Hard to believe it’s been ten years since that first Fosters Belmar Pro. As we prepare for the “tin” anniversary, let’s look back on a decade’s worth of photos.
The surf was big and thick at the inaugural Belmar Pro following an early season nor’easter. Photo: Ann Marie Coen.
You can be sure that Bryan Hewitson will always be in Belmar. He was born just up the road in Neptune. Here he is in the finals of the first ever Belmar Pro in 2003. He went on to win the event in 2004. Photo: Ann Marie Coen
You may remember that Australian Shaun Cansdell won the very first Belmar Pro over TJ Barron, Jersey’s Matt Keenan and Brian Hewitson. He then went on to surf the ASP World Tour for two years. Photo: Ann Marie Coen
Lavallette’s Sam Hammer reflects during the 9/11 tribute atf the Belmar Pro, 2004. Photo: Ann Marie Coen.
One of the greatest stories of the Belmar Pro is Dean Randazzo. Randazzo made the finals in 2004 after several battles with cancer. Then in 2008, he was in the hospital all summer. His first time back in the water was at Belmar and he won his heat. This is his vertical attack in 2005. Photo: Ann Marie Coen.
Sea gull’s view of the Belmar Pro in 2005 when Rusty came onboard as the sponsor. Photo: Jack Ryan
2005 was also the year a very young John John Florence celebrated his family’s New Jersey roots by coming back to compete. Photo: Ann Marie Coen.
JJF, from Backdoor to Belmar and back. Photo: Ann Marie Coen.
Aaron “Gorkin” Cormican stole the show in 2005, busting two airs on one wave in the final the autographing all the lovely ladies on the beach. Check out the flip phone… Photo: Ann Marie Coen.
2007 was the first time the event had a full sponsor village and bands on the beach – both now a staple at the Belmar Pro. Photo: Alex Rivera.
2007 was kind of small. Butt Brian Toth danced across the tiny stuff to beat out Lucas Rogers, Kyle Garson, and Jeremy Johnston. Photo: Crusty.
Mikey DeTemple styles at the Belmar Pro in 2008. Photo: Cresitello.
Always plenty of smiling faces in Belmar. 2009. Photo: Stockdale.
Fins Mexicali Grill came onboard to sponsor the ASP-santioned Pro Junior in 2009, ensuring that young East Coast hopefuls had a shot at some junior experience. They also insured no one would ever go hungry again.
2009 began with a hybrid storm that almost ate the scaffolding. But in it’s wake, it left some heavy green tubes. Hunter Heverly puts himself in the slot. Photo: Stockdale.
Always a part of the Belmar Pro, Cecil Lear worked to get Belmar to open it’s first surfing beaches and got the Eastern Surfing Association off the ground in the 1960s. Lear will be on the beach again this year to be honored at the “Cecil Rock,” dedication on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. on Seventeenth Ave. Photo: Courtesy Eastern Lines.
2010 was massive with swell from Hurricane Igor. New York’s Balaram Stack lit up the Fins Juniors and the Foster’s Pro. Photo: Danny Stockdale.
2011 was a hard fought win for Tony Silvagni in the Longboard Pro. But he was all style in choppy nor’easter conditions. Photo: Stockdale.
It was all about local pride when Bradley Beach’s Jess Kwiecinski won the 2011 Womens Pro. Photo: Danny Stockdale.
Jersey’s Maddie Peterson, off the bottom in 2012. Photo: Danny Stockdale.
One of the highlights of 2012 was watching Buttons Kaluhiokalani and Reno Abellira riding perfect Belmar peelers in the Longboard and Masters Pro. Photo: Danny Stockdale.
2012 was another year of great waves and epic sunshine. Michael Dunphy of Virginia Beach repeated his 2010 victory to be the first two-time winner of the Foster’s Belmar Pro. Photo: Stockdale
