Gumiela clinches spot in Unsound’s trials for Quiksilver Pro N.Y.

“We were doing step-offs from my friend’s jet ski,” said pro surfer and Long Beach resident T.J. Gumiela, shortly after he took advantage of the waves brought in by Hurricane Irene last Saturday. “We were just on New York, and the waves are getting bigger, but it’s getting windy and it’s just becoming a storm surge”

Gumiela said he recently learned that he will be competing in the Quik Pro N.Y. Trials on Sept. 4, sponsored by Unsound, and said he’s hoping to beat out 15 other competitors for a shot at being the second wildcard entrant in the Quiksilver Pro New York competition next week. He is hoping for a chance to compete against 34 of the world’s best surfers — including 10 time ASP world champion Kelly Slater and wildcard Balaram Stack — and vying for a piece of the unprecedented $1 million prize purse.

Earlier this week, city officials, citing the impact Hurricane Irene had on the community, were seriously considering canceling not just the competition’s attendant festival, but the contest as well. And while the festival could not be salvaged, the local surf community turned out in force on Tuesday in opposition to canceling the competition.

Quiksilver and the city ultimately reached an agreement to move the competition forward, but the festival — which included more than 40 bands, BMX, skateboard and Motocross exhibitions — was scrapped.

Gumiela said he’s thrilled the contest is back on, since he nearly lost his shot at being the second wildcard in the competition. First, he has to beat out 15 other trialists on Sept. 4, including Montauk’s Lief Engstrom. Engstrom advanced to the trials after he won the coveted Empire State Surfing Championships Trials for the Trials, presented by Quiksilver, held at National Boulevard beach July 15-17.

That competition was open to 16 of New York's hottest hometown surfers. Gumiela came in second, and while he did not have an official spot in the trials, he said he learned that he has now been named among the 16.

Gumiela will also compete against Hawaii’s Keanu Asing, who won the Unsound ASP Pro Junior competition in Long Beach last April, earning a berth into the final stage of trials competition.