Kelly Carter flashes a pretty smile.
Kelly Carter flashes a pretty smile.
Foo Fighters drummer and Laguna native Taylor Hawkins shares his wine with Pat Parnell.
Foo Fighters drummer and Laguna native Taylor Hawkins shares his wine with Pat Parnell.
The crowd readies for the live auction.
A set of luxe wheels for guests to admire, courtesy of Audi
Taylor Knox, Mick Fanning and Ramon Navarro
Layne and Johnny Gehris mug for the camera.
Jenny and Willie Wulff
November 10, 2016 | Parties
Surf industry VIPs gather for the Waterman’s Ball and help raise $7 million-plus in its 27-year history.
THE PARTY
It’s a gala unlike any other—not a tuxedo or sequined gown in sight. But when you’re talking about a party with 500-plus water warriors in attendance, it’s really no surprise. Yet that doesn’t mean this year’s Waterman’s Ball at The Ranch at Laguna didn’t have a few unexpected moments. There were the drum heads and sticks that the Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins (who grew up on the shores of Laguna) put up for auction. Then there was the bidding war over a surf trip to Tavarua that went for $12,500. And an Audi A3 e-tron topped them all with a selling price of $46,000.
THE GUESTS
Leave it to the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association to throw an annual bash that gathers the surf community and VIPs in honor of folks like three-time world champ Mick Fanning (named Waterman of the Year) and Chilean big-wave surfer Ramon Navarro (named Environmentalist of the Year).
THE HIGHLIGHTS
Yes, it was a night of fun and camaraderie. And the money raised will be divvied up among 18 organizations to help preserve the Earth’s oceans, beaches and waves. ‒Tina Borgatta
Photography by:
