The Sixteenth Avenue Beach in Belmar has seen some amazing events, but this was the most exciting day in the history of the Fosters Belmar Pro, thanks to Hurricane Igor. Rolling sets from four to eight-foot poured into the Belmar beach all day long, creating moments of drama where thousand were on their feet.
This year’s Fosters Pro winner was 20-year-old Michael Dunphy of Virginia Beach. Dunphy jumped from third to first place in the closing minute of the final, with a freight train right barrel that he threaded for a 9. It was just enough to beat Nathan Carvalho, of Lihue, Hawaii. Humphreys was one very happy little man, raising his $5,000 check in front of the Belmar crowd. He also earned another $500 and ratings points toward the Western Atlantic Surf Series.
The ASP rated 1-grade Fins Pro Junior went to Dylan Southworth, 20, of Sayulita, Mexico. He combined a huge floater, frontside hack and a double-grab air-reverse for a 9 and an impossible barrel in the final to easily beat Parker Coffin, of California, Balaram Stack of New York, and Cole Richards of South Carolina. It was also worth 1,000 points toward the World Junior ratings for the 2011 season.
In what may go down as the most historic wave of this event, Jamie DeWitt Baittinger took a huge drop in the Hannah Womens final, and set herself in the pocket for the length of the wave, even pulling under the heaving lip before it ate her alive. It was worth 8.83 points and the win over Ariel and Alexis Engstrom, of Montauk, and Kim Kepich, of Millstone.
In the Pro Longboard, which claimed four boards in three rounds, Tony Silvagni repeated his 2008 win. But Belmar’s, Brian Dalton put on some show, with the locals showering him with support.
The beach was teeming with fans, who made friends, listened to dub reggae, ate tacos, got autographs, and took in the perfect late summer weather. But mostly, they were completely mesmerized by the giant surf of Hurricane Igor. 2010 is in the books thanks to a tremendous effort by Eastern Lines, the town of Belmar, MC Scott Goodwin, the New Jersey surf community, and of course, all the support from Fosters.
The Belmar Pro would like to thank all its sponsors: Western Atlantic Pro Surf Series, Fins, The Hannah Foundation, Lost, Penetrator Kustoms, Free2Ride, Ergo, Skullcandy, Metromix, Vitamin Water, Jetty, KidStrong, Jay Alders, TR’s Food Court, O’Neill, Ocean Lifestyles, Tower Audio Cellular, Power Balance, Hit 106, Handstone, The City of Belmar, Shore Life, Seven3Two, NJ.com, Summertime Surf School, Swellinfo, TheSurfersview.com, the Vert Effect, Zodiak Surfboards, the Star Ledger, and Courtyard Marriot.
