Bring on the Unsound Pro, New York's Favorite Surf Contest

Pretty much anyone can surf a WSL event. But it will cost you ... $225 to enter a WQS 1,000 event to be exact.

And it may be a worthwhile stepping-stone. You may win back the money. You may double your money. And it could be exactly the experience you need to launch into bigger events. But statistically, you’re likely dropping half a car payment and coming home with empty pockets.

And while that may be surfing’s equivalent of the G League, there still exist pro surf contest where you might actually make some scratch. And one of the longest running non-sanctioned contests is back and energized. From Sept 12-15, Long Beach, New York, will see the Unsound Pro return to a storied stretch of Atlantic sand, just outside the shadows of NYC and under the flight paths of JFK.

Any young buck (or doe for that matter) who can thread a ground swell barrel or bust that big reverse on an onshore section might walk home with considerable coin from the $10,000 purse. The odds of taking home cash aren’t too bad, and those opportunities just don’t exist for talented shredders like they used to. Plus, there’s the Calamari Arrabbiata at Gino’s of Long Beach.

Of course, you’ll have to beat this Balaram Stack guy. Maybe you’ve heard of his exploits at Lido … or the Pipe Masters. As of now, Balaram is trying to work the event into his schedule.

“The Unsound Pro is a staple in New York, ever since I was a grom, watching the pros come to town to actually surfing it myself. It’s done so much for the town and for New York surfing. I really hope to see some new guys ripping from the Northeast in this event,” Stack told SURFER this week, “It’s been such an important part of competition in New York from the start. We’re always looking forward to seeing what the waves will produce that time of year and see everyone put their skills to the test.”

Keep in mind that it wasn’t long after Stack was watching the pros come to town, he was beating them. He’s been surfing this event since he was like 10 years old.

This contest has been running for over 20 years and in the past has played a role in the development of many East Coast surf careers. Californians, Hawaiians and even a few international surfers have been drawn to this city by the sea too. And who can blame them? Long Beach, a coastal city in its own right is just a train ride away from the pulse of NYC and everything it has to offer. UnsOund Surf Shop, owned by Dave Juan is one of the longest running surf shops in New York and a pillar of the town’s surf scene.

At times, this contest has been a makeshift DIY event held together by zip ties, excellent bagels and a cab driver barking over the mic. But at its peak, it has been a property of Oakley and Nike. And let’s not forget the magic that happened with the Quik Pro NY 2011, when Hurricane Katia blessed the event, a highlight in the battle for that year’s title race with pumping surf that no one expected.

The timing of this event is strategically picked to align with the peak of hurricane season. August was eerily quiet, but the Atlantic basin seems to be revving like a gang of choppers down Park Ave. Long Beach sits just north of the Hudson Canyon, in perfect position to receive gifts bestowed from the equator. All this generally aligns with the famously ideal September weather on the East Coast and this wildly diverse city is prepared with throw downs at The Inn and the Cabana, that should prove a good time for spectators and surfers (though some legendary nights of the past have played havoc with surf performances the next morning.)

And for those who will be downing Shirley Temples or energy drinks or whatever kids drink these days, there is the RAD Boardsports Co. Jr Boys and Jr. Girls Pro with a combined $2 purse.

If you feel like the surfing world is becoming homogenized, Long Beach maintains its distinct flavor.

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