This weekend, January 15-17, 2010, marks the 10th anniversary of the original party that ultimately became the Daytona Freeride, an event started by a fun-loving surf rider named Nick Foederer and a few of his like-minded pals. The original goal was just to have a party at the beach, a party that would include a little stand-up and WaveBlaster riding by day, and the obvious festivities by night. The group even decided to invite a few members of a popular internet chat group, PWCToday.com.

That was then. The 2010 XSCREAM Daytona Freeride is now.

Yes, people showed at that first party, and more followed every year after. Soon, Foederer had not just a party, but an event on his hands, with potentially thousands in attendance.

“Basically it just started as a homegrown thing,” Foederer told me a few years back, “where we wanted to hang out and party for the weekend, get a bunch of people together and jet ski. We did one here in Daytona and we did one down in Sebastian Inlet. We called ourselves the ‘surf sluts.’”

That first party attracted about 20 people in 2002, the next 40 at best. By 2004, 200 were in attendance, prompting Foederer to brand the ride as an actual event in 2005. In 2006, he brought in the sponsors, and started a charity raffle and auction, with benefits going to the Volusia County Jr. Lifeguards.

“It was crazy,” Foederer laughs. “It’s the most jet skis I’ve ever seen in one place in my life. We’re pulling people from all over the place. We’ve got guys driving from California. That right there is absolutely the coolest things ever. To think that guys who have tons of surf, pretty much better than we have, would take the time to come out to support my event. And they love it. It’s amazing how fast it’s grown.”

Though the ride has indeed gotten huge, the premise behind it remains the same — invite any and all to come spend the weekend in Daytona, shred the surf, watch in awe as a few professionals strut their stuff, and then all celebrate together afterwards.

“I think what really brings people to this ride, first of all it’s the time,” says Foederer. “I did it at the perfect timing to where people who are knee deep in snow for months are about to go crazy. They’ve got some vacation time, they’ve just got to get out of the house, and they see this free ride and think, ‘oh my God, Daytona!’’

“It’s not an event, it’s not a competition. I’m sticking to the philosophy of a freeride. You don’t ever have to be out of the water. You can ride when you want, you can go sleep when you want. You can do whatever you want to do.”

Along with the freeride in 2010, there will be the Boobers Blings invitational motosurf race on Sunday, preceded by the “Cherry Buster” competition for first timers and “Sickest Trick” exhibition. At any time, riders are encouraged to have fun in the suft, but due to space limitations and riding styles, only standup PWC, X-2s and WaveBlasters are invited.

Off the water, SBT is sponsoring a free lunch on Saturday, and a Saturday night after party will take place at RAZZLES on Daytona Beach. As in years past, the host hotel will be the Makai Beach Lodge.

For more information on the event, check out daytonafreeride.com. And thanks to Ronny Mac for the awesome photos included in this post…for more, check out his website RonnyMac.com.