100 Wave Challenge
Surfing Community Supports At-Risk Youth
Professional and amateur surfers alike will paddle out into the Pacific Ocean Saturday, September 16, for an exhilarating day of waves and philanthropy at the 14th annual 100 Wave Challenge, a one-of-a-kind surf marathon benefiting Boys to Men Mentoring (B2M). Iconic Mission Beach will be the location for the signature San Diego celebration of giving back, changing young lives, and building stronger communities.
This year’s theme “We’re Stronger Together” captures a spirit of joy and unity as the 100 Wave surfing community reunites after three challenging years spent navigating the darkness and isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event embodies the spirit of camaraderie that inspires B2M’s life-changing mission while highlighting the importance of a collective effort to create positive change. Degree 33 Surfboards is the marquee sponsor which flows with the event’s return to its original “Catch 100 Waves in One Day” surf festival blueprint. The local surfboard manufacturer organized a team and paddled into its first 100 Wave Challenge lineup 10 years ago. Since then, Degree 33 has raised over $300,000 for the boys of B2M.
Inspired by a love of the ocean and a desire to make a positive impact in the lives of young boys through the power of mentoring, each participant pledges to catch 100 waves and raise $1,000 or more. Families, friends and spectators will line the shore, cheering on the surfers as they paddle out to meet the breaking waves. A surfers’ village will spring to life along the shoreline, buzzing with energy and compassion as volunteers and community partners join forces to provide nourishment, hydration and moral support to B2M’s tribe of big-hearted 100 Wave Warriors.
The 100 Wave Challenge is a flagship B2M fundraiser and a significant revenue source for the nonprofit. Organizers have set a $500,000 goal for this year’s surf-a-thon that will be vital to helping B2M expand its regional footprint of on-campus and after-school mentoring programs from 30 to 40 schools throughout the County while empowering B2M to reach 1,000 boys weekly during the 2023-24 school year.
Surf Ambassador Damien Hobgood is a proud supporter of the 100 Wave Challenge and believes the power of B2M lies in its welcoming, collaborative spirit. “We’re Stronger Together is the perfect theme for this year’s 100 Wave Challenge,” Hobgood shared with GB Magazine. “When I think of the countless boys who are living without a family or a positive male role model in their lives, I am reminded of what a gift Boys to Men is to our community.”
World Champion Surfer, Best Selling Author, and Boys to Men Community Hero Award recipient Shaun Tomson is grateful to stand shoulder to shoulder with members of a diverse and dynamic community who share his passion for surfing, as well as his commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of boys who are at a pivotal crossroads in their lives. “Boys to Men’s comprehensive approach to empowering young men strikes at the root causes of destructive behaviors and guides them towards creating opportunities that empower them to become the good men they want to be,” Tomson said.
Join B2M at Mission Beach on Saturday, September 16 for good surf, good vibes, and a good time. For more information visit https://boystomen.org/100-wave-challenge.
