Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 9 52 enjoy the sport, no matter what their background or economic status. Only a surfer knows the feeling of being in the water, and the fact that I can continue to give young surfers the opportunity of competing on a world stage through mentorship and spon- soring is what I'm most proud of as an inductee." Heritage said that the NJSHOF accepts potential inductee nom- inations from fellow surfers and the public. Every nominee's bio is carefully reviewed by the shoreline directors to determine established criteria including his/her sphere of influence, time of dominance, media presence and/or lifetime achieve- ment, and contributions to the New Jersey surfing community, then the voting board determines who will be inducted. The minimum age of nom- inees is forty years old, and nominees who aren't selected for the NJSHOF are then eligible for induction in per- petuity thereafter. Heritage stated that the NJSHOF's primary goal is to acknowledge the historic roots of Jersey's rich and diverse surfing culture and to high- light those who paved the way for present and future generations of Garden State surfers. "Without the acknowledgment of these pathfinders and trailblazers, you have no foun- dation to help our culture to keep flourishing. That foundation and continuing the circle has led Jersey to the forefront of east coast surfing in my opinion and our evolution will continue and become more impactful with the NJSHOF showing and, most importantly, celebrating our tribes' achievements together," he said. Rumson native and 2015 inductee Gary Germain not only served as the first President of the NJSHOF but is now president of the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame. Germain trav- eled the world as a competitive surfer during the 1970s and knows some of the best waves are found at home. "There's an old saying about the friendly rivalry between Florida and New Jersey surfing bragging rights— that Florida may have the oranges but New Jersey has the juice. And the juice is the waves." Germain is proud of the model that has evolved and been established by the NJSHOF, which is now becom- ing the standard. He explained, "The NJSHOF has become the model of sorts, and as other states are starting their own halls of fame, they are looking to NJSHOF as the example. Even the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame has modified some of their practices based upon the example set here at the Jersey Shore." Germain said that with over 65% of the surf-related industry sales stemming from the East Coast, and from the tri-state area in particular which includes New Jersey, it's no surprise that the Jersey Shore is home to legends, groundbreakers, and the next generation. "It was time to start recognizing those homegrown surf pioneers, and that's what we did." When the NJSHOF was estab- lished, organizers knew they needed a headquarters for their operations. The problem was solved almost as quickly as it arose: what better place to be the home of an organization dedi- cated to preserving New Jersey's rich surfing heritage and the legacy of historically valuable surfers, images, and places than the New Jersey Surf Museum? "The Hall of Fame has a repository of New Jersey surf culture right in the Museum," Rosenblatt said. "With awareness of surfing culture and history already playing a role, it was the perfect place." One of the long-term goals of the NJSHOF is to grow and cultivate the Museum's collections with an emphasis on New Jersey origins. Germain and his counterparts remain passionate about surfing because, as he says, it's a sport that transcends age, location, gender, and background. "Once you get on a board and paddle out, its hooked on you forever….and it doesn't let go," said Germain. While each surfer develops a unique and personal relationship with the ocean, the relationships and bonds formed with fellow surf- ers along the way are strong and, in most cases, for life, whether one surfed competitively against the surf- er sitting next to him or her at the NJSHOF Surf Awards or is taking his or her first ride on the ocean's waves. Rosenblatt said, "We're a tribe, plain and simple, and there's always room for more members." Surfing is as much a part of the Jersey Shore lifestyle and culture as anything. Thanks to the drive and the commitment of the volunteers from both the New Jersey Surf Museum and the New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame, locals and visitors alike can learn from and about Jersey's rich surfing past, celebrate and partici- pate in Jersey's surfing present, and create the future by joining the tribe, embracing the culture, and surfing the Jersey Shore's idyllic breaks. u The New Jersey Surf Museum is located at Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen's Museum at 120 West Main Street in Tuckerton. For more information, call (609) 296-8868 or visit www.tuckertonseaport.org/nj-surf- museum. The New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame is based at the New Jersey Surf Museum. For more information, call (609) 759-0970, visit www.newjerseysurfinghalloffame.com, or mail P.O. Box 983, Tuckerton NJ 08087. Early surfing pioneers of the Jersey Shore. Left to right: Henry "Stretch" Pohl, Bob Hensler, and Mike Howes at Ortley Beach, 1935. JERSEY SHORE PROFILE SURF NEW JERSEY, continued from page 51 courtesy of New Jersey Surf Museum

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