Sunday, September 12, 2010

Meeting Sam Trammell and his surf for charity


Article by Lynn Powell Dougherty featured at trueblood-online.com


On a Saturday, what a better way to spend the day than to watch the ocean waves carry many celebrities on their surfboards. Yesterday, September 11, I drove to Malibu up the Pacific Coast Highway to just north of the Malibu Pier. It wasn’t easy, or cheap, but I found a place to park my car very near the day’s event. I was there for the Surfrider Foundation Celebrity Expression Session. One of the celebrities attending was True Blood’s Sam Trammell and, of course, that was the main reason I went.
To see lots more photos of this event and of Sam Trammell, visit the photo gallery.
samsurf25 400x300 Meeting Sam Trammell and his surf for charity
Sam Trammell
When I walked onto the beach it was still a bit cloudy, but very shortly the sun came out as I approached the tent where all the celebrity surfers seemed to be. I immediately came up to a low fence and there was Sam Trammell having his picture taken with a fellow True Blood fan, who’s name was Pinky. As he started to walk away, after they had gotten the photo, I called out to Sam and he came back over. I introduced myself saying I was also a representative of The Vault. He immediately knew what site I meant since he has met representatives from our site at both Eyecon in Florida last fall and at Bitten in August, in the UK. He said how grateful he was for how much support we give to the show and asked if I’d like a photo with him. Of course I did.
I’ve met many of the True Blood cast, but this would be my first time meeting Sam up close and I can tell you it was a great experience. Like the others I’ve met he was personable, kind and generous with his time. A truly nice guy.
samsurf3a 400x300 Meeting Sam Trammell and his surf for charity
Sam and me
samad me background 400x300 Meeting Sam Trammell and his surf for charity
Pinky with Eric Balfour and Me and Sam in the background.
Here’s a little bit of information about the event and about the Surfrider Foundation:
Martyn Lenoble and Christina Applegate hosted the Surfrider Foundation’s fifth annual Celebrity Expression Session at First Point, Surfrider Beach in Malibu. The 45-minute free surf gave celebrity surfers from music, film and television the opportunity to have some fun demonstrating their skills on Malibu’s famous point, while also raising money and awareness for the Surfrider Foundation.
2010 Celebrity participants were:
  • Martyn Lenoble (Host, Pornos For Pyros)
  • Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
  • Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
  • Sam Trammell (True Blood)
  • Eric Balfour (Haven)
  • Austin Nichols (One Tree Hill)
  • Eric Avery (Jane’s Addiction)
  • Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker)
In addition to simply showcasing their surfing abilities, the celebrity contestants helped to raise money for the Surfrider Foundation. For every wave caught and ridden, event sponsors Cali Bamboo and Barefoot Wine donated $100 per wave back to the Foundation.
While the celebrities readied themselves to surf during high tide, which was expected precisely at noon, being front row center was great since I got to take lots of photos of Sam while he got into his wet suit and readied his surfboard.
samsurf46 400x300 Meeting Sam Trammell and his surf for charity
Sam preparing his surfboard.
samsurf40 300x400 Meeting Sam Trammell and his surf for charity
Putting on his wet suit
samsurf37 400x300 Meeting Sam Trammell and his surf for charity
Ready to go.
Then, the surfers filed out to the surf to wait for the sign that it was time to enter the water. The waves kept coming in closer and closer and for those of us wearing shoes (I’m still too east coast) we had to jump back each time the surf came in to keep from getting soaked. There were photographers from the press and lots of people on the beach, but it was a very casual group and quite respectful of the celebrities.
Finally the call came telling them to go out and start surfing. Sam paddled out with the rest. He had to go out pretty far to catch a wave, but catch one he did. We got to see his surfing skills and he did a fine job.
samsurf6 400x300 Meeting Sam Trammell and his surf for charity
samsurf19 400x300 Meeting Sam Trammell and his surf for charity
Once the 45 minutes was up, the participants all came out and marched back to the tents. What a better way to raise money than to do something you love, and they all seemed to have a great time. I have to admit that it was a lot of fun for me too and I would have enjoyed watching all the surfers, even if Sam wasn’t there, but I’m glad he was.
You can help to save the ocean too, in several ways:
samsurf27 400x300 Meeting Sam Trammell and his surf for charity
I couldn’t resist not using this photo here, he is so cute!

No comments:

Post a Comment