The Foster’s Belmar Pro
… more than just a surf contest.
Surfers and fans alike come back to the 18th Ave. Beach on the same weekend each year because they know of Belmar’s welcoming reputation. They know that each year the town opens it’s doors for parades, parties, the famous Belmar Seafood Festival, and this annual surf event. Traveling pros recognize that this contest has a great history of waves. In the past, they’ve come from Australia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Costa RicaEurope, South Africa, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and all over the US.
It’s not every day that you get to meet your surfing heroes, but the Fosters Belmar Pro is a time when the sport’s marquis athletes are right there to watch, meet, and get an autograph from. In the past, that has included Shea Lopez, Parker Coffin, Balaram Stack, Ben Bourgeois, the Guduaskas brothers, Aaron Cormican, Bryan Hewitson, Timmy Reyes, Jeremy Johnston, Shaun Cansdel, and Brian Toth. This year is sure to draw a new wave of hot young pros and legends of the sport.
In 2011, the Belmar Pro directors implemented the first ever New Jersey surf contest webcast and folks around the world got a glimpse of what thousands of families from all over the state come down to catch each year. It’s a chance for young East Coast upstarts and New Jersey pro surfers to shine. In addition to the Foster’s Belmar Pro, the weekend also features the Hannah Womens Pro, Belmar Masters and the ASP-sanctioned 8 Eighty Longboard Pro and Fins Junior Pro.
The Junior Pro, first picked up by Fins in 2009, is an ASP-sanctioned event. Surfers compete to not only win money and gain experience for ASP star and prime events, but also for points toward competing in the ASP World Junior Championships. In it’s short history, the Fins Pro Junior is already attracting some of the best young surfers in North America including Dylan Southworth, Parker Coffin, Cole Richards, Michael Dunphy, and Phillip Goold.
Stockdale
Belmar’s beach is always alive with an interactive sponsor village. There are fun contests, autograph signings, demos, food vendors, and giveaways. And the action doesn’t stop when the last horn goes for the day. Evenings are packed with parties, live bands at various venues, and film premiers
Even beyond Labor Day, there’s one more great event at the Jersey Shore. The sponsors invite the spectators to become a part of the action. In recent years, those who can’t be at the beach for the full three days have followed along on the web and our social networking outlets.
Links to related stories for the Belmar Pro:
ESPN’s 2010 coverage and video
ESM’s Preview on the Belmar Pro
Transworld Surf coverage by Ryan Brower
Write up in the Asbury Park Press by Joseph Sapia
2005 Surfline “Why is the Belmar Pro such a colossal event?”
For sponsorship opportunities regarding any aspects of the Fosters Belmar Pro including the Beach Market and Webcast please contact us at the following:
Don Tarrant/Eastern Lines
732-681-6405
easternlines@gmail.com
Patti Baxter/Spark Market Solutions
732.747.4449
patti@sparkmybiz.com
