City of Long Beach Canceling the Quiksilver Pro New York? (Updated)

The internet is currently blowing up with rumblings that the City of Long Beach is trying to pull the plug on the Quiksilver Pro New York. This past weekend most of the East Coast got smacked up by Hurricane Irene and a lot of damage took place where the competition and festival for the Quiksilver Pro New York is supposed to take place. However, early this morning, Quiksilver sent out an email and posted on their site that the event will go on as planned. Then, at 5pm today, Long Beach Patch posted a story that the City of Long Beach has canceled all the festival events (concerts and bmx, skate and motocross demos) but the surf contest would still go on. Now, at 10pm, waves of rumors are making their way across facebook and twitter that the entire event has been canceled.

There’s been no official word from either Quiksilver or the City of Long Beach outside of the post by the Long Beach Patch but either way we cannot let this happen. There has been too much hype around the event, it looks like we’re going to get some great waves and too many small businesses in the area will lose out if this event gets canceled.

If you want to see Quiksilver Pro New York happen, there are a few things you can do to help:

• The guys over at UnsOund Surf in Long Beach are gathering people at 9am and will go to City Hall in Long Beach to protest the cancellations of the festival events. More info on the protest can be found on SeaByTheCity.com.
• You can call Long Beach City Hall at (516) 431-1000 or the city manager Charles Theophan, at (516) 431-1001 and express your feelings on the matter.
• Also, you can Like the City of Long Beach on Facebook and leave a comment there.

I can’t even believe this is happening and it will be a huge loss for Long Beach and New York if this huge event gets canceled.

UPDATE: A few credible people on twitter are saying that the Quiksilver Pro New York is 100% canceled.

UPDATE 2: UnsOund has now canceled their silent protest. What does this mean?

UPDATE 3: UnsOund’s City Hall protest is back on! Get out there and show your support tomorrow!

UPDATE 4: The Quiksilver Pro New York is back on!! Not sure of the details or exactly what happened but once I do I’ll post it.

Update 5: Quiksilver has released an official statement (below) saying that the Quiksilver Pro New York will run. The trials will be held on Sunday September 4th and the waiting period will begin on the 5th. Still no word on the festival events but as of right now those probably won’t happen.

LONG BEACH, New York / USA (Tuesday, August 30, 2011) - An important update from Long Beach — Quiksilver is working closely with the City of Long Beach to preserve the heart of the ASP World Tour surf contest scheduled to start on Sunday, September 4 in light of the impact of Hurricane Irene and concerns for the Long Beach community, which suffered significant damage from the storm. The Quiksilver Pro is scheduled to start its 11-day “holding period” on Monday, September 5. The Quiksilver Pro Trials presented by Unsound Surf will run on Sunday, September 4.

The situation has been changing daily, and we recognize that City resources are focused on hurricane restoration and clean up as first priority. In that context, we have been informed by the City that the festival and music components of the event are no longer achievable.

The Quiksilver Pro NY is first and foremost about the surf contest and Long Beach has an incredible surfing tradition and spirit. We are committed to holding the ASP tour event at Long Beach so that together we can promote the sport by bringing together the best surfers in the world to this terrific community.

For updates throughout the competition, visit: www.quiksilverpro.com.

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