This past weekend the Surfrider Foundation hosted its 6th Annual Celebrity Expression Session in Malibu. Celebrities from film, television and music paddled out at the famed First Point to ride waves and raise funds and awareness for the Surfrider Foundation. Here is the official recap:Not even the dark sky and rain could stop celebrity surfers from hitting the water on September 10th to raise funds and awareness for the Surfrider Foundation at the 6th Annual Celebrity Expression Session presented by Cali Bamboo. Celebrities from film, music and television paddled, caught and rode their fair share of waves at First Point in Malibu during the hour-long free surf session, and raised $50,000 for the Foundation and its mission of protecting our world's oceans, waves and beaches.
The Malibu Surfing Association's MSA Classic hosted this year's Celebrity Expression Session, which featured an eclectic mix of celebrities from film, television and music including Eric Avery, Eric Balfour, David Chokachi, Tate Donovan, Brian Geraghty, Gregory Harrison, Chad Lowe, John Slattery, Jesse Spencer, Ross Thomas and Sam Trammell.
For each wave the celebrities caught at the famed First Point in Malibu, presenting sponsor Cali Bamboo donated $250 dollars to the Surfrider Foundation. However in response to the surfing conditions, which dropped considerably during the heat, Cali Bamboo came back and raised the donation amount to $500 per wave.
"We had a great time at this year's event and it was exciting to see all the celebrity surfer's joining together to support an important cause," said Jeff Goldberg, Cali Bamboo's CEO and President. "We're big supporters of the Surfrider Foundation and that's why it was important for us to raise the bar to $500 for each wave caught."
"What a hoot getting to surf First Point with no one else out," said celebrity surfer and Surfrider Foundation Lifetime Member Gregory Harrison. "The party waves ruled. Raising money for Surfrider, combined with hanging with all the 'Bu legends there for the MSA's 50th Anniversary made for a real fun day. Hopefully we also recruited a few new members from that huge crowd."
"Even though the surf was small, everyone was stoked to be out in support of Surfrider," said actor David Chokachi who is a Surfrider Foundation Keeper of the Coast honoree. "The camaraderie between the surfers was huge – and together we stole as many waves as we could from a flat Malibu day to raise money for Surfrider!"
"It was a blast watching all the guys ride waves for a good cause," said Alexis Henry, Surfrider Foundation's Communications Manager. "Thanks to their effort and the support from Cali Bamboo, the MSA and Barefoot Wine, we raised a good amount of money for ocean protection."
