So fate may have handed us East Coasters another NJ beach event today! Still alot of work to do but looks promising.
I stopped by the local beach (Belmar NJ) after work today to static fly the 18m Phanny. (2nd static session and I'm REALLY liking this kite). Winds
were 10-14mph onshore and I was wishing I had stopped home for the buggy. BUT......
it was a good thing I was stationary because a guy came up and introduced himself. He was very interested and asked about the sport and if I was a
member of a kite group or club. I told him about all the friends and great people here on PKF and mentioned the other events, WWBB, Jibe, NABX,
KiteStorm, etc. He then said he's with the Belmar Chamber of Comerce and asked if I could get an event organized for Belmar!!!!
PLUS he said he owns a local Inn. Possible discount lodging?!?!?
Here's some info on Belmar....
E-SE winds are ideal.
I've buggied there 4 times without an issue. The beach runs 1.5 miles from the town line at Spring Lake to the south, to The Shark River Inlet/fishing
pier to the north. Beach is about a third the width of Wildwood. Low tide there is not nearly as much hardpack as Wildwood and above high tide line is
deep sand. Bigfoots may be the tire of choice. Here's video showing the north end by the fishing pier.
Late Sept-Mid May the beach is dead with maybe a few surfers or fisherman. Summers are REAL crowded and covered with sun worshipers from Staten
Island, NYC, and North Jersey. Every see the show Jersey Shore? That would be them. We call them Bennies and wish they would stay home. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK5wROvr3Mg
Belmar has a few ornimental kite festivals every year where they put up dozens of those. The kids seem to love it.
They also host a round of the Pro Vollyball Tour and surfing events and take up a few blocks of beach for those events. BIG crowds, tall bleachers, TV
crews, generators, party tents, RV's....maybe we'll get there someday? ;-)
So I'll give Belmar Beach Bash my best effort. Fingers and toes crossed.
I look forward to any feedback and will post an update with any details.
Stay tuned.cheezycheese - 12-5-2011 at 10:44 PM
This sounds like an awesome opportunity. Thanks Jaymz. I hope this works out...!!!!shehatesmyhobbies - 13-5-2011 at 01:39 AM
With support from the local Chamber of commerce, I say go for it. I am going to Google the beach to check it out. Let me know if you need anything.Todd - 13-5-2011 at 03:36 AM
Thanks for the not being able to sleep until after midnight Jim I love those
kind of phone calls... I think this has huge possibilities and will
offer my assistance anyway needed. Let’s go show some talent to the juice heads!
:bigok:Jaymz - 13-5-2011 at 05:36 AM
I googled the contact person and he is on the Chamber of Commerce, is also on the Tourism Bureau, publishes a local magazine about The Shore
Lifestyle, and owns an Inn with 9 rooms. Seemed like a nice guy wiling to help.
My BIL was also on the Belmar CoC until a few years ago joecat - 13-5-2011 at 06:43 AM
sounds like a good idea to me.....keep us updated.. however I will feel like a trader leaving my Wildwood Beach...lol ha ha....Kober - 18-5-2011 at 07:44 PM
only 4 people excited about this ??????
How we can make event happen with no support from PKF members ,,,, ????
2011 BBB ..... me and Jaymz with big sing "welcome" sitting on the beach all day waiting for 3 other kiters to start event ...... WOW !!!!!
Please ...... let Jaymz know if anyone see BBB as another kitting destination .......shehatesmyhobbies - 19-5-2011 at 04:14 AM
Sent Jim a u2u ! We are here to help get things rolling if nothing else. Once you build it, they will come!
Offer still stands to help with anything I can!bobalooie57 - 19-5-2011 at 09:30 AM
I'd be in for riding a new beach! Just like Rich said, "If you build it..." Just ask Cheezy!
edit: my cc is saying ..ouch! but then, I can't hear too well anyway!bugymangp - 19-5-2011 at 11:53 AM
hey guys
i used buggy at belmar years ago. never had a problem with people or the local cops.
just have to watch what your doing. my best day there i did over 62 miles. buggying to spring lake and back all day long. yes big foots are a must.
even at the waters edge.
i would love to go back there for an event. i will be keeping an eye on this post.bugymangp - 19-5-2011 at 12:07 PM
i forgot to add
i can get in touch with about 4 or 5 of us old timers who used to buggy there and now thier buggies are collecting dust.
i`m sure they would love to go again.
it used to be nice to buggy there. park your kite and buggy on the beach and walk across the street for lunch and drinks.
we would go whenever we heard the wind was good right off the water. off season. of coursebugymangp - 19-5-2011 at 12:13 PM
also
i used run the kite fests back when tony`s store fly away kites was on main street.
this got my juices flowing. i hope it works out.chudalicious - 19-5-2011 at 12:48 PM
Anderson and I are there!
Let us know if we can help!cheezycheese - 19-5-2011 at 04:29 PM
Kober don't worry.... If you post it, They will come.... That's the power of the PKF baby !!!rocfighter - 19-5-2011 at 06:20 PM
This sounds like a great time. When it gets going we will be there.Jaymz - 26-5-2011 at 07:49 PM
OK, First update.
I talked to our contact and he asked for video showing who we are and what we do. I sent him the link to PKF and a few videos. Todd's seem to catch
the spriit best. Hope he agrees. Thanks bud.
I stopped by the beach on a foggy day last week and took a few pics.
AND...Konrad made a video of our light wind session last Sunday @ Belmar.
bugymangp - 27-5-2011 at 09:37 AM
thanks for the update.
and thanks for the video
YEP belmar. just as i remembered itJaymz - 29-5-2011 at 08:32 AM
Looking into possible dates for BBB.
The beach will still have too much pedestrian traffic though Sept.
Looks like Oct 7-9 works. Low tide is mid day and the beach should be empty. This would be 2 weeks before WWBB.pbc - 30-5-2011 at 03:42 AM
Why is October always such a good time for Buggy events? I was reviewing weather patterns in St. Augustine and found the best months are May (in
conflict with JIBE just 2 hours north) and October. The beaches here are similarly depopulated by October and the onshore winds are the strongest of
the year.