BY JOSE MARTINEZ

Now in its 25^th year, the Surfrider Foundation has grown from a small group of dedicated surfers in Malibu, California to a global movement made up of over 50,000 members and 90 chapters worldwide dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches. 

Recently the non-profit grassroots environmental organization held its fourth annual Celebrity Expression Session, sponsored by the Malibu Surfing Association and Barefoot Wine, raising over $5,000 to help the Surfrider Foundation continue its environmental efforts.

Despite marginal surfing conditions, an eclectic mix of celebrities from film, television and music were able to enjoy a rare treat - an empty First Point at Malibu's famed Surfrider Beach. Participating athletes included Jason Mraz, guitarist Chris Shiflett of the Foo Fighters, musician and composer Peter DiStefano  of Porno For Pyros fame, along with ex-Porno for Pyros bassist Martyn LeNoble, and Jane's Addiction  bassist Eric Avery, as well as actors David Chokachi, Eric Balfour, and Leonor Varela, and E! personality Sal Masekela.

(Pictured at the top, photographed by Kyle Lishok, L-R: Eric Balfour, Leonar Varela, David Chokachi, Chris Shiflett, Jason Mraz, Eric Avery, Peter DiStefano, Martyn LeNoble, Sal Masekela)

For each wave the celebrities caught, Barefoot Wine was to donate $50 dollars to the Surfrider Foundation, however, in response to the surfing conditions, which dropped considerably during the heat, they raised the donation amount to $100 per wave.

(Jason Mraz)

A relatively new surfer, singer Jason Mraz has been hitting the waves now for five years. "I'm still very new to the sport," he confessed, "but I love it. It takes up all of my free time when I have free time. A friend of mine once told me that if there's anything that God wants you to do it's surf, because everything is so right about it, from how you take care of your body and your mind, but also how so environmentally conscious you become. And sure, the peace and tranquility are there, but what I really love about it too, is that when it's a little bigger, the ocean is the only thing in my life that kicks my ass. I have a really non laborious gig so to get in the water is amazing. When you're on the wave, time stands still and you marvel at it, and when it's over, there just this feeling of elation. It's all about those few seconds of just non thought and real bliss."

(L-R: Peter Distefano, Martyn LeNoble, Eric Avery)

For guitarist Peter DiStefano, now busy creating music for films alongside Golden Globe and Grammy-nominated British film score Harry Gregson-Williams on films such as Taking Pelham 123 and Prince of Persia, surfing "is an artistic sport."

In fact, DiStefano, who began boogie boarding at age 7, met Perry Farrell while on a surfing trip in Puerto Escondito. "That's how I became his guitar player," he recalled.

Believing that surfing and music go hand-in-hand, the affable guitarist pointed out his favorite surfing music. "You have the Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix to me is amazing surf music. Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, blues music, I think Jason Mraz is great surf music."

Having surfed all over the world, DiStefano believes in the work that Surfrider Foundation is doing. "I love the ocean and I have kids, I have a four-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter, and I want them to be able to have clean water to surf in."

(Eric Avery)

For Jane's Addiction's Eric Avery, a surfer since the age of 12, he too finds solace in the ocean. "You're doing something that not only is intrinsically a joy to do, riding waves, but everything around it is beautiful as well. You're not sitting in the gym on a bike with a bunch of women around. You're out in the sunlight. There was a beautiful shark in the water with me yesterday. It's a spiritual connection as well."

Caught by a local news crew not too long ago surfing in sewage in Venice, CA, unbeknownst to Avery, the intense bassist knows the importance of clean water.

"Right where I was surfing there had been raw sewage being spilt for an hour, he confessed embarrassingly. "They're the good guys in the fight," he says of Surfrider Foundation.

For Mraz, who is currently enjoying immeasurable success as a musician, he too is a big supporter of Surfrider Foundation. "There are chapters all up and down the coast that work to keep our beaches safe and clean. I never paid attention until I became a surfer and realized after rainy days I can't get into the water, and after holiday weekends there's a lot of trash leftover. I really wanted to get onboard with Surfrider especially because I travel a lot, knowing that a good group of people are going to be watching the coast so that when I come back it's going to be just as I left it."

Celebrating 25 years of beach and coastal protection, the Surfrider Foundation will be hosting its 25^th Anniversary Gala at the California Science Center on October 9 honoring Pearl Jam, Incubus and actor David Chokachi ("Baywatch") with their Keeper Of The Coast award. Hosted by Blink-182's Mark Hoppus and featuring a musical performance by Camp Freddy, tickets are on sale now.

For more information on Surfrider Foundation please see www.surfrider.org.

[Photos Credit: Jose Martinez]