Surf Jam sets new record as kids ride the Jersey Shore waves (PHOTOS) – NJ.com

Posted On: August 14, 2020

This year’s Brigantine Surf Jam was one for the record books – and not just because of the global coronavirus pandemic.

“This year, the Surf Jam had 46 competitors in the 10 and under divisions, which is a 15-year record,” said co-director Zack Laielli.

And it was a 9-year-old, Carter Doorley, who earned bragging rights as the island’s surfing champion after winning his division and going on to win the Super Heat, in which he surfed against the winners of all the individual shortboard surfing divisions. Carter is the youngest winner of the Super Heat in the 15 years the competition has been held.

2020 Brigantine Surf Jam — Sadie James Thurber competes in the Wahine (girls 10 and under) Shortboard final during the 15th Annual Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020.Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A total of 120 competitors took to the waves in 12 divisions, including bodyboarding, shortboard surfing, longboard, and stand-up paddleboarding, as family, friends and fellow surfers cheered them on.

The waves were small, at 1 to 2 feet, but conditions were clean all day and the weather was perfect with sunny skies and light wind all day Wednesday, according to co-director Greg Fuller.

With the coronavirus pandemic on nearly everyone’s minds, tournament directors Fuller and Laielli made a few adjustments and presented their plan to the City of Brigantine, which received a unanimous approval. The most noticeable changes were the cancelation of the free lunch BBQ, and the traditional group photo was taken social-distance style with not only a few photographers on the ground, but also a drone photographer. Reminders were announced throughout the day to keep six feet apart and to wear masks – supplied to all contestants for free – when social distancing was not possible. Competition shirts, used so judges could easily identify surfers, were also washed in a disinfectant soap and rinsed in between each heat.

“The overall goal was to run the event safely and to ensure the health of all competitors and volunteers,” said Fuller. “This event is a 15-year tradition and it was very important for the kids in the community to have this event run after so many other activities were canceled this year, including graduation ceremonies and other youth sports.”

Other standout surfers this year included brothers Jake and Jimmy Downing, with Jake placing first in the Junior Men’s Shortboard and Junior Longboard divisions and second in the Super Heat, and Jimmy taking first in the Groms Boys Shortboard division and third in the Super Heat.

Grace Emig, a 2020 graduate of Stockton University, surfed the most heats of the day, including a couple of back-to-back finals with no breaks in between the Women’s and Stand-up Paddleboard division finals, and Junior Longboard and Super Heat finals. Emig placed first in the Women’s division and third in the Junior Longboard division, and assisted Super Heat champion Carter Doorley with a board transfer in the final competition of the day, a move that drew applause across the entire stretch of beach at the South Jetty.

The Brigantine Surf Jam is an annual event open to only those who currently live or have lived in Brigantine in the past, and draws a lot of support from the City of Brigantine, Brigantine Fire Department, Brigantine Police Department, Brigantine Beach Patrol, Brigantine Public Works, and Brigantine CER, as well as numerous local businesses who donate prizes and volunteers who help the event run smoothly each year.

“I’m glad we put in the effort to make adjustments and run the event safely,” said Fuller. “I’ve never seen so many happy kids, I’m glad we have a great surfing community, and I’m grateful we made it happen.”

Click on the photo gallery at the top of the story for more than 70 photos from the event. Scroll below for results.