ENCINITAS — Moonlight Beach was overflowing with surf and music fans on Saturday as the 12th annual Switchfoot Bro-Am drew record crowds to Encinitas' signature summer event. The free, family-friendly celebration — part charity surf contest, part beach concert — raised over $200,000 for local youth organizations, continuing a tradition of community generosity that has defined the event since its founding in 2005.
The day began with the Bro-Am's trademark surf contest, a laid-back competition described by organizers as "more bro than pro." The lineup also included the Rob Machado Bro Junior contest, which gave young surfers a chance to compete on the same waves as their heroes. The relaxed, inclusive atmosphere in the water reflected the spirit of the event as a whole — competitive enough to be fun, but never losing sight of the charitable mission at its core.
Music on the Sand
As the afternoon sun began its descent toward the Pacific, the crowd packed the beach for the free concert headlined by Switchfoot, the Grammy-winning rock band whose members grew up in Encinitas. Jon Foreman, the band's frontman and the driving force behind the Bro-Am, has been instrumental in building the event from a small neighborhood gathering into one of the most anticipated days on the city's calendar.
The funds raised by the Bro-Am benefit Stand Up for Kids, a nonprofit organization serving at-risk and homeless teens, as well as other local youth organizations supported through the Switchfoot Bro-Am Foundation. The foundation provides grants to nonprofits working with homeless, at-risk, and disadvantaged youth throughout the San Diego region.
For the thousands who spread their blankets on the sand and watched the sun set over the Pacific while live music filled the air, the Bro-Am represented everything that makes Encinitas special: a deep connection to the ocean, a commitment to community, and the belief that a good day at the beach can also be a force for good in the lives of young people who need it most.