adventures and river surfing.

Smith, 38, of Harmar spent years creating a business that could cater to every level of athleticism.

“All of our events are accessible for all skill levels,” Smith said. “We pride ourselves in being very inclusive. As long as you can stand up on regular land, we can get you on a board.”

Over the years, SurfSUP’s message of inclusivity has attracted a variety of clientele. Smith’s crew members have hosted families with young children, retirees, couples for date nights and corporate events. SurfSUP also offers environmental education to school groups.

“We want to inspire people to love their waterways and take care of them,” Smith said.

Smith’s desire to inspire people led him to start a nonprofit, the Watersmith Guild, in 2021. The guild serves underprivileged communities that do not have access to, or have limited access to, outdoor recreation and environmental education.

The name is Smith’s way of combining the modern with the traditional. He sees the word watersmith as “an artist, athlete, teacher or advocate that hones their skills for the purpose of preserving and enjoying clean water.”

Guild means an organization of persons with related interests or goals, especially one formed for mutual aid or protection. Smith said the combination perfectly depicts the Watersmith Guild’s mission.

“Every small part lends to the bigger picture, the concept of the whole,” Smith said.

The nonprofit grew from a few volunteers who began working with communities in 2014 through a program called First Waves. For the past 10 years, Smith has helped people learn about the preservation of waterways by combining standup paddleboarding and river surfing with filmmaking. He created the program from his interest in film and desire to engage surrounding communities in conservation.

“(Participants) can document the experience and share it with their communities,” Smith said.

The organization has expanded from Pittsburgh and Johnstown to nine projects and demographics from Erie to the Laurel Highlands. This will be the first year bringing First Waves to Erie and Beaver County.

The newest program through the guild is Aqua Lab Adventures, an environmental education program that uses paddleboarding to engage youth in learning about microplastic pollution in their local waterways. It includes a combination of classroom programs and field trips. Smith said Propel Hazelwood and Propel Braddock Hills middle schools will be using the program this year.

“Most of my life has been about bringing these projects to fruition,” Smith said.