With A-listers all over the lineup, Sea. Hear. Now. in Asbury Park has become a staple on the festival circuit. Bruce Springsteen’s epic, 30-song set to end the weekend made national news, and The Boss shared the stage with acts like Noah Kahan, The Gaslight Anthem and Trey Anastasio, among others, back in September.
But the show wouldn’t happen without plenty of people whose names don’t appear on festival posters and t-shirts, including two Long Branch locals who were keys to the operation. While SHN featured music legends and local acts like Sunshine Spazz, it also had a surf contest with professional athletes and watermen. Long Branch ex-pro Mike Gleason surfed in the contest, while local lifeguard Kyle Arcomano took command as the SHN Beach Marshall.
Before, during, and after the event goers’ and musicians’ attendance Arcomano managed logistics, safety, and aquatic operations for the festival’s surf contest. Arcomano could be seen on stage, carting around rapper Action Bronson to watch friends surf, and also lending his own board to musical acts who double as athletes — all to the soundtrack of an incredible, continual live music experience.
Gleason might not consider himself a pro any longer, but he’s still competing with them, and is often the best surfer in the water at any local break. Either way, the surf and tackle shop owner felt honored and blessed to be involved in SHN since it began in 2018.
“This year was exhibition style with two men and two women heats. You surf twice and it’s a best wave format which feels like a free surf. The best wave of the day won it, which was really fun, makes you go for one glory wave, and takes the pressure off everybody—well there’s not really any pressure honestly, you’re just going surfing.”
Gleason gave props to the contest winner Cam Richards from South Carolina—one of the best surfers on the East Coast who has proven himself in waves everywhere.
“I spent two days in a row surfing with Sam (Hammer), Balaram (Stack), and Pat Schmidt — all guys I have been teammates with and surfing with since teenagers,” recalled Gleason. “We were just out in the lineup laughing. That was my favorite moment of it.”
However, the job is not always without challenges.
“We put 12 buoys in water to create a perimeter for boats,” said Arcomano, who spent a day in the wind and swell removing the markers from the ocean after the contest. “The swell yesterday was eight-foot faces. Myself and Randy (Townsend) a surfer and Harvey Cedars lifeguard had quite a day… Full open-ocean swell, and just us out there getting buoys out, and yanking anchors.”
The dudes got it done, and Sea. Hear. Now. packed up again for the sixth year in a row.
Arcomano and Gleason are two cogs in a factory that spits out a magical, unifying event that brought thousands of people together to watch The Boss under a full moon, with waves lapping in the background.
“It goes to show the credibility of Long Branch Ocean Rescue,” said Arcomano, who’s been guarding since 2006. Festival organizers “know what we do and what we've done our whole lives. I’m super thankful that out of all the beaches in NJ, they pull a LB guard. It’s pretty awesome.”
"I’m super thankful that out of all the beaches in New Jersey, they pull a LB guard. It’s pretty awesome.”