Degree 33 Surfboards Takes on the 100-Wave Challenge for Boys to Men

We wanted to share about the amazing time we had at the 100-Wave Challenge in support of Boys to Men!

100 Waves for a Greater Purpose

On September 26th and October 31st, a team of Degree 33 ambassadors and friends joined with other San Diego surfers in a surf-a-thon challenge to catch 100 waves in one day.

For many, the endeavor takes all day. By the end of it, you are sunburned, sore, and ready to take a week long break from surfing lest your arms fall off. It begs the question... why would we partake in such a difficult challenge? 

The goal of the challenge is not about bragging rights or to merely catch good waves, but it fulfills a far greater purpose: supporting group mentoring to fatherless, disconnected, and at-risk teenage boys through Boys to Men.

Boys to Men: Making a Difference in San Diego

Cofounders, Craig McClain & Joe Sigurdson, started Boys to Men out of a deep concern for the well-being of countless at-risk teen boys who do not have mentors in their lives.

In response to this epidemic, they created a mentorship program that can be repeated at any middle school or high school campus.

Since its founding in 1996, 13,000 boys have gone through this program in San Diego county alone. But their impact is far beyond numbers. They've replaced hopelessness with hope; and lives on a worrisome trajectory have transformed to lives that create positive impact on their communities. We've personally met some of these men who grew up to now lead amazing families of their own. 

The 100-Wave Challenge: Surfing to Support Mentorship

Such a robust program with many working mentors also requires substantial funding. This is where the 100-Wave Challenge comes in. Teams and individuals participate in a one-day fundraising event, agreeing to catch 100 waves as they fundraise for Boys to Men.

Amazingly, Boys to Men reached their 300k goal on the very day of the event, and funding is still coming in after. We are proud to announce that our Degree 33 team alone raised 40k.

A Day of Surfing at Mission Beach

September 26th was certainly one for the books. We were blessed with beautiful warm weather and fun waves at Mission Beach.

Degree 33 Owner Trevor Berge and Store Manager Jake Hennessy arrived early to set out boards for our team and a tent full of nourishment, sunscreen, and surf-wax for the day.

The team paddled out right away and caught a batch of waves before partaking in a group photo with all participants.

Trevor Berge Receives the One-Drop Award

After the group photo, Trevor was awarded with the "one-drop" award.

The premise of the award, which was coined by legendary surfer Shaun Tomson, is that one drop of a stone in still water creates a ripple, and a ripple creates a wave.

This is the kind of impact that Boys to Men recognized in Trevor who has been an integral supporter of Boys to Men for about a decade.

100 Waves, Plenty of Closeouts, and the Right Surfboards

After the awards and a speech from Trevor, the line-up filled with 100-Wave surfers.

We shared laughs as we surfed tried to survive the steep closeouts of mission beach. Thankfully, there were no injuries for the entire day.

The best Degree 33 Surfboards for the day were our mid lengths and shortboards. The poacher especially excelled because of its wide nose to help with paddling and narrow tail to help with holding a line in a punchy beach-break.

100 Waves in Cardiff 

On Halloween day, a group of Degree 33 friends and ambassadors surf a back up event so that they could also catch 100 waves. The day was jam packed with waves and a busy crowd at Cardiff Reef. Some of our friends dressed up and caught a few incredible rides in costume.

We started the morning early to be the first ones in the line up. It was a cold morning yet the water was warm. We each paddled out, starting our surf on the main peak. After sitting for 20 minutes and only catching 2-3 waves, we knew we had to change our approach if we were going to finish the challenge before the day was over. We reluctantly paddled in toward a beach break that was particularly dumpy and steep. Many of us went over the falls and got rattled, yet thankfully we were all safe! 

In the middle of the morning, we were happy to see Joe Joe Sigurdson who paddled out on a Degree 33 custom "big guy" longboard. 

We wanted to give a shout out to our great friend Attila who runs the north san diego chapter of Boys to Men Mentoring. He is an amazing person who personally dedicates himself to supporting at-risk and fatherless boys. Atilla paddled out in costume and found himself on some amazing waves. 

Finishing the 100-Wave Challenge

By about 3pm, our team finished our 100-wave challenge. Each surfer who finished the challenge rings the bell indicating that the challenge is complete. By the end of the day, we were all ready for nap that would end up lasting through the night.

We are incredibly thankful for everyone who participated, donated, and supported this year's 100-Wave Challenge. We were blessed to raise $44,000 in support!

At Degree 33, we believe surfing is about more than simply catching waves. It's about building relationships, creating community, and making a positive impact on the lives of others. We are proud to support Boys to Men and the incredible work they are doing in San Diego. We look forward to many more years of catching waves for a greater purpose!