Musician Martyn Lenoble (bassist, Porno for Pyros) and fiancée Christina Applegate joined forces to host the 5th Annual Celebrity Expression Session Surfrider Foundation Event in Malibu on Sept. 11. Surfrider is a non-profit organization that strives to continue the fight against pollution and mistreatment of the earthâs natural oceans and beaches.
The event centered around a 45-minute surf for the participants, and it raised $29,600 for Surfrider to continue protecting the beaches. That total is a 500 percent increase from last yearâs funds.
Participants in the surf included musicians Lenoble, Eric Avery (bass, Janeâs Addiction), Anthony Kiedis (singer, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Flea (bassist, Red Hot Chili Peppers). Also in attendance and riding the waves were actors Austin Nichols (One Tree Hill), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker), Eric Balfour (Haven) and Sam Trammell (True Blood).
Sponsored by Barefoot Wine, Cali Bamboo and Malibu Surfing Association, the event was set up that for each wave caught and ridden, a donation of $200 was made by these sponsors. The celebrities also took to social media to encourage fansâ donations through www.crowdrise.com, and an additional $4,600 was raised.
Chatting with the Surfing Celebs
The first to arrive to the event were Austin Nichols and Brian Geraghty. Nichols found this Surfrider event especially close to his heart this year with the current events in America.
âIâm thrilled to be here for the Surfrider Foundation for this Celebrity Expression Session. I recently got really, really angry about the oil spill in the Gulf and that is what got me going on this,â Nichols said, who recently began an active Twitter account to raise awareness and funds for the countryâs oceans, @Aus10Nichols. âIâm really happy to be a part of Surfrider and try to raise money for you guys.â
After the event, he tweeted: “I just surfed with Flea and Anthony Keidis. Thanks @Surfrider for a great day!!!”
Eric Balfour arrived soon after, excited about the opportunity to surf and help protect the beaches. He revealed that one of his favorite places to surf is in Zuma Beach in Malibu, though would not give the exact location of his special, secret hangout.
âToday was amazing. I got to hang out for an hour in the water surfing and having fun and supporting the Surfrider Foundation with some of the coolest artists around,â Balfour said after the event. âI got to surf with Flea and Anthony Kiedis those guys are my heroesâ¦my idols growing up. Surfrider made my day. And Iâm just so happy to support what they do. And you should too. Go to www.surfrider.org become a member. Save the ocean.â
Surfrider participant Sam Trammell stated that he most wants Snoop Dogg to guest star on an upcoming episode of his hit TV series âTrue Bloodâ after a rumor claimed the actor was against the idea. âSo Iâm saying, on line, I want Snoop Dogg now.â
The actor, who is reading “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” right now, explained his love of surfing, âItâs so amazing to get out in the ocean and bein natureâ¦being in the ocean with all of the animals, the dolphins, the fish, the birds, and itâs just fun to be a part of nature and feel that natural course.â
Hosts of the Celebrity Expression Session, Lenoble and Applegate have a large stake in Earth staying clean and safe for future generations, as the two recently announced they are expecting their first child.
âSurfrider is a great organization that protects and cares for our environmentâ¦,â Lenoble explained, also saying that he has only been surfing for a few years, but he is âhooked.â He continued, âPart of the money weâre raising today is going to go to water sanitation in the Gulf of Mexicoâ¦I love the ocean, I love our planet, and I think itâs really important that people take care of it.â
Applegateâwho revealed she would love for her child to learn to surfâadded, âSurfrider is bringing about the importance that we have clean and safe beaches not only for ourselves, but for future generations. This is a gift we have been given and we need to maintain it, take care of it and love it. I love the creatures that dwell in it. Iâm really happy to be a part of thisâ
For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, visit www.surfrider.org and for details on the Malibu Surfing Association, visit www.msasurfing.org.