Switchfoot

Switchfoot Bro-Am

(Encinitas, CA) — The Switchfoot Bro-Am surf contest and concert returns to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas on Saturday, June 16, 2012. An annual event near and dear to Switchfoot's heart, the Bro- Am was created to give back to the San Diego community while benefiting a local children's charity through funds raised at a pre-event auction night soiree, as well as from vendors on the beach day- of, corporate surf team entries, and sponsorships. Since its inception in 2005, the Bro-Am has raised more than $515,000 for San Diego-based children's charities.

The 8th Annual Switchfoot Bro-Am Presented By Hurley will once again benefit StandUp For Kids, a national nonprofit volunteer outreach organization founded in San Diego that is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk, homeless, and street kids (www.standupforkids.org). In addition to the surf contest, live music performances, and nerf surf jousting exposition between surf contest heats, this year's event will welcome the inaugural Rob Machado Bro Junior. Open to youngsters ages 16 and under, the Rob Machado Bro Junior places a premium on the competitor having the most fun. Kids sign up to enter at the Solana Beach Surf Ride location, compete on one of Rob Machado's boards, and stick around for the day's festivities. Rather than a financial donation, entrants bring a piece of gently-used surf clothes to the beach on competition day as their entry fee. "I'm super stoked to be a part of the Bro-am," says surfing icon Rob Machado. "I've surfed in the event, jumped on stage, and jammed with the Switchfoots. Now I'm honored to be directly involved with the event. It's gonna be fun watching the kids riding all kinds of different boards — including some of my own. Can't wait."

Bro-Am weekend kicks off on Thursday, June 14, at The Crosby at Rancho Santa Fe. With a "taste of San Diego" format, guests will savor signature dishes from the area's leading restaurants including 2Good2B, Bull Taco, Chuao Chocolatier, The Crosby at Rancho Santa Fe, Crush Restaurant & Wine Lounge, Daphne's, Del Mar Rendezvous, East Coast Pizza, Flavor Del Mar, Jake's Del Mar, Luna Grill, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pacific Coast Grill, Pacifica Del Mar, Pizza Port Brewing, Rimel's, Solace & The Moonlight Lounge, and Zenbu. The evening will also include an exclusive live performance, silent and live auctions, and opportunity drawings. Tickets are limited, and are $150 per person; VIP are $225 per person, and include a VIP reception and meet & greet with Switchfoot. The auction night is sponsored by The Crosby at Rancho Santa Fe, Kaiser Permanente, Ashford University, Redfearn & Associates, and Ranch & Coast Magazine.

"The Bro-Am has been my favorite day of the year ever since we started it back in '05," notes Switchfoot's Jon Foreman. "To see our hometown come together to help out a deserving group of kids is an incredible experience — surfing, music, and the San Diego scene at its best. We feel truly honored to again partner with StandUp For Kids, an incredible organization serving at-risk youth here in San Diego and across the country. Last year was our biggest year ever, and we hope to top it again this year."

Four-person surf teams secure their participation via sponsorship donation to StandUp For Kids. This year's surf contest will feature riders representing Hurley, Billabong, Channel Islands, Transworld Surf, Surf Ride, Dragon, MacBeth, Surfer Magazine, the Encinitas Firefighters Association, and more, as well as surf legends Tom Curren and Rob Machado, and members of Switchfoot. A free concert on the beach will feature performances by Brandon & Leah, Le Blorr, Dead Feather Moon, professional surfer Makua Rothman, Jane Carrey Band, and Jon Foreman and Friends. Past performers have included Jason Mraz, OK Go, Johnny Rzeznik, Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants Timmy Curran, Dynamite Walls, The Almost, Kate Voegele, members of Angels and Airwaves, Young the Giant, and many more.

Expanding upon Bro-Am's relationship with Hurley H2O, this year's beach event will again be a "single-use plastic water bottle-free event." Attendees are encouraged to bring a re-usable water bottle to fill up at the H2O station for free, and Hurley H2O will provide stainless steel bottles with funds raised supporting nonprofit partners like The Ecology Center, which will also be at the event with an interactive educational exhibit. Continuing its eco-friendly efforts, the Switchfoot Bro-Am will again work with San Diego-based Alternative Power Productions to offer cutting-edge solar- powered sound and staging. Alternative Power Productions utilizes the renewable energy sources of the sun to deliver 100% pollution-free concerts. By using solar power rather than a diesel generator or grid power, the Bro-Am will avoid emitting approximately 1,000 lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere (the equivalent of not driving your car approximately 1,100 miles or the annual sequestration of 66 trees). In addition, this year's event will also welcome The Rob Machado Foundation, which aims to provide funding and initiate educational programs focused on helping children understand their contribution towards a healthy earth (www.robmachadofoundation.org).

Beach vendors confirmed to be present at the 8th Annual Switchfoot Bro-Am include title sponsor Hurley, Ultimate Ears, official retail partner Surf Ride, Slurpee, Wahoo's, Harney Sushi, Jedidiah, INT, Clif Bar, Honest Tea, Bull Taco, East Coast Pizza, Pizza Port, Daphne's, Alaska Airlines, HOC, Inc., Natural High, Surfrider Foundation, Keep A Breast, To Write Love On Her Arms, and The Ecology Center, among others.