Hard to ignore this, isn’t it? Photo: Robert Siliato
You folks on the west coast just don’t get it. Hardly a week goes by, especially in Southern California, without some surf related event taking place. In the last few months alone, it was the Boardroom show in Del Mar and the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Endless Summer in Huntington Beach. Should I mention the Surfrider San Diego Art auction, or the never-ending surf movies at La Paloma in Encinitas? Oh yeah, what about the special events at the Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center in San Clemente or the Surf Film night at Birds Surf Shed? I could go on and on, but I won’t.
Here in New Jersey, we are event starved! You know that we get epic waves. I’m sure you saw all the Surfline stories and pictorials about Jersey Juice, especially after this winter. You’ve no doubt seen the Shaper’s Alley pieces on North and South Jersey shapers. If you scan the stories on The Inertia there are no shortage of contributors from Jersey. So why is it that we never seem to be able to get you west coasters out here? Why won’t your traveling circuses make a stop here? Is it still because in the ’80s, the Grog’s Seaside contest was a major bust? Well it’s time to end this nonsense.
Ask anyone who’s been here for a surf-related event… do it. Ask Robert August about Jersey, ask Greg Noll about the Manasquan Classic Longboard contest, ask Bing about his book signing at Beach House board swap, ask Shaun Tomson about his book signing at Ocean Hut or Jack McCoy about showing his movie in Manasquan. All were stoked and surprised to see the turnout. All surprised to see how events in NJ are excuses for the tribe to gather.
Maybe it’s because in New Jersey, we’re the butt of all sorts of jokes. Maybe it’s because no one wants to come here in any season other than summer when the surf is terrible, the beaches crowded and, of course, you have to pay to get on the beach.
Well it looks like this year there will be a Jersey gathering of the tribe on June 27th and June 28th when the New Jersey Surf Show’s Saltwater Arts and Music Festival takes place at the Algonquin in Manasquan. This will be a special Jersey event with a screening of the acclaimed A Life Outside, a film featuring the Seaside Pier legends before and after Sandy and The Paskowitz Experience. The art of Joshua Paskowitz and a special east coast appearance by Doc Paskowitz along with their film will be a highlight at the event. Oh yeah, and it’s Jersey. That means there will be plenty of local music with bands and some surprise Jersey guests.
Now come on Scott Bass, how about a NJ Boardroom Show? You too, Endess Summer Anniversary folks. Jersey deserves it!
