The second day of the Foster's Belmar Pro sees the Fins Jr. Pro heat competitors try to go from 64 down to 32 surfers by day's end.
It appears two New Jersey natives have already made it through the first round, as Stone Harbor's Mikey Ciaramella and PJ Raia of Monmouth Beach reportedly have made it to the final 32, Belmar Pro officials said.
Raia is considered "among the most promising young locals in the Fins Junior Pro this year," according to the Belmar Pro website. "This kid is New Jersey’s future."
Ciaramella, the website says, has the "competitive smarts of a surfer much more experienced." Ciaramella has "completely owned the amateur ranks in South Jersey for years and has carried the Middle Township High School Surf Team since he was a freshman."
The junior surfers' round of 32 is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. before the Womens Pro begins at 4:10 p.m., according to the official schedule.
"The surf is contestable again, stomach high bowls on the sets, nice and glassy. It will likely come up out of the south later, but remain at about 6-8 knots. Low tide is about 1 p.m.," the event website says.
The Foster’s Pro, Masters Pro (ages 35 and up), Fins Jr. Pro, Hannah Womens Pro and the 8Eighty Longboard Pro will all run through Sunday afternoon.
On Thursday, the men competed in the first two rounds in relatively small surf, but the forecast for this weekend -- especially Sunday -- is for much larger waves thanks to Tropical Storm Nadine, according to SwellInfo.com.
"Former World Tour surfer and 2009 Belmar Pro champ, Benny Bourgeois is confirmed as a late entry and is very excited about the weekend forecast," the event website says.
Friday's official party starts at 9 p.m. at 10th Avenue Burrito, 801 Belmar Plaza, hosted by Jetty.
For updates, follow the competition on Facebook.
Today's official forecast from SwellInfo.com:
"1-2′ contestable waves with light winds and glassy conditions. Sea breezes are likely to pick up out of the south during the afternoon.
Tropical Storm Nadine is sitting SE of Bermuda this morning with max winds of 60mph. She is anticipated to move northward over the next day before taking an eastward turn.
Interactions of Nadine with a stalled frontal boundary off the US East Coast has been creating a substantial fetch of Easterly winds directed towards the Jersey Shore and much of the East Coast. Swells from Nadine and the offshore system will arrive on Sunday.
The final day of the Belmar Pro is looking fantastic. The Swellinfo model is showing offshore swells in the 4-5′ range @ 14-15 seconds. On the beach, we should see wave heights in the 3-5′ range with bigger 6′ and bigger sets possible.
Winds should stay light and conditions are looking good. All indications are for another amazing Belmar Pro final. “
