The Surfers
Andrew Gesler Ocean City, NJ~ Photo: Moran
A decade ago, New Jersey saw a new age of professional surfing. And Ocean City’s Andrew Gesler had a lot to do with that. He represented the hungry youngsters who were looking to go as deep and air as high as they had to. Today, he is one of the state’s premiere pro surfers.
He was the 2001 ESA Mens Champ. In 2004 and 2009, Gesler made the finals of the Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match and he made the semis at the 2006 Newport, CA 2-star event. But these days, he is focused on freesurfing and film projects, like “Dark Fall,” which he was a producer, narrator and one of the stars. But Gesler appreciates a pro contest like Belmar in New Jersey and always comes to play.
Michael Dunphy Virginia Beach, VA ~ Photo: Burkard
No one will ever forge the 2010 Fosters Belmar Pro, or the giant wave that Michael Dunphy took off on in the final. He came around an avalanche of whitewater, only to throw on the brakes and get shacked out of his mind to win the whole event. With a solid spot on the Hurley Team, Dunphy is a competitive animal. In addition to Belmar, he recently took first at the Ron Jon Easter Surf Fest and 4th at the Volcom Qualifying Series World Championships. That’s not even mentioning what he’s put his passport through the last few years – Australia, Indo, Fiji, Mexico, Hawaii, El Salvador, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Canada, Puerto Rico, Portugal, France, and Spain.
Dean Randazzo Somers Point, NJ ~ Photo: Sergio
“The Jersey Devil” remains the first and only surfer from New Jersey to have ever competed on the ASP World Tour. His list of competitive accomplishments are endless, including two X Games Gold Medals, X Games MVP, first place in the Red Bull Icebreak in 2004, the finals of the Belmar Pro that year, and two Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match belts. But it’s the four battles he has won over Hodgkins disease, and the support he has given to others through the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundations that inspires us. After one such battle in 2009, his first surf session after months of recovery was his Belmar heat, where he advanced and went on to the semifinals. Randazzo has surfed a few star events in Mexico and Central America this summer and he is ready for Belmar.
Tony Silvagni Kure Beach, N.C ~Photo: Cresitello
If there’s a surfer who has dominated at Belmar, it’s Tony Silvagni. He won the Fosters Belmar Longboard Pro in 2007, 2008, and in the horrific condition of 2010. Silvagni has blended classic longboarding with aggressive surfing to become one of the top loggers in the world. Last year, he finished 9th on the World Longboard Professional Tour. In 2009, he took bronze at the ISA World Games in Costa Rica. That year, he was also ranked No. four in the ASP North America. Today, he runs the very successful Tony Silvagni Surf School out of Wilmington, NC and leads surf tours through Costa Rica.
Shea Lopez Indian Rocks Beach Florida ~ Photo: Crusty
There have been several contestants in the Belmar Pro’s history who have gone on to surf the ASP’s Dream Tour, but Belmar has yet to host as experienced a vet at Shea Lopez. The Gulf Coaster surfed the Tour for ten years. In 2002, was ranked #11 at the Surfer Poll, and has appeared in countless major magazine spreads and features. Lopez was also twice a winning member of the East Coast team at the X Games. Locally, he made the finals of the Unsound Pro in 2006. This year, he was named to the PacSun US Surf Team and is bringing his show to Belmar.
Brendan Buckley Belmar, NJ ~ Photo: Oakley, Courtesy Ergophobia
He’s Belmar’s number one son in the surf and he recently signed on to the Eastern Lines team. He grew a few blocks down Ocean Avenue from 16th Ave., where the event happens. In 2007, he qualified for the Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match, a landmark in any local surfer’s career. Buckley has been supported solidly by locally-based Ergo Surf since his days as a Manasquan High School ripper. Upon graduating, he hit the road to shoot in Puerto Rico, Panama, Hawaii, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. In addition to thorough coverage in Eastern Surf Magazine and Mundo Rad, Buckley’s recently graced the pages of Transworld Surf. Still, airs are his trademark, from the ability to milk a simple air revo out of summer slop to extremely tech above-the-lip gymnastics. His recent Kerrupt flip and Passion Pop were considered among Dane Reynolds and Ry Craike.
Jamie DeWitt Nags Head, NC ~ Photo: Haven Sipple
Originally from Long Beach Island, in the 1990s, Baittinger surfed with a power never before seen in a female in the Northeast. After dominating the local ranks, she went on to finish 5th at the 1999 Pan American Games in Argentina and 5th at the ISA World Games in Brazil. Closer to home, she aced the 2002 ESA Easterns and the 2002 WRV Outer Banks Womens Pro. In a difficult age for woman to make a career of surfing, she chose another road. She is currently living on the Outer Banks and returned to competition at age 27. She won the 2009 Belmar Womens Pro and then, in the Hannah Womens Pro at Belmar in 2010, she took off on one of the biggest waves of the event and stuck herself into a pit that will be talked about for generations to come.
Balaram Stack Point Lookout, NY ~ Photo: Danny Stockdale
Who’s the most high profile surfer from the Northeast right now? Well, that would be Balaram Stack, of Point Lookout, New York. Stack has been on the global radar since he was 13 years old at a Quiksilver Camp in Montauk. Now a graduate of the “Young Guns,” program, it’s all been forward momentum for Stack, who represents Unsound Surf Shop.Stack’s results include winning the Allyance Pro Junior in 2008, the Unsound Pro in 2010, and has been a force every year at Belmar. Last year, he lit up Belmar going for huge backside 360 airs. He spent the winter charging Hawaii and hanging on the Gold Coast. Of course, the ASP Quiksilver New York Pro coming to Long Island was the highlight of his year.
Michael Powell Ocean Isle Beach, NC ~ Photo: Keith Ketchum
When a promising young surfer graduates from high school, should he go to college or pursue a competitive career? How about both? Last year, Michael Powell graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a business degree, but he also edged out Ben Bourgeois in the 6th Annual Reef Sweetwater Pro, a major East Coast pro event. That’s quite a versatile fella. Powell made the finals in Belmar last year and led until the final minute. He’s an NSSA National Collegiate champ and led Sweetwater Surf Shop to several mid-Atlantic wins in the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge. He still works in finance on the side, but with Reef supporting him, he’s free to take more titles this year.
Sam Hammer Lavallette, NJ ~ Photo: Ann Marie Coen
Hammer was the last NJ man standing at the Belmar Pro in 2005. The Lavallette local won the Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match that same year. He was also a member of the East Coast team at the 2006 X Games as a ‘Puerto Escondido specialist’ and aced the Unsound Pro last September, pocketing $11,000.
But we know Hammer as the guy who put Jersey on the map by staying in Jersey. He’s become the most visible surfer in the Northeast by showing what can be done in huge winter swells at Jenks, Casino Pier, and Bay Head. In 2008, he added another Grudge Match title to his resume with an eight-second barrel off Casino Pier and a third in 2009. Most recently, he starred in “Dark Fall.”
Ryan McGrath Manasquan, NJ ~ Photo: Alex Rivera
Who is the only “local” to win a Fosters Belmar Pro? Well, if you consider just down the road in Manasquan as local, then that would be Ryan McGrath. She picked up her first professional victory at the Roxy Ladies Pro at the Brave New World Pro Am in 2005 and then aced the Belmar Pro in 2007. She was a standout three-sport athlete at Manasquan High School. This year, she was named Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Week, leading the Georgian Court Lions to the 2011 CACC Championship.
Kyle Garson Melbourne, FL ~ Photo: Courtesy Volcom
It was just a matter of time. 2008 was Kyle Garson’s time, as he won the Belmar Pro. Another product of the Sunshine State, KG splits his year between Melbourne Beach and Costa Rica. That ensures that he gets his fill of both top Florida competitions and heavy Hermosa beachbreak.
Garson’s trophy case includes hardware for firsts at the 2000 NKF Pro, 2002 Ron Jon Easter Surfing Festival, 2003 Unsound Pro, 2005 O’Neill Trophy (a WQS in the Canary Islands), the 2005 Quiksilver King of the Peak, and the 2007 Belmar finals. Last year, he added a 9th place at the O’Neill Coldwater Classic and a 3rd at the ECSC. Garson is light on his feet and deadly in all conditions, but like many Florida schralpers, most dangerous in small stuff.
Mikey Ciaramella Stone Harbor, NJ Photo: Joe Ciaramella
New Jersey’s next likely competitive threat may come from a very unlikely place – Stone Harbor. And that kid may be the 2010 Belmar Amateur Weekend Jr. champ, Mikey Ciaramella. With competitive smarts of a surfer much more experienced, Ciaramella has completely owned the amateur ranks in South Jersey for years and has carried the Middle Township High School Surf Team since he was a freshman. He also took third in Explorer Mens at the NSSA Easterns. Last year, he event posted a very impressive equal third place at the very competitive Garden State Grudge Match, before heading off to shoot in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Chris Kelly Ocean City, NJ ~ Photo: Trevor Moran
Ocean City is New Jersey’s pro surfer factory. Chris Kelly, younger brother of Rob Kelly is just one of those kids to come out of OC. “Quiz” took first place in the Quiksilver GromTest in 2010 and first at the NSSA High School State Championships in 2009.A longtime team rider for 7th St. Surf Shop, contests aren’t exactly the regularfoot’s thing. He’s more about traveling, finding new waves and creating.Kelly is currently attending Atlantic Cape Community College, and teaching at 7th St. Surf Shop’s surf camp.
Jamie Moran Ocean City, New Jersey ~ Photo: Trevor Moran
If there’s one NJ surfer who has come these last few years, it’s Jamie Moran. Moran, 27, of Ocean City, has had quite a year in the surf media, making several photo galleries on ESPN, as well as what may have been the East Coast photo of the year and a March Sequence of the Week on Surfline. Moran grew up in PA, and then graduated from Drexel a 4.0 GPA, but spent every minute in the water. And it only fueled the fire within him. With a competitive results include helping Team Heritage to the national championships of the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge three years in a row, first place at Red Bull Nightriders 2007, and 3rd place at the Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match in 2008, he has been one of the winningest surfers in New Jersey. He also had a big role in the feature film “Dark Fall.”
Jason Reagan New Jersey ~ Photo: Natty Graham
From New Jersey’s southernmost tip comes the dangerous 36-year-old Jason Reagan. All summer long, Reagan teaches people how to surf at his own surf camp. He’s planning on teaching a few more lessons this week in Belmar. He’s been getting his work done in Puerto Rico each winter for the past 20 years. In the last several, he has made forays to Maine and Canada in search of mysto breaks. He won the ECSC in 2004, took second at the Unsound in 2002, and third at the Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match in 2006, and has been a poster boy for Jersey surfers establishing themselves elsewhere for years. Reagan has barreled through a few rounds at Belmar in the past.
Mikey DeTemple Indialantic, Florida ~ Photo courtesy Ron Jon
For years, Mikey DeTemple has been known as the most dangerous East Coast longboarder, and every year, you can be sure to find him in the finals at Belmar. DeTemple won the Unsound Longboard event three years in a row. But recently, DeTemple has focused more on filmmaking. In 2009, he released “Picaresque,” which was widely loved by surfers of every kind. This year, he stepped it up, scoring waves in New York, Nicaragua, the Bahamas, Canada, Baja, and Maine for his new film “Sight Sound,” which premiered this summer.
PJ Raia Monmouth Beach, NJ~ Photo by Mike Incitti
Among the most promising young locals in the Fins Junior Pro this year is PJ Raia. Raia is a junior at Laurel Springs Distance Based Learning – it’s online school, so he can pursue his surf career. He won last year’s Junior Division at the ECSC’s and notched a 7th at the DNA Energy Drink Pro Junior. Last year, he also collected top honors at the USA Prime event in Montauk for the under 18 division. This summer, Raia traveled to a series of events in California and then down to Pasquales in Mexico to hunt tubes.
Rob Kelly Ocean City, New Jersey ~ Photo:
“Raw” Rob Kelly crushed the amateur East Coast ranks. He took second at the Junior Pro and first in Junior Mens at the 2005 ECSC. He led Ocean City High School to four consecutive State High School Championships and two Red Bull Rider’s Cups. Then, in 2007, Kelly won the Open and Junior Mens at the ESA Easterns, the NSSA East Coast Open Mens, and made the finals of the Oakley Heritage Junior Pro. It was a breakout year that led to him turning pro and more results. The goofyfoot from OC has now moved on to the next stage in his career, the dual role of surfing professionally and working for Billabong’s marketing department. He overcame a tough shoulder injury last winter and is back to his fighting form.
Matt Keenan Ocean City, NJ ~ Photo: Dave Briesacher
“I always try to make sure by the end of August I have a solid quiver of magical boards because every surf I have, I’m thinking about how this board would work in certain conditions at Belmar. I’ve made a lot of finals in the past few years and the top spot just seems to elude me in the end like a plague.”
Matt Keenan, now an East Coast rep for Nike 6.0, is one of the most successful pro surfers ever from New Jersey. He made the finals here in 2003 and 2008. Keenan also won pro events in Panama and Puerto Rico, as well as the 2003 Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match.
Ryan Helm Jupiter, Florida ~ Photo:
Helm is widely known as a talented surfer who fell off the radar years back, choosing to live and surf in Mexico instead of following the mainland US pro path. But in 2005, he reemerged as an unknown pro and marched to the finals of the Sebastian Inlet Pro.
In the past several years, Helm has won the Jah Surf presented by Quiksilver, made the Round of 32 at the Monster Energy Pipeline Pro, the semi finals of the Unsound Pro, the finals of the ECSC, and surfed for Team USA in the X Games. He’s won several air shows has a brutal training regiment. Helm, his wife Paola and their two children continue to split time between Florida and Mainland Mex.
Rene Gough, born in 1985, is from Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. Surfing for 14 years and an active competing member of the Dominican Surfing Team, Rene’s top competitive title win is 1st Place Longboard, at the Latin Pro event held in the Dominican Republic, 2004. He is currently the top-ranked surfer in the Men’s Longboard division in the Dominican Republic (2011).
Rene has been competing for twelve years in both long and short board categories. He was the National Champion in the Longboard division in 2005 and 2010, and in 2003 he placed fourth in the Longboard division at the Latin Pro held in the Dominican Republic. In 2001, Rene placed Fifth overall in the junior category at the Latin Pro, Punta Care, Venezuela.
His favorite surf break is La Boya in Boca Chica. Rene is sponsored by Gough Surfboards, Duharte Surfboards, North Coast Surf, Road Town (Wholesale) British Virgin Islands, DunkelVolk ( clothing sponsor) and The Boat House Bar and Restaurant.
