3 days of wave-related fun

“I think it’s going to be great,” said local surfer T.J. Gumiela of the upcoming second annual Surf Week in Long Beach. “The whole community is accepting of surfing. It unites everybody.”

Surf Week, hosted by the Allegria Hotel and presented by NY Sea Productions, will take place July 13-15, and feature an array of events, including several benefits, parties, concerts and assorted contests.

Sponsored by the Allegria, Red Bull Surfing, Webair and Skudin Surf, Surf Week, said Laura Vivonetto, the hotel’s marketing manager, “appeals to every demographic.” It features a mix of family-friendly and nightlife-oriented activities. “We’re tying in a lot of events to make it a fun week,” Vivonetto said.

NY Sea Productions, a New York-based company created in 2005, was founded by Mike Cimino, who is now working with brothers Cliff and Will Skudin, local surf heroes in Long Beach. The company was founded, Will Skudin said, in order to tell the stories of New York surfers and to showcase the work of photographers and videographers.

The concept of an annual Surf Week, Skudin explained, was developed by NY Sea Productions. Cimino and the Skudin brothers, who wanted to use their talents to raise money for worthy causes, took the idea to Ingrid Dodd, entertainment sales manager of the Allegria, and Vivonetto, who helped turn the concept into a reality.

“We wanted to do something special for the Long Beach community,” Cliff Skudin added, “and to do it in a wide range of activities.”

The festivities will kick off next Wednesday with a “Surfing for the Visually Disabled” benefit, at National Boulevard beach, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., followed by a “Surfing for Diabetes” benefit, from 3:30 to 5:30, at the same location. There will be 25 to 30 children and adults involved in both sessions, Will Skudin said.

Gumiela, who will be one of several surfers on hand to teach both children and adults who are visually impaired or have diabetes, he said he was thrilled by the opportunity. “Just to see how stoked the kids are when they get in the water and ride a wave,” he said, “it’ll be a good feeling.”

A “Surf for All Benefit” is also scheduled for Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Allegria’s ballroom. It will feature a Caribbean beach barbeque, live music, a silent auction and an autograph session with New York professional surfers. The proceeds will go to Surf for All, a local nonprofit organization launched in 2010 by the Skudins and Long Beach resident Jim Mulvaney, who has an autistic child. Surf for All focuses on helping people with special needs — the autistic, diabetics, the visually disabled and others — through surfing.

One set of prizes at the Wednesday-evening benefit, Will Skudin noted, will come from Quiksilver, which designs and markets beach-related apparel and accessories. “Quiksilver donated VIP passes for the Quiksilver Pro New York event in September,” Skudin said. “People can win them through the silent auction.”

On July 14, there will be a surf contest at National Boulevard beach at 3 p.m., offering a trip to Hawaii as the top prize. Before the contest, there will be a memorial “paddle-out” in honor of Long Beach resident and local surfing legend George “Geeza” Geiser, who died in 2009.

“He was one of the first guys to surf big waves from Long Beach,” Will Skudin said. “He would spend his time in Hawaii surfing. He led the charge out in Hawaii and really inspired myself and many more on pushing their comfort levels in the big surf.”

After the contest, the Beach House, on West Beech Street, will host an after-party, which manager Ben Freiser said will have a “summer-night type of feel.” “It’s a great event for a great cause,” Freiser said. “We definitely are having live music, a big party band, we’re doing great drink specials … We’re going to have a great party.”

The final day of Surf Week, July 15, will feature several events, including a concert at National Boulevard beach from 7 to 10 p.m. with music by sowFLo and Marc Vivonetto, and indie rock headliner Mike Krum, followed by a “NY Sea Rooftop Party” at the Allegria from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., which will feature drink specials, prizes, raffles and music by Red Bull DJs.

Vivonetto said that hundreds participated each day last year, and thousands turned out for the beach concert. She and the Skudin brothers are confident that there will be an even greater turnout this time around.

“Last year was an awesome turnout,” Cliff said. “This year will definitely be a week to remember for Long Beach. It’s going to be special.”

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