Mike Gleason powered through. Stockdale
Breaking news: The great flatspell of 2013 is over. Dig through that pile of inflatable pool toys and groveler boards you’ve been using all summer and get out that thruster.
Belmar saw head high waves today for the first time since May and it coincided with the start of the Foster’s Belmar Pro. Things kicked off early with the Round of 72 and ran almost through the round of 48. The swell built throughout the morning with light southwest winds, making for some really fun surf in the chest to head-high range with a few standout sets. As the day progressed the wind came more south, but local windswell will only help to break up the groundswell lines.
We saw a host of Jersey boys advance today including Chris Kelly, Jonathan Smythe, Clay Pollioni, Mike Gleason and Pat Schmidt.
Kevin Schulz of San Clemente dropped the two biggest scores of the day, however, with an 8.07 and a 7.67. Florida’s Luke Marks did some damage as well with a 7.4. And professional longboarder Justin Quintal mixed it up in the Pro today, putting up a hefty score of his own.
The day ended when heat 7 of the Round of 48 was in the water. There was a single thunderstorm cell right behind Belmar when suddenly a solid bolt of lightning smashed on the horizon. The surfers were immediately pulled from the water and the event called for the day. No one was hurt and the heat will be resumed first thing tomorrow morning.
The final heat and a half of the Round of 48 Pros will run and the rest of the day will see all Fins Pro Junior action. Get ready kids. The Pro will resume on Saturday with the FSOS Womens Pro, Longboard, Masters and Legends. For those of you interested, the big Tom Curren/Dean Randazzo round of 32 heat will go down on Saturday too.
Photo by Stockdale.W
The kids are in for a very solid day tomorrow. Tropical Storm Gabrielle still has winds of 40 mph and is delivering the goods with some help from this local south wind. The front swings through tonight and the wind should be offshore all day tomorrow, with a hint of north on Saturday, although it will be lighter. The weather is forecasted to be September-ific.
