This Pair Takes to the Waves in the Name of Safe Surfing

James Pribram has been on countless surfing safaris. Competition or the search for world-class waves has taken him up and down the California coast and to more than a dozen countries in his 10-year professional career.

But Pribram will embark on a different kind of surf quest Friday--he and fellow pro surfer Seth Elmer will attempt to ride every break from Imperial Beach in San Diego to Ocean Beach in San Francisco in one week. They are raising money for a nonprofit organization--They Will Surf Again--they founded to help people suffering from ocean-related spinal injuries.

Pribram, of Laguna Beach, said it’s a great feeling to surf for a purpose. “I’ve been on adventures and surfing journeys before, sure,” he said. “Surfing can be pretty selfish, so it’s really nice for a change to go out and do something for someone else.”

Elmer, who lives in Carlsbad, was moved to action after meeting Bob Dancey, a 46-year-old recreational surfer from Oceanside who suffered a freak accident while surfing in March. He fell face first into the sand while riding a small wave near the shore at Carlsbad State Beach, breaking his neck. The injury left him paralyzed with only slight movement in his arms and shoulders.

Elmer, 28, decided he wanted to do something to help Dancey, whose wife Michelle is staying home to take care of him. Elmer called Pribram (the two surfers are sponsored by Billabong) and Pribram responded enthusiastically.

Pribram, 29, is a volunteer spokesman for Hoag Hospital’s Project Wipeout, a program to educate people about safety in the surfline, and had a close experience with a spinal injury. When he was growing up in Laguna, a teen-aged neighbor suffered a paralyzing back injury while body boarding. Years later, Pribram said, his neighbor committed suicide.

“It’s something that I’ve seen up close and experienced,” Pribram said. “I get e-mails every day from guys who were injured surfing. I just feel so lucky that through my surfing I can reach others.”

Pribram and Elmer discussed holding a benefit surf contest but quickly latched onto an idea Elmer had several years ago: Try to surf as many spots as possible in 24 hours. First they extended the time period to three days, planning to collect donations for each wave surfed. Then Elmer said, “We were thinking, “ ‘Let’s just go for it,’ ” and the week-long pledge drive was born.

“I just can’t wait to get in the water,” Elmer said, “and let my emotions be carved out on every wave that I surf.”

Pribram and Elmer will start Friday morning at Imperial Beach and work their way up the coast, catching at least one wave at every ridable break they come across.

A van will shuttle them from beach to beach, but they also plan to hike to get to some spots and sometimes they may have to stay in the water.

“We literally, at times, will have to paddle from spot to spot,” Elmer said.

The schedule purposely has been kept flexible to allow for longer stops at some of the hundreds of breaks Pribram and Elmer are expecting to surf. They plan to be in Laguna Beach Saturday and at the Huntington Beach Pier Sunday.

Elmer and Pribram encourage people to visit them--or even surf a few waves with them--along the way. Updates on their location will be available by calling (760) 845-4223 and (310) 871-7751. For more information about the pledge drive click on https://curtisbirch.com or call (310) 745-1039.

ECO-CHALLENGE UPDATE

Team Bax Global, which includes Huntington Beach couple Josh and Veronica Williams, was in the middle of the pack on Day 4 of the Eco-Challenge 2000 in Borneo early today. The team is 32nd of 71 teams remaining in the 320-mile adventure race.

The race, which includes outrigger canoe paddling, coasteering, snorkeling, mountain biking, jungle trekking, Sampan canoe paddling, caving, rock climbing/rappeling and scuba diving, started Saturday and five teams have dropped out or been disqualified.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

BICYCLING

Saturdays

* Orange Coast Velo cycling club meets at Worthy Park located at 17th and Main Street in Huntington Beach. Rides vary from 25 to 50+ miles and begin at 7:30 a.m. with periodic regrouping and rest stops. After-ride socializing at Noah’s Bagels on Main Street. For further information call Jerry, (714) 960-4214 or Peter (714) 848-7618.

* Orange County Wheelmen training, 7 a.m., Food Park, MacArthur and Main, Irvine. Beginner and intermediate training group will ride and stay as a group. Informal lectures will cover stretching, nutrition and hill climbing. Led by Fred and Peg Bauer, (714) 997-0892.

* Bicycle Club of Irvine rides, 9 a.m., meet at Deerfield Park, Irvine. Three routes, 10-15, 15-25 and 25-35 miles, each with a stop midway for breakfast. Rides finish at about 11:30 a.m. Ride leaders Scott and Sandy Angle, (714) 960-4068.

* Velo Allegro Cycling Club meets at 8 a.m. at Long Beach Marina off Second Street for 24-mile ride at 14-18 mph pace. Those with paceline experience meet at 7:30 a.m. for warmup and speed training of up to 50 miles. Details: Julio, (562) 988-8117.

Today

* Cycling for the Adventurous clinic at REI’s Santa Ana store. Bicycle Touring can be as simple as a couple of days on a local trail, or as monumental as an around-the-world adventure. Bicycle touring can be enjoyed be practically anyone, no matter how much or little riding you’ve done in the past. Bicycle touring enthusiast Jan Vincent will discuss types of touring, how to go about planning, what equipment to take and what it costs to make it happen. Clinic starts at 7 p.m. Details: (714) 543-4142.

Oct. 7-8

* MS 150 Bay to Bay Bike Tour offers rides of 100 and 150 miles over two days from Newport Beach to San Diego with overnight stop in Carlsbad. Riders must raise at least $250 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Details: (949) 752-1680 or https://www.nmssoc.org.

RUNNING

Aug. 31

* Sunset in the Park 2.8 mile and 4.8 mile cross-country race, Central Park west in Huntington Beach. Details: (714) 841-5417.

Sept. 24

* Komen Orange County Race for the Cure, 5K race to raise money to fight breast cancer expects 30,000 runners and walkers. Flat course starts and finishes at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. Details: (714) 957-9165 or https://www.kinaneevents.com

Sept. 30

* Race To Embrace 5K Walk/Run with Hug Relay. Start finish at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa. Proceeds benefit organization supporting elders living in nursing homes. Details: (714) 832-4847.

Oct. 7

* Harbor Heritage 5K, benefits academic programs at Newport Harbor High School. Details: (949) 645-5906.

Oct. 14

* “Running is for the Birds” 10K/5K Fun Run & 5K Walk, Bolsa Chica State Beach, benefits Bolsa Chica wetlands. Details: (714) 840-1575.

Oct. 15

* Orange County Half Marathon, 5K Run/Walk. At Sand Canyon and Barranca in Irvine. Details: (949) 476-7076 or https://www.calcoasttrack.com

FISHING

Sept. 8-9

* 552 Club Tag & Release Billfish Tournament is open to any boat. Boats shorter than 30 feet in length have a two-angler minimum. Boats longer than 30 have a three-angler minimum. Fishing boundaries are within 70 miles of Newport Beach. Entry fee is $150. Proceeds benefit Hoag Hospital Foundation. Details: (949) 574-7208.

VOLLEYBALL

Ongoing

* U.S. Youth Volleyball League has begun registration for play that starts in September in Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel. The USYVL offers instructional leagues for children from 8 to 14. The cost is $90. Details: (888) 988-7985 or https://www.usyvl.org.

BOWLING

Sept. 4

* Two Orange County bowling centers--Orange Bowl and Rossmoor Bowl in Seal Beach--will offer free bowling to children 12 and younger on National Family Bowling Day, a benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. Donations will be accepted for the MDA. Details: Orange Bowl, (714) 998-0450; Rossmoor Bowl, (562) 430-1038.

HOW TO REACH US

If you have an item for Orange County On the Go, give us a call at (714) 966-5904 and ask for Martin Beck or Rene Lynch. You can also fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail Martin.Beck@latimes.com