The Cigarette Surfboard

Small actions—like tossing a cigarette butt on the ground—can add up to major consequences, both good and bad. When young designer Taylor Lane builds a surfboard entirely out of thousands of cigarette butts collected from California beaches, he discovers its unexpected power to capture global attention. That moment sparks a bigger mission. The Cigarette Surfboard follows Taylor on a worldwide journey to connect with professional surfers who are working to protect and restore ocean health—through science, education, sustainable farming, entrepreneurship, and policy change. Inspired by their stories, Taylor returns to Santa Cruz, transforming the Cigarette Surfboard into the centerpiece of a grassroots campaign demanding accountability from Big Tobacco for their harmful, plastic-laden waste. This immersive documentary invites viewers to see the ocean through the eyes of surfers, delivering a powerful message of urgency—and hope—for the future of our seas.