The Vegans Are Coming

It’s no secret that vegan diets are on the rise, whether it’s due to the acclaimed health benefits or an increase in sales of Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation, it looks as if veganism is here to stay – even in the bloodthirsty surfing world.

We all know that Kelly is a strong advocate for environmental causes and is exceptionally conscious of the food that he puts into his body. He’s also previously stated that he “want(s) to become vegan due to the treatment and slaughter of the most defenceless and innocent animals on the planet.”

The GOAT’s been off dairy for two decades-plus. 

This morning, Kelly celebrated one month of eating an entirely vegan diet on his Instagram story.

“Feeling good. Much better digestion and variety of healthy foods eating this way”. While we’re unsure of Kelly’s long term intentions surrounding his vegan lifestyle, he currently joins a growing list of surfers who have ditched their milk for soy and steak for tofu.

Who says vegan eating is hard? Kelly shows us that all you need is some fruit, knife and a spoon. 

Last year in a post-heat interview, 2x World Champ, John John said that he’d been enjoying a vegan diet after he “became increasingly aware of food and its effects on the human body. All signs point to the idea that a plant-based diet is far superior to that of high animal-product intake.”

(According to Adventure Sports Network, Mr. Florence was also a vegetarian for the first half of his life, subsisting on the good ol’ mac and cheese diet.)

We’re all tired of our local barista lecturing us on the benefits of veganism, whilst shaming our full-cream flat white habits, but when Kelly and John John support a cause, heads usually start to turn.

If sheer surfing talent isn’t enough, the vegan surf contingent also has glamour and sex appeal on its side; surfing’s hottest couple Alana and Jack are also living the animal-product free life.

Alana has long been a prominent vegan figure, who frequently shares meals and snacks on her Instagram and YouTube and while we’re not sure if Jack has merely been roped into the diet, his IG stories suggest he’s heavily into the meat-free life.

Machado, Rasta, Carissa Moore, Maurice Cole, Nikki Van Dijk and Tia Blanco – who runs her own vegan food IG page @tiasvegankitchen – are also on the growing list of professional surfers who currently do or have previously swapped out meat for those ethical plant derivatives.

Tia Blanco’s vegan eating advice

If you’re considering a run for the 2018 World Title, then maybe a vegan diet is the key to your success in competing with John.

Or perhaps you’re just trying to swoon that banging vegan you met in Surry Hills last weekend.

Either way, there’s strong arguments on both environmental and ethical fronts for a reduction in our animal product intake.

Will vegans attribute Kelly’s 11-world titles to his current diet – forget the linear passage of time?

Have you ever considered taking the plunge?

Commence the intellectual and evidence-based discussion below! 

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Disclaimer: I’m not a vegan, I’m actually just a massive bandwagon hopping hypocrite.