Surfers in this N.J. beach town carved waves and memories at local contest (PHOTOS) – NJ.com

Posted On: August 8, 2019

Will Hoffman competes in the junior men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The annual Brigantine Surf Jam kicked off Wednesday morning with sunny skies, a nice breeze, and maybe the most epic waves the island has seen yet this summer.

Considering the thunderstorms that rolled through just hours before the event was set to begin, and the original forecast of 2- to 3-foot swells, it was a huge sigh of relief for event co-organizers Tim Daley and Zack Laielli.

More than 75 competitors — all of whom are current or past residents of Brigantine — were challenged with 4- to 5-foot sets and some 6-foot waves as well, much more ideal conditions than last year’s small swells.

“During a summer that’s been flat almost every other day,” Daley said, the waves during this year’s competition were great.

“It turned out better than expected, we’re absolutely thrilled.”

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Pat McCarron competes in the men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Daley has run the Surf Jam for the past 14 years, with help from Brigantine CER (Community Education and Recreation), Brigantine City Beach Patrol, fire, police and public works departments, and numerous volunteers. Brigantine’s own Primal Surf Shop donated surfboards and bodyboards, and Hyperbmx donated two bikes as raffle prizes for the contestants. Local businesses such as Mainstay Made, RipTide Bait and Tackle, SoulBerri and Connie Pyatt Photography also donated prizes.

The not-for-profit event raises money for the community. The proceeds from this year’s Surf Jam will be used to create signs to educate the public on the importance of nature to the island. The signs will be placed along the paths to the beaches, hopefully encouraging beachgoers to help with nature conservation and keeping Brigantine clean.

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Sadie-James Thurber competes in the Wahine (girls 10 and under shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Daley and Laielli also wanted to find a way to pay tribute to local surfing legend Ron Klemm Sr., who passed away this year. In June, Brigantine surfers did a traditional paddle out ceremony for Klemm, in which participants joined hands, floating in a circle in the waters off the island, with the circle representing the way in which the ocean brings people together.

A drone captured an image from the ceremony, and the organizers chose to use this image as this year’s t-shirt design to honor Klemm, who has influenced generations of surfers.

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“Ron Sr. was the best male surfer to come from Brigantine,” said Daley. “It was only fitting to pay tribute to him.”

Who knows, maybe the surfing gods — with a little nudge from Klemm Sr. — were smiling down on Brigantine Wednesday.

Scroll below for results and more photos from the 2019 Brigantine Surf Jam.

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Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Results:

Bodyboarding, 10 years old and under: 1st-Jesse Riley, 2nd-Owen Doorley, 3rd-Phoebe Coia

Bodyboarding, 11 to 13 years old: 1st-Miles Doorley, 2nd-Gia Rynkiewiecz, 3rd-Tiki Keats

Wahine – Girls shortboard surfing, 10 years old and under: 1st-Sadie-James Thurber, 2nd-Dani Daley, 3rd-Zoe Jeansonne

Menehune – Boys shortboard surfing, 10 years old and under: 1st-Dylan Taboga, 2nd-Andrew Hunt Jr., 3rd-Johnny “Flash” Doherty

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Evan Couval competes in the junior men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Groms – Boys shortboard surfing, 11 to 13 years old: 1st-Jimmy Downing, 2nd-Dean Meissner, 3rd-Daniel Hurtt

Gromettes – Girls shortboard surfing, 11 to 16 years old: 1st-Masey Klemm, 2nd-Lindsay Tate, 3rd-Kate Klemm

Junior Men’s shortboard surfing, 14 to 17 years old: 1st-Evan Couval, 2nd-Jake Downing, 3rd-Sean Oneill

Men’s shortboard surfing, 18 years old and older: 1st-Mike Doherty, 2nd-Pat McCarron, 3rd-Mick Mayer

Women’s shortboard surfing, 17 years old and older: 1st-Grace Emig, 2nd-Rachel Nessuno, 3rd-Rebecca Maguire

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Zoe Jeansonne (yellow) heads out to the water with her fellow competitors in the Wahine (girls 10 and under shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Junior longboard surfing, 29 years old and under: 1st-Jake Downing, 2nd-Mick Mayer, 3rd-Doug Brown Jr.

Senior longboard surfing, 30 years old and older: 1st-Matthew Mansor, 2nd-Kyle Doran, 3rd-Tommy Cooker

Open Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), all ages and genders: 1st-Mick Mayer, 2nd-Joe Mohnack, 3rd-Bill Haggerty

Super Heat champion: 1st-Evan Couval, 2nd-Mike Doherty, 3rd-Grace Emig

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Thanh Vo competes in the men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Lindsay Tate (yellow) wipes out in the open SUP semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Grace Emig smiles as she paddles her way back to shore in the open SUP semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Joe Martin competes in the men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Carter Doorley awaits his turn to compete in the Menehune (boys 10 and under shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Pat McCarron competes in the men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Masey Klemm competes in the Gromettes (girls 11 to 16 shortboard) semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Dylan Taboga competes in the Menehune (boys 10 and under shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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John Oneill wipes out in the junior men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Grace Emig, right, gives some tips to the Wahine (girls 10 and under shortboard) competitors before their final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Johnny “Flash” Doherty competes in the Menehune (boys 10 and under shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Tommy Cooker competes in Heat 2 of the senior longboard surfing competition during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Mick Mayer competes in the men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Lindsay Tate competes in the open SUP semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Jake Downing competes in the junior men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Andrew Winchester wipes out in the men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Will Hoffman competes in the junior men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Mick Mayer competes in the open SUP semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Johnny “Flash” Doherty awaits his turn to compete in the Menehune (boys 10 and under shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Dean Meissner (blue) catches a wave in the Groms (boys 11 to 13 shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Ashlyn Tate competes in the Wahine (girls 10 and under shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Joe Martin competes in the men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Lindsay Tate heads to the water for the Gromettes (girls 11 to 16 shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Dean Meissner competes in the Groms (boys 11 to 13 shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Mike Doherty competes in Heat 1 of the senior longboard surfing competition during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Lindsay Tate competes in the Gromettes (girls 11 to 16 shortboard) semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Joe Mohnack competes in the open SUP semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Grace Emig awaits her turn to compete in the open SUP semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Carter Doorley (yellow) glides over a wave as Dylan Taboga looks on from below in the Menehune (boys 10 and under shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Dani Daley competes in the Wahine (girls 10 and under shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Pat McCarron competes in the men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Doug Brown Jr. competes in Heat 2 of the senior longboard surfing competition during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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PJ Mecca bails on a wave in the junior men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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More than 75 competitors participated in the 2019 Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Anthony Lawler (yellow) competes in the men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Ava Ezzie heads to the water to compete in the Gromettes (girls 11 to 16 shortboard) semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Jake Downing competes in the junior men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Jimmy Downing competes in the Groms (boys 11 to 13 shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Zoe Jeansonne, Ashlyn Tate, Sadie-James Thurber and Dani Daley await their turn to compete in the Wahine (girls 10 and under shortboard) final during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Matthew Mansor competes in Heat 1 of the senior longboard surfing competition during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Sean Oneill competes in the junior men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Evan Couval competes in the junior men’s shortboard semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Grace Emig is overtaken by a wave in the open SUP semifinal during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Zack Laielli competes in Heat 2 of the senior longboard surfing competition during the Brigantine Surf Jam, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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