There was some level of uncertainty after the hurricane hit. The streets of Long beach were washed in seawater, flooding the contest site, hotel, and people’s homes. The city counsel considered the idea of cancelling the contest but the local residents gathered around the city hall and demanded that the contest still go on. An agreement was made that the concerts are now cancelled, but the core of the event being the surf will still go on.

The 11 day waiting period for swell begins monday September 5th. Quiksilver needs minimum 3 days of good swell to hold the contest, and right on time for the party is another hurricane growing into a promising swell for the middle of next week. Hurricane Katia should behave better than Irene, staying offshore and just sending her swell. It looks like New York and Quiksilver are getting exactly what they hoped for.

Expect pics of overhead surf during the contest. Swell can be monitored here. Condition assessment will be made daily at 7am. Quiksilver should anounce the daily assessment on the website for the event. Voice of Nosara will be following the contest daily on La Voz de Nosara Guanacaste Facebook as well as in our website. We expect the contest to begin on tuesday, the first day of good swell from Katia. 

This is the first time the world tour of surfing has come to the east coast of the United States. The overall prize is one million dollars, more than double of every other spot on tour, making this the largest surf contest in the history of the sport. Fresh off a win at Teahup'o is world champion Kelly Slater who will be battling against familiar names such as Jordy Smith, Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning,Taj Burrow, and Damien Hobgood. In all there are 34 surfers competing, including local named Balaram Stack a fresh faced 19 year old who winters at pipeline and is eager for his chance to compete against the pros.

More Surf News

Final Quiksilver Pro NY 2011
Owen Wrights Revenge

Yesterday was one of those days where you turn to your wife and say "honey the kids are staying home from school", and by the looks of things on the beach either the unemployment rate is very high or a lot of people called in sick to work. Either way you did not want to miss the action.

Round 4 with surprises at the Quiksilver Pro NY 2011
"I've never beaten Kelly and I'm just so stoked right now", Josh Kerr

The world's best surfers tore through a marathon on the day 3 of competition with some incredible performances to decide the event's quarterfinalists in pumping six foot (1.5 metre) surf.

Quiksilver Pro NY 2011 Round 2
Do Or Die at the Quiksilver Pro

This Wednesday 7 was a day for elimination, its time to start narrowing down the pack, as these surfers each fight like wolves to sniff out that $300,000 first place prize. The Hurricane generated surf is here and with waves like this there is no time to waste.

Quiksilver Pro NY 2011 Round 1
Bad weather brings good waves

Every surfer knows that you need low pressure and bad weather to make good surf, and the sky was grey and rainy here today in New York as the contest has begun. We woke up to offshore winds and a small groundswell, enough to run the first round. The swell is only growing and by the time the finals come around in a few days we will see the largest surf. Everyone is starting to see what Long Beach can offer.

Quiksilver Pro NY 2011 Opening Ceremonies
Ladies and gentlemen start your engines.

Today Monday the 5th was the opening Ceremony in New York. The day began at 11 am with a traditional Hawaiian Lei ceremony blessing the event given by Hawaiian ambassadors of Aloha Mel Pu'u and Titus Kinimaka. All the surfers lined up and then the blessing was given in traditional Hawaiian language and Leis were put on all the surfers.

Quiksilver Pro NY 2011 Wildcard competition Nolan Grabs Final Spot

Its amazing what these guys can do in small surf. On a day you might pass up, these pros are turning nothing into something. By the time you make one bottom turn they make 3 slashes. Truly amazing to watch as the 16 athletes trying to gain the wildcard spot. Competition started this morning at at 8am.

Quiksilver Pro NY 2011
Talking to the pros on a practice day

Yesterday Saturday September 3th was a day of practice, the contest site was still getting its finishing touches and it was a perfect day to see some of the pros in the surf without the crowds. One might think that the pro's are unavailable or have attitudes of greatness, well, exactly the opposite.

Crocodiles in the Ocean: Myth or Truth?

How many times have you heard the rumor that crocodiles surf the ocean during September and October? Surely several times, especially if you live in Playa Guiones, Peladas or Ostional. But many times rumors are just that, rumors, so in order to free myself from all doubt I have taken on the task of finding out if this is true or not.

Don Redondo Part 19