Sports

Big Swells Arrive in Time for Longboard Jam, Thanks to Hurricane Danielle

The 1st Annual Elemental Longboard Jam, organized by Katie Egan at Elemental Surf & Skate, benefits the Potter League for Animals. The event was postponed from Aug. 22 due to lack of good waves, but that doesn't seem to be a problem this weeke

The waves just didn't show up last weekend when the Elemental 1st Annual Longboard Jam was postponed, but that doesn't seem to be an issue this weekend seeing how Hurricane Danielle is already sending big swells north, just in time for the rescheduled event now taking place Sunday, Aug. 29.

"We postponed the event last Sunday due to lack of surf," explained organizer Katie Egan, from Elemental Surf & Skate. "But we are lucking out because the hurricane swell from Danielle will be hitting exactly this Sunday the 29th."

By 8 am Sunday, Hurricane Danielle was cruising the North Atlantic about 1,000 miles off Rhode Island's coastline, pushing bigger waves inland.

Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Saturday morning, the National Weather Service issued a surf advisory and warning for severe rip currents for the area expected to begin late Saturday and last into the midweek.

The National Weather Service also issued a "high risk" warning for rip currents along some south and southeastern facing beaches, such as Middletown's Second Beach where the surf jam event will take place.

Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The event was organized by Egan as a benefit to help out the  Aquidneck Island's only animal shelter which houses more than 120 domestic dogs, cats, small mammals, birds and reptiles.

Sign-ups take place at the beach beginning at 9 a.m. and organizers say the contest will begin at 10 am sharp. The suggested entry fee or donation is $20 per division.

Prizes to the top performers consist of packages of gear, surfwear and equipment donated from event sponsors, including: Elemental Surf & Skate, Quicksilver, Quicksilver Edition, Roxy, Smith Sunglasses, Sector 9 Skateboards. An after-party will also take place.

Lunch for contestants will be provided by Aquidneck Pizza.

Contest divisions include:

  • Stand Up Paddle (all ages and both sexes)

  • Nose Riding Contest (duct tape 36 inches from nose of board)

  • Grom Girls (13 & Under)

  • Grom Boys (13 & Under)

  • Jr Men (14-19)

  • Jr Woman (15-19)

  • Woman (20 & ^)

  • Men (20 & ^)

  • Ladies Masters (50 ^)

  • Mens Masters (50^)

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    For more information, call (401) 846-2280 or (401) 846-4421, email
    elementalsurfjam@gmail.com, or visit Elemental Surf & Skate's website.


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