In the past few years, the Northeast has developed a nice little contest circuit. Just when the summer hordes leave the beaches, the action turns into gear. The water is warm and the hurricane switch turns to 'on' (or in the case of last year, we have four contests in a row with glorified boat wakes.)

Courtesy Heritage Surf

Labor Day weekend at the Jersey Shore and a bunch of aggro juniors.

Friday starts the Oakely Heritage Pro in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. Brian Heritage has really worked to raise the competitive level of surfing in New Jersey in the past decade. The Junior Pro gives local kids a chance to compete against some of the hottest rippers in North America, right in their own backyard.

This is a Grade 2 ASP Pro Junior event, as the Juniors come into the home stretch. Cory Arrambide won this event last year, and is currently in the number one Junior Slot in North America.

Courtesy Unsound Surf

The Unsound Pro, just a stone throw from Brooklyn.

The following weekend, September 3rd — 7th is the Unsound Pro, celebrating its 10th year. For an unsanctioned event, the $30,000 purse is pretty staggering. The Unsound, (Long Beach, New York) literally just stops away from NYC on the Long Island RR, is a surfer-favorite. They give it five days to get the best waves.

This year, they are only taking 48 surfers and running man-on-man heats, which should be very interesting. Last year, Sam Hammer took $11,000. There is also a Longboard Pro, Junior Pro, Women's Pro and Tow-At.

Eat at Gino's. Pretty good penne vodka.

The Fosters Belmar Pro, presented by Global Surf Industries, is on for September 11th — 14th. This is another contest that generally benefits from one flavor of tropical juice or another. Belmar's mayor recently found himself in some hot water (pretty comical to the rest of us) for characterizing Jersey Shore visiting guidos. The Staten Island crowd was not happy.

Courtesy Belmar Pro

A favorite of the Staten Island crowd.

But no places mixes boardbags and hair gel like Belmar. This one's offering a $25,000 purse with a Longboard Pro, Women's Pro, and even a Stand Up Paddle Pro (aye Joey, check out the sea sweepers.) The Belmar is also known to offer a massive tent village with plenty of stuff to keep you occupied between sets, mad parties every night, and O'Neill will present "The Life," on the beach on Saturday, Sept 13th.

Brian Toth, of Isabella, Puerto Rico, won this contest last year, and aced the Unsound in 2006. He doesn't like to go back to PR empty handed.

Models are indicating some 11-second groundswell for the weekend in Sea Isle City. Then the tropical disturbance known as 95L is tracking into good position for the East Coast for next week. We're looking at that next storm to be a hurricane and maybe start lining things up for the Unsound. Gustav is going to wreak havoc in the Gulf. But don't be surprised to see the remnant become a big, sloppy low, tracking across the southeast at some point.

So start working out your carpool now. Should be a good cople of weeks. And its a good excuse to get out of the trade shows.

There's also some other contest out at Trestles, that runs from the 7th - 13th.