Switchfoot Bro-Am

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Click for more photos from Bro Am 2010. Encinitas, Ca.Switchfoot is the hardest surfing rock band in the world, or maybe they're the hardest rocking surfers.  It's hard to tell because they shred on stage, in the studio and in the surf line-up. AspenSpin attended Switchfoot's 6th annual Bro-Am at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas this weekend.  Nearly 10,000 "friends of the foot" packed the beach to benefit STAND UP for KIDS.  Over $130,000 was raised for this extremely worthy cause.

Switchfoot Concert Click 4 pix.Switchfoot is a super-popular San Diego grown, multi-million  album selling alternative rock band.  Switchfoot is also a surfing term--it's when you change the direction of your surfing stance., or go "goofy".  Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar) and his real-life bro Tim Foreman (bass, vocals) formed Switchfoot in 1996 with Chad Butler (drums, vocals), Jerome Fontamillas (guitar, keyboard,vocals) and Drew Shirley (guitar, vocals).  Switchfoot has roots in the Christian Rock scene, as their first  record label chose to market them exclusively as Christian rockers.  The Switchfoot boys are very strong in their faith,  but they have successfully crossed over and are now considered mainstream. They have the gold records to prove it.

Stand Up 4 Kids at Bro Am. Click 4 pixBRO-AM is a celebration of music, surf, community and giving back.  Presented by Switchfoot, Hurley, Teva and others  Bro Am raises money and awareness for STAND UP for KIDS.  Bro -Am is a full scale, yet super friendly surf contest where teams of musicians and pro surfers go head to head--slash and burn style.  Each rider is judged on their best two waves,  one wave must be ridden regular stance and one Switchfoot.  In addition to the surf comp. Bro-Am included a series of rock performances, a vendor's village and a legit late-night rock show at Belly Up in Solana Beach.  Performers included Timmy Curran (pro surfer), OK Go (treadmill band with 50 million you tube hits) and of course Switchfoot.

AspenSpin hung backstage and had a chance to engage the rockers and the BIG TIME pro surfers like Tom Curren and Rob Machado.  We also got to meet some of the kids from the local  program of STAND UP for KIDS   These kids are homeless  and/or at risk --and they were the true stars of BRO-AM.  Surf Legends Tom Curren and Rob Machado at Bro Am. Switchfoot's Jon Foreman kept repeating "this is my favorite day of the whole year".  For the street kids from STAND UP for KIDS  in San Diego---it was more than just a great day at the beach.  According to one kid named Carlos "its the main reason I'm still alive".  Please click the Stand Up for Kids link--they save lives.

Click the pix.  Hit  BRO AM.

Surf action photos curtesy of Big G. at SessionClipsActionSports.com

/bro-am

 

Bro w/ Metal Mulisha

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Click for pix.The Metal Mulisha is the self proclaimed "best and most bad-a$$ Freestyle Motocross team in the world".   Wut up, Bro? The Mulisha has taken AspenSpin under its wing and invited us to be a "hangaround" for the summer.   Founded by riders Brian Deegan and Larrylinkogle in the late 90's. Metal Mulisha has become one of the most recognized brands in motocross. They have the ink and the trophy's to prove it.

Scummy form Metal MulishaAspenSpin stayed off the bikes, but we brought our lens and memory stick out to the Pala Indian Reservation in North San Diego County for a Metal Mulisha rally.  We got VIP 'd at the grand openning of the American Freestyle Motocross Association (AFMXA) training center at Pala Raceway.   AFMXA is an industry association representing the interests  and voice of all FMX riders --professional and recreational.  The Pala Indian tribe elders obviously have some entreprenuers in their circle of trust-- because they built a sick , hugely popular Motocross dirt track  (open to the public). Alongside it, the first AFMXA academy.  It's in the middle of nowhere (about 60 miles NE of San Diego) sitting hard against the Vallecito mountains. The track is a stones throw from Pala's huge Hotel/ Casino which has  507 guest rooms and a 10,000 sq ft award winning spa..  100's of riders rip laps on the Pala Raceway every day and the AFMXA facility has it all-- foam pit, progressive gap jumps, fun boxes and an unlimited supply of dirt.

In conjunction with AFMXA openning, we got to "hangaround" the set of the feature film BRO.  BRO's protagonist is Johnny and we see his introduction into the world of freestyle motocross and the "party lifestyle".  BRO is directed and produced by Nick Parada and stars Metal Mulisha riders Beau Manley and Colin "Scummy" Morrison.  It should hit the multi-plex in 2011.

Click 4 BRO PIX  Feel the energy and get dirty.

 Metal Mulisha and Bro at Pala. Click 4 Pix.Metal Mulisha Rider and BRO star Beau Manley at Pala. Click 4 pix. 

Ron Artest Champions

Queensbridge represent. Feelin' you.So hood.

Aspen Food and Wine Classic by Nancy Nevin

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A. Party is still in ski-hab, but special thanks to Aspen entrepreneur Nancy Nevin of Ajax Technology Group who covered the 2010  Aspen Food and Wine Classic for AspenSpin.  Click AJAX Technology Group to see her live web cam on Aspen Mountain. Thanks NN.

It was a picture perfect weekend in Aspen for the opening Grand Tasting for Food & Wine 2010.The crowds are back! Perhaps a sign of the recession fading?The lines of people waiting to get in for the kick-off Grand Tasting were the longest we’ve seen in years.Hotels are fully booked, throngs of people are milling about the town under the brilliant blue skies of Aspen. Last week’s snow still caps the mountain tops and we have to pinch ourselves it’s so beautiful. But enough pontificating about the outdoor beauty,let’s go have some fun at Food & Wine.

Perhaps Food & Wine is becoming more “mainstream” America as we spotted QVC doing there shooting a commercial.

 

QVC in Aspen?  dire qu'il n'est pas si. We were on a search for celebrity chefs and it didn’t take us long to find Mario Rizzotti serving up authentic Italian delicacies at the Academia Barilla table.   Favoloso !

 Top Chef’s Fabio Viviani had created a tasty little dish of roasted beets, seared scallop, and, not to hard to guess, Bertolli Olive Oil. It was great and Chef Viviani had no problem handling his new celebrity status and requests for photos and autographs, most of which seemed to come from beautiful young women!  

  Not wanting to alienate our French friends, we next stopped to sample the wonderful artisan liqueur from St-Germain Liqueur. Made from elderflower blossoms, we sampled this on the rocks. But the hot day had us dreaming of mixing up the “Pear Tree Martini” recipe in the little cocktail booklet St-Germain was handing out. Nonetheless, the kids working the booth were having a good time – and it was only 12:30.

 

The folks at Baron Philippe de Rothschild created the best booth of the whole show. They offered a beautiful assortment of wines to choose from and you could dress up using their props and become part of a future ad campaign.

A favorite of ours is Flora Springs Winery of St. Helen, CA. Flora Springs started as a hobby 30 years ago by Jerry And Flora Komes. Andrew Raifaisen was in charge of pouring today…too bad we couldn’t get him to crack open that magnum.

  To complete the multi-cultural experience, we stopped by to sample the wines of Lykos Winery from Greece. Wow. Michael Papas shared the story of how this winery grew out of a family restaurant business. The restaurant has been serving for 45 years on the small island of Euboea, 80 km from Athens. They started with a small vineyard to produce wines served in the restaurant and it ‘blossomed’ (pun intended) from there. The dessert wine, “Meaikoz” was the perfect mix of sweet and complex. So we fell in love with it; credit card in hand to stock up but alas, it is not yet sold in the US. Such are the hardships of a visit to Food & Wine!  

Eric Fullerton and his new bride Jody Fisher with a 3rd party.  

          Stewart Vandenberg, Pennie Haase, Clifford Pereira of Alexander Valley Vinyards.Sarah and Toni passed out the goodies for Green & Black 

Aspen's favorite local Choclatier Heather Morrow at her F & W booth.

 Dog and Kids always know the best way to cool off-- Aspen's iconic shooting fountain.

Gracie had a long day at The 2010 Food and Wine Classic in Aspen.

Aspen Local's Favorite Raifie Bass.