SURFING SOAPBOX: Surfing with celebs in Santa Monica

Don’t call it a comeback; I’ve been here before. It’s been five long years since I put on a contest jersey. However, give me a good reason and I’ll gladly get out there, like this coming Sunday for Oceana’s “Save Our Surf” Surf-A-Thon and pro/celebrity expression session — followed by their celebrity gala the same evening.

Former world champion Shaun Tomson and “Hollywood Dreams” actress Tanna Fredrick will co-host the surfing events from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Celebrity surfers in attendance include Michelle Rodriquez, David Chokachi, Rob Machado and 1977 world surfing champion Peter Townend, among many others. This event will be at Ocean Park Beach in Santa Monica between lifeguard towers 26 and 28.

Oceana’s “Save our Surf” celebrity gala at Shutters on the Beach will begin at 5 p.m. after the conclusion of the surf-a-thon. Director Henry Jaglom and actor Noah Wyle will co-host a live auction benefiting Oceana.

“Oceana seeks to make our oceans as rich, healthy and abundant as they were in our grandparents’ youth. We look to a future in which dolphin sightings are common along any temperate coast; in which the mighty swordfish, marlin and tuna are abundant once again; in which whales and sea turtles thrive, cod are plentiful on both sides of the Atlantic, local fishing cultures evolve rather then decline and in which fish are a safe, growing and plentiful source of food around the world,” according to Oceana.

For more information, go to Oceana.org. Peace.

JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and John Kelly Environmental Award winner. His websites include AlohaSchoolofSurfing and ECOWarrior Surf.com. He can be reached at Jamo@Aloha SchoolofSurfing.com