Surf Contest

Generally speaking. . .

. . . scheduling a band is not a high priority for planning a surf contest. It might be a nice add-on, but plan the event first, and the rest will likely follow, unless of course it's Bruce Springsteen and the EStreet boyz who will draw your surfing crowd. Check with your local ESA organization first. There's a lot more to doing a contest than you might imagine.

 

The first thing I would suggest is talking to the local surf shops to see if you can get some support in running your contest. Getting give aways, and getting some sponsorship help. Then, you'll need to look into insurance for the event, and getting permission to run the event at your beach.

Outside of these things, the toughest part of running a good contest on the east coast is getting good surf - especially in the summer. I ran some contests several years ago, and we had a 4 weekend waiting period. And we ended up scoring decent to very good surf for all 3 of our events. But, if you choose one day and do all or nothing, then you can of course make it happen no matter what, just like the ESA has to do for a lot of their contests.

 

Comittment!

You must understand the complexity of a contest. I ran comps with swellinfo and it is not easy and it is very tiresome. We gave away a couple thousand dollars in gifts, clear glass trophies that were sick, and we scored waves that dished out huge manuvers! If you are going to do some half crap event, don't do it at all. Go all out and try to find a new way to evolve whats going on in the surf world. Take a look at the Da Hui Back Door shoot out going on in Hawaii right now. The format is insain. Bruce Irons might have won the event and he quoted, "this is the sickest event I have ever been a part of!" When someone of great status in the Mid-atlantic says that about your event you will feel good about what your doing.

 

I agree with OB. If you want to get people excited about another contest, make it different and exciting, and big. Or else you'll put a ton of work into it and it will just be another same old surf contest. And, when your ready, we can hype it up on Swellinfo with some banners and stuff.

 

contest

where are you looking to have it Jersey?

 

You and some of the locals having a surf off is one thing. Getting city permits, people to sponsor the event, insuring the contest, and all the other bull**** that goes along with a public gathering, might be more than you think. PS: Make sure you pick a good spot, I'm sure the locals wouldn't want you bringing unwanted attention to their "secret" spots; that are already crowded.

 

There isn't really a contest worthy spot in Lavallette. Just a bunch of average beach breaks. I would look to more popular spots like Casino Pier, Jenks, etc. where you already have a large tourist crowd to attract as spectators. Not to mention you'll get more people entering for a chance to surf those normally crowded spots with only a 1 - 3 other guys. If you're just looking to help plan a fun event that revolves around surfing you might want to email the guy who is organizing the Fish Fry down on LBI. Maybe your band could play that.

 

Surf Comps!

I have been thinking about a surf comp for a while and one of the things you have to do is cater the competition to the conditions, not the surfers. Have a "Shore Break Shoot Out" in which the biggest pit and air wins in nasty heavy shorbreak. No Scoring, No judging, Video the whole thing so you can have a playback if need be. Have a "Third Sand-Bar Power surf MARGATE" where the surfers go totally 80's-no airs, but big power turns win and groveling is not allowed. Or better yet, MY Idea that I am throwing out there for you to have a registration period of 3 months and have a "Summer Surf Off Video CHALLENGE!" Here is the Deal. No Contest day AT ALL. All the surfers that register have to put together a video of local documented footage that has proof of local scenes. Art work, Choice of music, and presentation will be judged in front of a LIVE AUDIENCE (with BEER) sometime after the Hurricane season and everyone whatches and everyone judges (The video can be 3-5 minutes long. CASH PURSE is split between videographer/surfer and you could have every ligit surf company there to give away prizes and sell stuff. Local shops will love it. NO ONES SECRET SPOT WILL BE given away, and its a contest of Desire, COMITTMENT, Artist, Selection, and teamates. I bet that will get things rolling! DO IT and you will have one big ass party along with it!

 

Now that's what I'm talking about! That is a really good idea. I would add that you could put all the submitted videos on DVD and sell them to help fund the same event the following year. Have different catagories, like best air, best wave, and best production, etc. So that prizes are awarded not only based on the best produced video, but also the best surfing. Only problem you may run into is licensing for music if you sell the DVD. People would have to get the permission of an artist to use their work before submission.

 

Music no prob!

If you walk through Hollywood and say, "Do you know who Any Irons is,?" Most people would say, "who?". So as for being attacked by a record company for a surf production with music, the surf media will tell you that no one will care about it. It's not going to sell that many copies nor would anyone make any real money off of it. Needless to say, I wouldn't quit a day job for this kind of competition. It's the only fair way to judge surfing in my mind. Categories would be excellent also. Power, ariel, tubes, loggers, boogers, standups etc...as far as music, there is plenty of local bands that are writing inainly good music and would love the lil bit of exposure they can get from a surf flick. Well Micah, it looks like you need to do this????????????

 

Great idea!

This would really benefit surfers and artists alike. I really think if this were put into motion it would better the riders skill and style, and the videographer/artist/musicians would be pushed to widen their horizons, which any true artist is always looking to do. Your run of the mill contest never interested me (and I'm sure there are many others that agree), but this is right up my alley. A great way to pull together creative minds.

I hope people are as enthusiastic about this as me.

Once again, really good idea Oblove...

 

where are you gonna have the contest?