Surf Jam hosts celebs, pros

Huntington Beach local Jeff Deffenbaugh was happy to surf his home break Saturday for the Surfrider Foundation’s second annual Celebrity Surf Jam on the south side of the pier.

Despite inconsistent surf conditions, the message remained the same ? protect and preserve the ocean and beaches.

“In Huntington Beach, we deal with a lot of water-quality issues,” Deffenbaugh said. “I just really want Surfrider to succeed in spreading its message.”

That was the goal of the day’s events, which brought together actors, musicians, TV hosts, activists and professional surfers to battle for the winning spot in The Game, a new take on surf competitions focused on a team effort created by big-wave rider Brad Gerlach.

“This is a unique event where celebrities and activists get to surf with talented pros,” said Laura Mazzarella of the Surfrider Foundation. “Everybody gets stoked out on it.”

Brandon Boyd, lead singer of the band Incubus and an avid surfer, was stoked to hit the waves with world-class surfers, including his teammate Tim Curran.

Since the age of 11, Boyd has had a love affair with the ocean, and he showed his passion at this year’s event, serving as co-chair to try and promote the protection of the world’s surf zones.

“This was a no-brainer,” Boyd said of accepting the position. “We get to surf for a good cause and get a free breakfast ? what could be better?”

As shrieking fans clamored to have their photo taken with Boyd and fellow Incubus members guitarist Mike Einziger and bassist Ben Kenney, Einziger was quite star struck himself.

“It’s just fun to get to hang out with all those guys,” he said. “I mean, these are the best surfers in the world. It’s fun to pretend we’re really surfing together. It makes you feel like you’re a better surfer than you are.”

The Game format had the surfers divided into two teams ? Blue and Silver ? each with a balance of professionals, celebrities and activists. Led by professional surfer Pat O’Connell, the Blue team claimed victory at this year’s event. Boyd and Kenny joined pros Deffenbaugh, Alex Gray, Taylor Knox and Tim Curran, as well as activists Brian Alper, Terry Gibson, Marco Gonzalez and Molly Ware. “Pat’s Posse,” as they were called, also included Chad Butler and Tim Foreman from the band Switchfoot.

Although their efforts were not enough for a win, the Silver team had its own star-studded lineup with surfing professionals Rob Machado, Danny Fuller, Damien Hobgood, Pascal Stansfield; activists Rick Erkeneff, Paige Alms, Tom Naro, Valerie Wilcox and Terry Gibson; and TV host and event co-chair Sal Masekela; as well as actors Brandon Cruz, Minnie Driver, David Chokachi and Andrew Keegan; and Porno for Pyros guitarist Peter DiStefano.

“Surfrider is one of the few groups that protects the interests of surfers and the ocean and ? it’s exciting,” Kenney said.hbi.15-surfjam-3-CPhotoInfoIU1RUIK020060615j0tkxrnc(LA)Spectators sit on the beach and watch the Surfrider Foundation’s 2nd Annual Celebrity Surf Jam. hbi.15-surfjam-1-CPhotoInfoIU1RUIJP20060615j0tkwjncPHOTOS BY MARK DUSTIN/INDEPENDENT(LA)Jeff Deffenbaugh, president of the Huntington Beach Surf Series, throws some spray while riding a wave in the Surfrider Foundation’s 2nd Annual Celebrity Surf Jam Saturday just south of the Huntington Beach Pier.