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PRESS RELEASE
5th Annual Switchfoot Bro-Am
Multi-platinum rock act Switchfoot presented the fifth-annual Switchfoot Bro-Am featuring a pre-event auction night, charity surf contest and concert utilizing environmentally friendly sound and staging, and Belly Up after-party — all to benefit StandUp For Kids
| A record-breaking 7,000+ attendees gathered for the fifth-annual
Switchfoot Bro-Am surf contest and concert, which returned to Moonlight
Beach in Encinitas on Saturday, June 27, 2009. |
ENCINITAS, CA -- A record-breaking 7,000+ attendees gathered for the fifth-annual Switchfoot Bro-Am surf contest and concert, which returned to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas on Saturday, June 27, 2009. An event near and dear to Switchfoot’s hearts, the Bro-Am was created to give back to the San Diego community while also benefiting a local children’s charity. Funds were raised at a pre-event auction night, as well as from vendors on the beach, sponsorships, and an after-party at the Belly Up Tavern.
This year’s event once again benefited the San Diego and Oceanside branches of StandUp For Kids. This national nonprofit volunteer outreach organization started right here in San Diego and is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk, homeless, and street kids. While final numbers are still being tallied, it is estimated that this year’s event has grossed approximately $93,000 to support the local chapters of StandUp For Kids. (www.standupforkids.org)
Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman reflects, “The Switchfoot Bro-am began six years ago as an implausible dream: a dream that three of our favorite things (surfing, music, and the local community) could collide for a day in a way that gives back to the town that has given us so much. This year’s Bro-Am far exceeded anyone’s expectations. The surfing and music communities have given us so much, it is indeed an honor to be able to give back. The true heroes of the day are the StandUp kids; true survivors who are choosing to hope and dream despite some incredibly difficult situations. To everyone who came to the Bro-Am this year: thank you for helping to celebrate the vibrant life of these kids; thank you for assisting them in their struggle to live life to the fullest. And to the many people who came and helped out, a heartfelt thanks for making this year’s Bro-Am so spectacular.”
| I went down to watch some of the kids surfing, and just sat and cried as I watched their determined faces and the moment of joy that washed over them when they attempted to ‘standup.’ |
A rewarding addition to this year’s Bro-Am was the surf lessons offered to interested StandUp kids, donated by Soul Surfing Surf School. Kim Goodeve-Green, director of center operations for the Oceanside chapter of StandUp For Kids, notes, “I went down to watch some of the kids surfing, and just sat and cried as I watched their determined faces and the moment of joy that washed over them when they attempted to ‘standup.’ They would fall over and then get right back on that board and do it again. The innocence of that moment is what I treasure most — and the reality of their lives is what is even more meaningful, they get knocked over and they stand up again.”
This year’s event again partnered with San Diego-based Sustainable Waves to offer cutting-edge solar-powered sound and staging. Sustainable Waves utilizes the renewable energy sources of the sun to deliver 100% pollution-free concerts. By using solar power rather than a diesel generator or grid power, the Bro-Am avoided emitting approximately 1,000 lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere (the equivalent of not driving your car approximately 1,100 miles or the annual sequestration of 66 trees).
Following on the heels of last year’s additions, this year’s Bro-Am again featured an action-packed Nerf surf jousting exposition between surf contest heats. Spectators were entertained by the final joust, which pitted the Foreman brothers of Switchfoot against the Cote brothers ofTransworld Surf. After multiple slams and bruises, Justin Cote was crowned the victor in the end. Also back this year was stunning live mural art by Glue Network, Jedidiah, and Sezio sponsored by Flexfit. Created by artists Austine Blasingame, Johnny Rodriguez, Racecar 13, and Ekundayo, the captivating 24' X 8' mural is currently up for silent auction, with proceeds set to benefit StandUp For Kids. (www.gluenetwork.com)
Surf contest participants included riders representing O’Neill, Billabong, Transworld Surf, Surfer, Walking On Water, Macbeth, INT, Surf Ride, Jedidiah, Surfcurls.com, Keep A Breast, Surfline.com, and Dental Specialty Associates, as well as professional surfer Timmy Curran, and members of Switchfoot. The final heat brought Billabong and O’Neill in head to head combat, and in the end team O’Neill came out on top.
The free beach concert featured performances by a number of well known local as well as national bands including Tristan Prettyman, Timmy Curran, The New Archaic, The Howls, Indivision, Jane Carrey Band, and Switchfoot.
This year’s beach vendors included Pizza Port, The Surfrider Foundation, 91X, The Sundt Memorial Foundation, Nika Water, Brotally, Falling Whistles, First Light Surf, Honest Tea, Sambazon, Life Rolls On, INT, Freedom Is Not Free, TeaZazz, Harney Sushi, Keep A Breast, Jedidiah, Glue Network, California Quivers, The Tony Hawk Foundation, Quiver Boardworks, So Cal Kettle Corn, Love Nail Tree, Tri Tip Daddy, Plumbing and Drain Solutions, Flat Fitty, Surf Ride, SurfAid, the Belly Up Tavern, Walking On Water, To Write Love On Her Arms, Frog’s Fitness, Amp, Ford, C28 Clothing, and more.
An after-party hosted by Switchfoot and featuring Fiction Family, Stripes & Lines, Alex Woodard, and Molly Jenson at The Belly Up Tavern rounded out the day to help raise additional funds for StandUp For Kids.
A sincere thanks to our 2009 teams, vendors, and sponsors, and to everyone who attended this year’s Switchfoot Bro-Am. We truly appreciate your support.
Photo Credits:
Crowd shots by Andy Barron
Surfing shots by David Gray
Best,
Mia Stefanko & Kip Locke, Switchfoot Bro-Am Directors
Mia Stefanko, 760/274-3930,
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,
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Kip Locke,
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www.switchfoot.com/bro-am, www.myspace.com/switchfootbroam
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