California Invasion Tour storms Southland
Body Glove’s California Invasion Tour stopped off at ET Surf’s 40th Anniversary Re-Opening Party in Hermosa Beach last month. The Body Glove crew included (left to right) Mike Vavak, Cheyne Magnusson, Scott Jones, Greg Browning and Jamie O’Brien, as well as Michael and Jude Luhrsen, and Sector Nine’s Jax McCartney.
Body Glove team riders Jamie O’Brien, Anthony Walsh, Matt Pagan, Nate Yeomans and Cheyne Magnusson show their soulful sides and not so soulful sides during last month’s California Invasion Tour, from LA to San Diego.
The tour began Saturday morning in Huntington Beach with the team giving surf lessons to kids from the Mauiola Foundation, who suffer from cystic fibrosis.
“I was one of the first people to work with the foundation in California so to get another chance to help out really meant a lot”, said O’Brien. “It seemed like every professional surfer in California was out here today, which is really great to see.”
Then the tour headed back up the coast for the re-grand opening of ET Surf in Hermosa Beach. Ronnie Meistrell, whose dad Bob co-founded Body Glove with his twin brother Bill, drove the company’s familiar bus.
“It’s the greatest way to really show people what the brand is about. We have a great group of athletes who really represent the brand like my uncle and dad did when they started it,” Ronnie said.
“ET has been one of our greatest retailers over the years and we were really stoked to be a part of the day with all of our team,” noted Body Glove VP of marketing Scott Daley
Sunday night was sushi and karaoke with Transworld Surf in San Clemente. JOB started off the night with his version of Ace of Base’s “All That She Wants.”
Then Pagan took the state, as DJ Smooth Skin. ‘We’ve spent a lot of time standing on the beach filming Matt surf, but had no idea that he had that in him. The captains hat just put it over the top,” Body Glove entertainment videographer Scott Smith said.
On Tuesday, the team then headed down to Oceanside to work with the Jimmy Miller Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Ocean Therapy program. The team spent the day surfing with Marines who have been injured during their service to our country.
“The professional therapists and volunteer surfers of the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation were thrilled to have the help of the awesome Body Glove team. The Body Glove surfers were great in the water and genuine in our unique Kumbaya discussion sessions with the wounded ill and injured marines,” Jimmy Miller Foundation founder Jim Miller said.
The final stop was Ocean Beach, one of the most iconic surf towns in California. “It’s like going back in time when you get into town,” said videographer Greg Browning. “It was probably my favorite stop on and such a great last day”
About 100 kids lined up for autographed stickers and T-shirts.
“The goal of the tour is to create awareness for the brand and to give back to the stores that have been supporting us for almost 60 years,” said Body Glove west coast sales manager Matt Walls. DZ