Quiksilver Pro, the biggest surf event to roll into the East Coast in 20 years, hits the shores of Long Beach, LI, this weekend and brings with it 34 pro surfers — and a lot of superlatives. The first-ever world-championship surfing event in New York has $1 million in total prize money at stake — the biggest purse in history.
Quiksilver, which sponsors three of the Association of Surfing Professionals events that determine the 2011 world champion, typically chooses exotic locales in far-flung corners of the world — past competitions have been held on Australia’s Gold Coast and in the South of France — but the surfwear company wanted to bring the fun stateside.
“We’ve always wanted to host [a contest] in the US, and specifically wanted to target the East Coast because there are a lot of competitions on the West Coast,” says Mike Matey, Quiksilver’s vice president of marketing. “We were really driven by the wave quality first, and then the fact that it’s in New York.”
Though Hurricane Irene rained on some of the original music and festival plans, Quiksilver still has plenty of activities beachside and in the city. Here’s how to get the most out of the contest — as well as how to eat, drink and be merry in Long Beach when you’re not waterside.
PHOTOS: WHAT TO DO DURING THE QUIKSILVER PRO SURF EVENT
The contest
When to go: Delayed by Irene, the 11-day “holding period” starts Monday. There will only be surfing for four full days (or eight half-days), depending on the waves and forecast. The ASP makes the call whether there will be surfing on any given day; announcements and surf times are posted every morning at 7 on quiksilverpro.com — so wake up early if you’re keen on hitting the shore.
If you want to catch some amateur surfing contestants, check out the Quik Pro Trials, tomorrow at 8 a.m. at National Boulevard and the beach. During these trials, 15 amateur hopefuls ride the waves to be chosen for a wild-card spot — and the chance to surf against the 34 pros.
Who to ‘‘sea’’: Bring your binoculars to get an up-close view of five top competitors:
* Kelly Slater: By far the biggest name competing in the Quiksilver Pro, Slater, 39, is considered the Michael Jordan of surfing. The 10-time ASP world champion — and current world leader — holds the distinction of being both the youngest and the oldest surfer to win the world title.
* Jordy Smith: The South Africa native has been riding waves since age 6. In the surfing world, Smith, now 23, is considered a leader of the movement of moving above the wave — a k a aerials.
* Joel Parkinson: The 30-year-old Aussie surfer, who goes by the nickname “Parko,” spent his childhood surfing around the world and loves to fish and play soccer.
* Mick Fanning: A two-time world champ, Fanning, 30, hails from New South Wales, Australia. He favors point-break waves — where waves hit land or rocks sticking out from the coastline .
* Balaram Stack: Stack, who turns 20 on Monday, is stoked for this championship in Long Beach. He hails from nearby Point Lookout and was selected as one of the two wild cards for the competition. “I never would have thought of [the Quiksilver Pro] happening here,” he says. “It’s the top 34 guys in the world, and it’s really going to be an experience.”
