ASP adds Long Island surfing contest

LONG BEACH, N.Y., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Long Island will be the venue of the inaugural $1 million Quicksilver Pro New York this autumn, the Association of Surfing Professionals announced Wednesday.

The event will be the first ASP World Tour stop ever held on the U.S. East Coast and will take place Sept. 4-15 at Long Beach.

"There has always been a huge contingent of dedicated surfers and surf enthusiasts on the East Coast and they will now get a chance to watch the world's best surfers in Long Beach," Quicksilver CEO Bob McKnight said in a written statement issued.

The ASP said the Long Beach break historically has had consistent, good-sized surf in mid-September, which made it their choice for an East Coast event. An active 2011 Atlantic hurricane season could also increase the wave action on Long Island's southern shore.