Privacy Policy
Effective Date: [Insert Date]
This Privacy Policy outlines how the BIG WAVE ALLIANCE (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and protects information obtained through our website (the “Site”).
By accessing or using our Site, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.
1. Who We Are
The BIG WAVE ALLIANCE is a collaborative platform that connects independent big wave surf competitions around the world. We do not organize or host any events directly. Our role is limited to providing a central online hub to share competition schedules, results, and updates, and to support the development of a unified world championship format.
2. What Information We Collect
We collect minimal personal data from Site visitors, and only when voluntarily provided. This may include:
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Contact Information: such as name, email address, or messages submitted via contact forms.
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Technical Information: such as IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and time spent on the Site. This data may be collected automatically via cookies or analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics).
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Communication Preferences: if you subscribe to a newsletter or request updates.
We do not collect or process sensitive personal information such as race, religion, financial details, or health data.
3. How We Use Your Information
We may use the information collected to:
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Respond to inquiries or contact form submissions;
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Improve our website functionality and user experience;
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Monitor website traffic and analytics;
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Send occasional updates or newsletters (only if you opt in).
We will never sell, lease, or share your personal data with third parties for marketing purposes.
4. Cookies
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze Site traffic. You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings.
5. Third-Party Services
Our Site may link to external websites, including those of independent surf competitions. These third-party sites are not controlled by us, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
We may use third-party services such as:
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Google Analytics for website usage insights;
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Email platforms (e.g., Mailchimp) to manage newsletter communications (if applicable).
6. Data Security
We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access or disclosure. However, no website or internet transmission is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Children’s Privacy
Our Site is not intended for children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
8. Your Rights
Depending on your location (e.g., EU or California), you may have rights to:
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Access or correct your personal data;
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Request deletion of your data;
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Opt out of marketing emails;
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Lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.
To exercise your rights, please contact us at contact@bigwavealliance.com
Who we are
Suggested text: Our website address is: http://bigwavealliance.com.
Comments
Suggested text: When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.
An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.
Media
Suggested text: If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.
Cookies
Suggested text: If you leave a comment on our site you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.
If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.
When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select "Remember Me", your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.
If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after 1 day.
Embedded content from other websites
Suggested text: Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.
These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.
Who we share your data with
Suggested text: If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email.
How long we retain your data
Suggested text: If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.
For users that register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.
What rights you have over your data
Suggested text: If you have an account on this site, or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
Where your data is sent
Suggested text: Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.
