Rocking the waves

For Brandon Boyd, riding well on a swell is like hitting a high note

just right.

The 29-year-old Los Angeles resident and lead singer of the band

Incubus was singing the praises of the high surf that rolled in on

the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier Sunday, the site of the

first Surfrider Foundation Celebrity Surf Jam.

Boyd also praised the event, which raised awareness and support

for the protection of beach and coastal environments.

“Being involved with something like this was a no-brainer,” said

Boyd, who received the day’s highest score for ripping what he called

a “beautiful right-handed peeler.”

“I have been surfing since I was 11 and grew up supporting and

getting involved with Surfrider Foundation,” Boyd said. “Our ocean is

certainly a natural resource we need to protect. I’m glad to be a

part of this. It’s beautiful here in Huntington Beach. This was

awesome.”

The Surfrider Foundation Celebrity Surf Jam brought together

professional surfers, musicians and activists for a surfing event at

the pier.

Using “The Game” format of the National Surf League, competitors

were divided into two teams -- Blue and Silver -- each consisting of

a mix of professionals, celebrity musicians and Surfrider Foundation

activists.

The Silver team included professional surfers Pat O’Connell, Dane

Reynolds, Pascal Standsfield and Alex Grey; Boyd and bassist Ben

Kenney of Incubus, as well as Pennywise singer Jim Lindberg; and

Surfrider activists Andy Dellenbach, Ari Lawrence, Joel Banslaben,

J.P. Holman and Brian Lind.

Leading the team as coach was big-wave legend Mike Parsons.

Surfing for the Blue team were pro surfers Rob Machado, Brett

Simpson and Tim Reyes of Huntington Beach, as well as Tim Curran, who

-- like Reyes -- stars on the World Championship Tour.

Also on the Blue squad were Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, Good

Charlotte drummer Dean Butterworth, Sugar Ray bassist Murphy Karges

and Porno for Pyros guitarist Peter DiStefano, as well as activists

Christian Spinillo, Theron Stanley, John Wright and Leslie Poland.

The team was led by National Surf League coach Garth Tarlow.

The Silver team defeated the Blue team by a single point.

“The competition was great and we had a lot of fun, but it’s all

secondary to the cause we are surfing for,” said O’Connell, who

caught the day’s longest wave, which took him through the pilings to

the north side of the pier. “This is our first year holding this

event, and it went off without a hitch.

“For us pro surfers, this was a lot of fun. For the musicians,

well, they’re stoked to be out here. Some of them are really, really

talented surfers. And this day was about taking a moment to reflect

on protecting our oceans and environment.”

X-Games commentator Sal Masekela served as a wave-by-wave

announcer for the event.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the support we received from our

celebrities and pro athletes,” said Masekela, who co-chaired the

event with O’Connell. “Having musicians like Brandon Boyd, Jim

Lindberg or Peter DiStefano, along with guys like Tim Curran, Timmy

Reyes and Rob Machado ... really helps the Surfrider Foundation with

the tremendous work they do to protect our oceans, waves and

beaches.”

The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit, grass-roots organization

dedicated to the protection and preservation of the world’s oceans,

waves and beaches.

Founded in 1984, it has more than 40,000 members and 60 chapters

across the United States and Puerto Rico and international affiliates

in Australia, Europe, Japan and Brazil.

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at

(714) 966-4611 or at [email protected].