Our Team
Roo Smith - Filmmaker
Roo is the documentarian of the Goat Surf Club and the primary storyteller of the adventures. As the happy go lucky American of the group, he brings an optimistic look to every expedition the G.S.C. has ever taken. Roo is rarely seen without a smile on his face even amidst the turmoil of getting stuck in Morocco and locked down in Senegal.
Surfboard of choice: Longboard
Favorite type of wave: 3ft and glassy with friends
Biggest Quirk: Still can’t eat chocolate without getting it all over his face. Especially ice cream, it’s the cutest thing.
Regional Surf Expertise: Central America and the U.S.
Professional accomplishments: Directed films for Patagonia in California, produced films for Outside TV across Europe and Africa, camera operated for Netflix in the Rocky Mountain West, and edited rock climbing films for HBO in Colorado.
Roo’s duties for the Goat Surf Club entail:
All things FILMMAKING. Building pitch decks, storyboarding the episodes, filming, editing, backing up footage, chatting with brands and speaking at film festivals and on podcasts about the GSC.
In addition to the filming, Roo assists Ben and Thomas on the environmental research to ensure factual and cultural accuracy in the stories we tell.
Thomas Joutsikoski - Environmentalist
Thomas is one of the most fun people you will ever meet. With an uncanny ability to connect with any type of person from all walks of life, he’s able to build community wherever we go. However, he’s more than just a charismatic personality, he’s also an accomplished environmentalist and social justice worker.
Surfboard of choice: Groveler Shortboard
Favorite type of wave: Shoulder high and playful
Biggest Quirk: When he gets happy he flicks his back right foot up like ballet dancer.
Regional Surf Expertise: European Cold-Water Spots
Professional accomplishments: Works in a sustainability reporting start-up, currently completing his masters of Sustainable Business Management in Finland, has consulted for social entreprises in Spain and Kenya, and offered solutions to artic SDG challenges in Greenland.
Thomas’s duties for the Goat Surf Club entail:
All things SURFING. Researching waves, connecting with local surfers, packing and preparing boards, understanding water temperatures and reading swell charts on the ground to pick where to surf that day.
In addition to the surfing, Thomas researches the sustainability initiatives and is the primary coordinator on-the-ground communicating with our nonprofit partners.
Ben Davies - Scientist
Ben is a total sweetheart. Nobody on this earth can say anything bad about Ben, mostly because of his big heart and joyful personality. His heart and openness to new cultures is infectious as he greets everybody we meet with a kindness that immediately makes everybody feel at ease.
Surfboard of choice: Fish
Favorite type of wave: 6ft left-handed point break
Biggest Quirk: Sometimes switches to an Australian accent when the waves get really good.
Regional Surf Expertise: West Africa and East Asia
Professional accomplishments: Masters of Environmental Science in Scotland, Coastal Process Scientist at the Channel Coast Observatory, and his currently developing a renewable energy strategy for the government of Barbados.
Ben’s duties for the Goat Surf Club entail:
All things TRAVEL. Organizing flight schedules, researching accommodations, sorting out on-the-ground transportation, connecting with local nonprofits and researching environmental topics for the films.
In addition to the travel, Ben brings in a critical eye using his Masters in environmental science to crack open the hard data on the projects we partner with.
Let’s Connect
The Goat Surf Club, founded by Roo, Ben, and Thomas, emerges from the shared love of surfing and a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. Born out of a reunion after years apart, these surf enthusiasts have crafted a unique blend of adventure and activism. Beyond the pursuit of the perfect wave, the Goat Surf Club embarks on global surf expeditions, exploring coastal wonders, engaging with local communities, and championing uplifting environmental stories to inspire a world where passion for the ocean meets conscious environmental action.
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