Surf Bash & Belmar Pro Re-Cap Sept 16-19th,2010

It’s up to all of us to make our communities a better place for everyone.  So when the non-profit, Algonquin Theatre asked us to be involved in the planning of their first ever Surf Bash events, we were more than happy to do so.

The Algonquin is located in Manasquan, NJ, the beach-town that I used to go to after High School (and still do) and where I learned to surf.  So this was a special opportunity for me to give back.  The Algonquin set up the adjoining building as a gallery for me to set up a Solo Art Show with my surfing related fine art. I had a heart-warming response from the locals and it was a beautiful moment to share with people I love.

Matt Costa & band with Chris Velan and Jay Alders hanging backstage before the SurfBash - ©Photo: Jess Swenson

The months of planning & countless meetings leading up to our first big Surf Bash event on September 18th were totally worth it.  I was very happy to have been able to get some of my talented friends involved too. We flew out my bud, Matt Costa and his band from Southern California and we had our friend, singer/songwriter Chris Velan from Canada open the show with my pal & fellow local Quincy Mumford performing at the outside festival.

Our friends from Original Skateboards did a skate demo out in the festival part of Surf Bash and it was a gorgeous day for it.  Also outside were some incredible vendors like Surfrider Foundation and some local artisans like our friend Tim Kelly.

Pics from SurfBash 9/18/2010:

Belmar Pro 2010

Jay Alders & Maya Gabeira at the Belmar Pro 2010

As if planning & setting up  one big event wasn’t enough for our to-do lists this week, we also simultaneously had our area’s biggest surf contest, Belmar Pro kicking it the same day.

The Foster’s Belmar Pro was legendary this year, probably one of the best ever.  We had huge double overhead surf conditions and some incredible shredders both local and from afar. Michael Dunphy killed it in the last moments of the finals with an incredibly tube ride that we’ll all remember.

I had a tent set up at the entrance to sell art and merchandise and enjoyed every moment of the sunshine filled weekend. NJ pro-surfing legend Dean Randazzo was also in attendance as well as local surf artist & friend Ronnie Jackson.

Live music was one of the secondary highlights of the event with my friends from bands such as Echo Movement, Predator Dub Assassins, Quincy Mumford and Barry & the Penetrators kickin’ it on stage.

This particular Belmar Pro was extra special because I was asked to design the Limited Edition Event Poster. My friend Jon Coen from ESM Magazine and ESPN said half-jokingly the waves we scored for this contest were oddly similarly to my painting. He went on to say how next year I should paint 20 foot waves and see what happens.

Here’s some pics from the Belmar Pro 2010: