On Saturday and Sunday, August 27-28, 2011 the Fifth Annual Malibu Invitational returns for a fifth consecutive year to Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Inn.
The Malibu Invitational has established itself as an end of summer institution bringing together great surfers for good causes: “The contest began as a benefit for Lyon Herron,” said contest organizer Skylar Peak, “a local grom who was suffering from a rare disease, and needed both financial and spiritual support.”
This year, in addition to helping out Lyon Herron, money raised will also to to support THERAsurf and Babette Ho, wife of Jeff Ho. For more information, follow the jump.MEGA BANG WEEKEND
Malibu Invitational is Coming to Town for the Fifth Time
Summer 2011 is going out with a mega bang, as Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Innwill be the places to be if you like sunshine and surf all day and partying all night. The Fifth Annual Malibu Invitational is bringing more than 160 top shortboarders to Malibu for a two-day event that will award thousands in cash prizes to pros, while raising money for THERAsurf, Lyon Herron and Babette Ho – the ailing wife of ZBoys founder Jeff Ho.
Now in its fifth year, the Malibu Invitational has established itself as an end of summer institution bringing together great surfers for good causes: “The contest began as a benefit for Lyon Herron,” said contest organizer Skylar Peak, “a local grom who was suffering from a rare disease, and needed both financial and spiritual support.”
Herron was stricken with Garner’s Syndrome – aka familial colorectal polyposis – a potentially deadly disease which forms polyps in the colon and throughout the body. The Malibu Invitational ran for three years to benefit Herron in his fight against this disease, and it’s a fight he won.
Herron still has lingering medical bills from his fight, and the Malibu Invitational will help Herron with that, and also help to pay the medical bills of Babette Ho – the wife of Zephyr Surf Shop founder Jeff Ho – one of the original ZBoys.
The main beneficiary of the Fifth Annual Malibu Invitational will be THERAsurf, “a diverse collective of parents, professionals, and members of the surf community committed to the belief that there is healing energy in the power of the ocean.” THERAsurf volunteers take special needs kids into the ocean to benefit from that positive energy: Better living through surf stoke.
There will be plenty of surf stoke on the beach at Malibu for the weekend, as a quick look at the talent lined up for both the Legend and Pro divisions reveals some loaded names: Steven Lippman, Allen Sarlo, Mark Richards (the Val Surf guy, not the Australian), Andy Lyon, Ryan Addison, Dale Rhodes, Jeff Higginbotham, Ian Warner, Mitch Taylor, Gene Rink, Morgan Runyon, Jay Riddle, Angie Reno and Ricky Schaffer are some of the Legends who will be competing for swag from watches to wetsuits from the likes of Volcom, Nixon, Rip Curl, Tori Praver Swimwear, Surfline, Tony T’s Winner’s NY Pizza, DVS, Analog, O’neill, Ola’s Mexican Grill, Peligroso Tequila, Fuel TV, Malibu Magazine, Kona Brewing Co., Matix, Native, Electric Sunglasses, Vestal Watches, Skullcandy, DC, Quiksilver, VitaminWater, Ransenberg Financial & Insurance Services, Stockholm Krystal Vodka, Just Chill, Body Glove, Rusnak Porsche, and Hurley.
Professional surfers like Tim Reyes, Tim Curran, Anthony Petruso, Jordan Tappis, Brad Gerlach, Jesse Faen, Strider Wasilewski, Colton Sarlo, Tuffer Marsolek, Pascal Stansfield, Reef McIntosh, Kalani Robb, Danny Fuller and Nathan Carroll will be competing for a $1500 first place prize purse, and lots of other swagiosity.
The surf prediction for this weekend is a small southern hemisphere swell, but if you have never seen the speed and altitude pro surfers can get from waist-high waves, come to First Point and be amazed.
On Saturday night, “the best party the Malibu Inn has seen in years” will feature DJ sets by Eddie Ruscha and Mike Diamond.
What, the Smell Good Plumber will be spinning???!!
No… Mike Diamond = Mike D of the Beastie Boys, silly.
And if that’s not enough, Timmy Curran is performing live along with local band Wolfgod and other special guests. The party starts at 7:00 PM and is all-ages until 10:00 PM.
The Malibu Invitational is hosted by Val Surf, Duke’s Malibu, Freedom Artists, Sicky Dicky, and Vans, while a local Malibu resident has pledged to match every dollar that is raised at the party, and for all the events around the 2011 Malibu Invitational.
For more information, check out the www.THERAsurf .com and www.themalibuinvitational.com.
