The Cold War Returns
Pro Surfers Vie For Winter Takes All Prize 8 a.m. Sunday At First Ave Beach In Asbury Park
Saturday’s expected snow storm would cause most to hunker down.
This is not the case for surf pros participating in Sunday’s Cold War surf competition in Asbury Park.
A hand- picked group of surfers from up and down the East Coast have signed on to compete in the second annual winter surfing contest, organizer Tim Donnelly said.
Kicking off at 8 a.m. Sunday at the Asbury Avenue Beach, behind the Casino building, 18 pro surfers, divided into two teams, will vie for the Winter Takes All bragging rights.
Jersey Shore surf legends Andrew Gesler of Ocean City and Sam Hammer of Lavalette [shown in feature photo] continue their 20-year friendly rivalry by returning as team captains.
“After a somewhat slow start to our winter swell machine, it looks like there is potential for a bitter-cold blast of swell to kick it off,” said Gesler, the competition’s defending champion. “Add a beat down on team Hammer in Cold War to that, and you have the greatest of starts to my favorite time of year.”
Cold War 2016
But Hammer, who is known to be a fierce competitor, has been waiting for this day.
“The conditions are looking to be exactly what we’ve been waiting for – snow, wind and good south swell,” he said. “Also, it will be perfect conditions for revenge on Team Gesler. I’ve been waiting a while to get back at Team Gesler [and] I’m ready.”
Returning collaborator, Surfline.com made the official call to move forward with the surf competition.
“Low pressure tracking along the East Coast through the weekend sets up a pulse of South South East swell, mixing with local East North East wind swell for Asbury Park on Sunday,” said forecaster Katie Spagnolo. “Fun-sized sets in the chest to shoulder high range are expected for the morning with moderate offshore West winds providing clean conditions. In addition, we expect chilly air temps and some snow on the ground.”
The contest is sponsored by Surf Taco, Asbury Park Boardwalk, Surfer’s Environmental Alliance, Surfline, Smith Optics, Reef, Nixon, Da Kine, O’Neill, Traeger Grills, Blazing Visuals, and Asbury Park Brewery.
The battle lines are drawn as follows:
TEAM GESLER
Andrew Gesler of Ocean City
Mike Gleason of Long Branch
Clay Pollioni of Ortley Beach
Rob Kelly of Ocean City
Travis Beckmann of Montauk, NY
Conor Willem of Surf City
Brendan Tighe of Point Pleasant
Randy Townsend of Surf City
Ben McBrien of Ocean Grove
TEAM HAMMER
Vince Boulanger of Ocean City, Md
Zack Dayton of East Hampton, NY
Ben Gravy of Longport
Sam Hammer of Lavallette
Simon Hetrick of Ocean City, Md
Tommy Ihnken of Asbury Park
Pat Schmidt of Manasquan
Balaram Stack of Point Lookout, NY
Logan Kamen of Belmar
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