This is not one of those blow-smoke-up-your-butt recaps where we exaggerate the conditions and the action to make things sound exciting. The surf came up today in a big way for the conclusion of the Fosters Belmar Pro. Sure the wind was onshore, but it blew up some three to five-foot peaks with some bigger sets for the last day – one that will go in the history books of New Jersey surfing.

Who would have ever thought that a kid from Ocean City, Maryland would win this thing? Vince Boulanger beat one of the East Coast’s top pros in Asher Nolan, rising junior star, Evan Thompson and last year’s champ, Michael Dunphy to take the trophy.

Parker Coffin won the Fins Pro Junior on the same day older brother, Conner got a wildcard into the first round of the Hurley Pro at Trestles.

One of the highlights of the day was superstar local Jessica Kwiecinski taking out a stacked heat in the Hannah Womens Pro. It’s possible that no one’s going to stop talking about her 7.5 for years to come.

And no surprise in the Monster Energy Longboard Pro, as Tony Silvagni cross-stepped his way to a win with a wave that he got a sick pit, noseride and tried an air. Unreal day all around.

We’ll have full results coming up. For now, everyone in Belmar is either half in the bag or half in the bed.
Thanks to everyone for a great weekend.

2011 Results

Fosters Mens Pro

1 – 16.27     Vince Boulanger
2 – 15.20     Asher Nolan
3 – 14.23     Michael Dunphy
4 – 13.83     Evan Thompson

FINS ASP Jr Pro

1 – 15.57     Parker Coffin
2 – 15.40     Evan Thompson
3 – 12.00     Tanner Strohmenger
4 – 8.30     Colin Moran

Hannah Womens Pro

1 – 11.70     Jessica Kwiecinski
2 – 10.10     Nikki Viesins
3 – 9.97     Darsha Pigford
4 – 7.43     Jamie Baittinger

Monster Energy Longboard Pro

1 – 18.23     Tony Silvagni     USA
2 – 15.16     Mikey DeTemple     USA
3 – 10.20     Ty Roach     USA
4 – 5.00     Rene Gough     DOM

Some sample photos by DR Stockdale. Full gallery coming soon.

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Day three is in the books. Photo: Stockdale

Wild and wooly in Belmar today, kids. The Fosters Belmar Pro marched on, setting the stage for a huge finish on Sunday.

We also ran our first ever webcast today, thanks to The Surfers View. There were some bumps to work out, but overall, people seemed pretty stoked to watch their favorite surfer from the comfort of their own living rooms, basements, offices, kitchens and man caves.

Yesterday’s clean three to five-foot lines were replaced with windblown two to three-foot waves, but thankfully, at the right tide, it was bowling.

Tanner Strohmenger's air game got him through. Photo: Stockdale

The day started with the Fins Pro Junior quaterfinals (and some sick egg sandwiches, courtesy of said sponsor.)  Evan Thompson, of Jacksonville, Florida, kicked some very impressive forehand slashes, as did Matty Lewis. The Junior Mens will pick up on Sunday with the semifinals.

Local boy, Tommy Ihnken spun, but fell short. Photo: Stockdale

Here are today’s Fins Jr. Pro results:

QF 1: Evan Thompson (USA) 11.90, Tanner Strohmenger (USA) 10.50, Taylor Clark (USA) 8.53, Joe Diamond (USA) 5.44

QF 2: Matty Lewis (USA) 11.13, Jacob Davis (USA) 10.43, Christian Saenz (USA) 10.13, Tommy Ihnken (USA) 2.56

QF 3: Nick Hdez (USA) 12.23, Parker Coffin (USA) 12.07, Trevor Thornton (USA) 11.27, Jake Kelley (USA) 8.36

QF 4: Colin Moran (USA) 14.50, Cole Richards (USA) 9.83, PJ Raia (USA) 7.47, Nathan Behl (USA) 5.67

Jesse Hileman, of Florida, posted an event-high 8.77 to start things off for the Men. But, if you’re a New Jersey surf fan, you had to be stoked on the good day for New Jersey rippers. Matt Keenan, Dean Randazzo, and Sam Hammer won three consecutive heats over some solid competition. Last year’s champ, Michael Dunphy, of VB, also advanced.

Cassidy McClaine pushed to tomorrow's semis. Photo: Stockdale.

The Hannah Womens Pro standouts included newcomer to Belmar, Darsha Pigford, of NC, who tore into some end sections to post a massive 15.34 heat total. You have to imagine that she and returning champ, Jamie DeWitt, will meet in both the semis and the finals tomorrow for classic showdowns.

No surprises in the Monster Energy Longboard Pro as the usual suspects Mikey Detemple, Tony Silvagni, and Ty Roach all advanced. Fresh face, Rene Gough, of the Dominican Republic also stood out today.

Tony Silvagni owned his heat. No surprise there. Photo: Stockdale.

And a little wind won’t keep the Jersey people down. Despite chilly north breezes, a healthy crowd filled the shoreline, tent city, and Vitamin Water stage. Belmar’s Minister of Entertainment, Barry Peterson hosted plenty of roots reggae. Barry and the Penetrators and the Solid Few will play 507 Main St. tonight for the official Fosters Belmar Pro Saturday night throw down. This is all ages.

According to SwellInfo, the surf should come up tomorrow, with more onshore winds. Dress warm and prepare to get crazy. Heats start at 8 a.m. All the finals run on Sunday.

What's the Belmar Pro without Barry and the Penetrators? Photo: Stockdale

Nathan Behl had a virtual flight pattern in Belmar today. Photo: Stockdale

Friday saw the Fins Pro Jr. run through the round of 32 in all kinds of surf. Cam Richards, of South Carolina linked up several moves to drop a day-high 8.83. The kid was on fire.  Other notable wave scores went to Christina Saenz, Bobby Okvist, and Parker Coffin.

At times, the Maria swell was overhead, marching to the beach in overhead sets. It was tricky much of the day though and surfers had to find the corners.

Ian Bloch showed some critical surfing, but was stopped in the Round of 32. Photo: Stockdale

The Jersey boy who looked the sharptest today was PJ Raia. Raia spent a lot ot time in California this year. And he recently moved from Rumson to Monmouth Beach. He smoked his Round of 32 heat today, taking first place with a collection of airs and turns. To see tons of images of the last few days in Belmar, check out Craig Hass’ gallery here.

Saturday should see the full Belmar beach scene come to life, as all the sponsors will be on site and ready for the thousands of fans heading down to catch the action. If you can’t make it, tune in to BelmarPro.com/live for the webcast.

Heats begin at 8 a.m. continuing with the Juniors Quarterfinals. Then it’s straight into the Mens heats.

Bobby Okvist put together a 14.16 heat total. Photo: Stockdale

Upcoming Fins Pro Junior Quarterfinals Heats:
QF 1:

Evan Thompson (USA), Joe Diamond (USA), Tanner Strohmenger (USA), Taylor Clark (USA)

QF 2: Christian Saenz (USA), Tommy Lhnken (USA), Jacob Davis (USA), Matty Lewis (USA)

QF 3: Trevor Thornton (USA), Jake Kelley (USA), Parker Coffin (USA), Nic Hdez (USA)

QF 4: P.J. Raia (USA), Cole Richards (USA), Colin Moran (USA), Nathan Behl (USA)

Also, the Party tonight is at PK Shamrock’s in Belmar, with DJ Lance-O, sponsored by Revolution Vodka.

Saturday September 17, 2011

8am Junior Mens Quarter Finals Heats 1-4

9:20am Mens Shortboard Round of 32 Heats H1-H4

10:40am  High Tide Break

11:40am Mens Shortboard Round of 32 Heats H5-H8

1pm Longboard Quarter Finals 1-4

2:20pm Womens Quarter Finals 1-4

3:40pm Contest ends for the day!

Sunday September 18, 2011

9am Mens Shortboard Quarter Finals

10:20am Longboard Semi-Finals

11am Womens Semi-finals

11:40am Junior Mens Semi-Finals

12:20pm Mens Semi-Finals

1pm Womens Finals

1:30pm Longboard Finals

2pm Junior Mens Final

2:30pm Men’s Final

3:15pm Awards Ceremony

We are on here on Sixteenth Ave. in Belmar. The beach is filling up and heats are firing off. Laguna Nigel’s Sam Orozco is lighting it up.

There’s a stiff northwest wind putting some folds on it, but overall, not a bad little bump out there. The ASP-rated Fins Pro Jr. has been running all morning and will continue all day. No Pro, Monster Energy Longboard, or Hannah Womens Today. Just juniors.

These guys are using this side/offshore wind to their advantage, using it to stay glued on their airs. International field of kids here, going for it.

Webcast starts tomorrow.

The kids are here to win.

If you haven’t yet checked out Fins Mexicali Grill, they will be here all weekend. If you’ve been there, then you know all about the coastal deliciousness.

Fins Pro Jr. ASP 1-star

Photo: Stockdale

As hoped, sexy, sultry, Tropical Storm Maria came out to play today for Day One of the Fosters Belmar Pro. Good news is that she’s up to hurricane status. Conditions improved throughout the early rounds under sunny Belmar skies. Although some of the waves were a little walled, the groundswell filled in and the wind went offshore in the afternoon for some really good surf.

Topping the day was Vince Boulanger, of Ocean City, Maryland. Boulanger stuffed himself into a backside barrel for an 8.67 and a 14.50 total in the Round of 64.

Zion Balbueno stuffing himself on Jersey barrels. Photo: Stockdale

Other top performers included Zion Balbuena, up from the Dominican Republic in his first ever Belmar Pro and JD Lewis of Cardiff, CA.

The highest wave of the day by a New Jersey surfer was Ben Graeff of Longport, who whacked his way to a 7. Graeff is still alive.  It was a tough day, however, as the rest of the local boys failed to advance. Never fear, however, as there are several seeded Jersey boys still to surf.

Nice beach day. Photo: Stockdale

Our friends at SurfInfo say the Maria swell will continue tomorrow and the afternoon will again see a nice clean up. Friday will see the opening rounds of the Fins Pro Junior. Backed by Fins Mexicali Grill (Bradley Beach) for the third year now, this is an ASP-sanctioned Junior Pro, bringing out some of the best young surfers in North America. Heats start at 8 a.m.

The Hannah Womens Pro and Monster Energy Longboard Pro will all start on Saturday.

Chris Tucker, no safe surfing. Photo: Stockdale

Friday night will also see a raucous good time at PK Shamrock’s in Belmar, featuring DJ Lance-O, Flight’s Kool, and Burning Sun, sponsored by: Revolution Vodka.

Fins Jr. Pro Heat Draw

From Easternsurf.com. Go check it out.

ESM published the Fosters Belmar Pro preview yesterday here, and it’s pretty solid.

“The schedule is subject to change,” says Goodwin, “it is the competitors’ responsibility to be aware of time changes due to surf conditions, tides, etc.” You heard that? Be on time and be ready. Thursday is looking to be a nice day of waves for the early rounds. Here’s the tentative schedule:

Thursday – September 15^th, 2011

8:00 am –   Men’s Shortboard Round of 80

10:40 am – Men’s Shortboard Round of 64

1:20 pm –   Men’s Shortboard Round of 48

Friday – September 16^th, 2011

8:00 am –   Junior Men’s Shortboard Round of 72

9:20 am – Junior Men’s Shortboard Round of 64

12:00 pm –   Junior Men’s Shortboard Round of 48

2:40 pm –   Junior Men’s Shortboard Round of 32 (Heats 1 to 4 only)

Saturday – September 17^th, 2011

8:00 am –   Junior Men’s Shortboard Round of 32 (Heats 5-8 )

9:20 am – Men’s Shortboard Round of 32

12:00 pm –   Longboard Quarter’s

1:30 – Women’s Quarter’s

3:00 – Junior Men’s Quart’s

Sunday – September 18^th, 2011

9:00 am –   Men’s Shortboard Quarter Finals

10:20 am – Longboard Semi-Final’s

11:00 pm –   Women’s Semi-Final’s

11:40 – Junior Men’s Semi-Final’s

12:20 – Men’s Semi-Final’s

1:00 pm – Women’s Final

1:30 pm –   Longboard Final

2:00 pm – Junior Men’s Final

2:30 pm – Men’s Final

3:15 pm  Award’s Ceremony

Everyone have a great weekend!