By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
The frothy waves cresting near shore were the perfect size for Grace Herzer and Charlotte Edge as the girls glided toward the beach on their boogie boards Saturday afternoon.
“I think it’s great to catch the waves,” 9-year-old Charlotte said.
“Yes, it’s really fun on the waves,” 11-year-old Grace added.
As they watched the girls from the beach, Grace’s grandmother, Teresa Bingnear, and Grace’s grandmother, Mary Edge, thought that the start of the Labor Day weekend in Sea Isle City had all the hallmarks of a memorable holiday – fantastic weather and plenty of family fun.
“It’s awesome,” said Bingnear, who lives in Sea Isle. “We are making great family memories in Sea Isle City.”
Edge, who was visiting Sea Isle from her home in Newtown Square, Pa., said the holiday weekend was extra special because she and Bingnear could enjoy it with their granddaughters.
“It’s a beautiful day,” she said. “It’s nice to have such beautiful weather for Labor Day weekend and to share it with the kids.”
Under mainly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s, the holiday weekend got off to a spectacular start for the tens of thousands of visitors who packed Sea Isle for the unofficial close of the summer tourism season.
Whether they were relaxing on the beach, out boating on the bay, taking a stroll or bike ride on the oceanfront Promenade or doing something else, Sea Isle’s vacationers all seemed to want to hold onto summer at least a little bit longer.
Sharon Kessler was joined by her daughter, Megan Santoro, and her best friend, Terri Moore, as the three women bobbed around on floats in the soothing waters of the lagoon off 43rd Place across from Sea Isle’s municipal marina.
Kessler, who owns a condo on 43rd Place, was enjoying a beer to celebrate her 59th birthday. She guessed that the water temperature was a comfy 75 degrees.
“It’s beautiful,” she exclaimed.
Kessler, Santoro and Moore had been on their floats for about an hour by the time early afternoon rolled around. Asked how long they planned to stay in the water, they shouted “All day” in unison and let out a laugh.
“It’s been perfect,” Santoro said. “It’s actually right where I want to be for the holiday.”
Across from the marina, Sea Isle’s seven pickleball courts on 42nd Place were crammed with holiday players. Altogether, 61 players were involved in some friendly competition for the second annual Sea Isle Summer Social Pickleball Tournament.
Out on the court, Karen Kane and her husband, Rob Caramanno, who recently bought a house in Sea Isle to become full-time residents, were among the players battling for wins.
“It’s thrilling,” Kane said. “We’re doing all right playing our games. We’re holding our own in the losers’ bracket.”
Kane and her husband play pickleball every day on the courts on 42nd Place. Now that they live full time in Sea Isle, they also plan to continue playing through the winter.
“It’s great exercise and great people,” Kane said of Sea Isle’s pickleball community.
The city built the seven asphalt pickleball courts last year to help meet the heavy local demand for a sport that combines elements of ping-pong and tennis.
“It’s the perfect mixture of ping-pong and tennis,” said Tyler Stroyek, whose company, Tennis by Tyler, provides tennis and pickleball camps, clinics and lessons under contract with Sea Isle.
Stroyek was the organizer of the Summer Social Pickleball Tournament. He said Sea Isle’s seven new pickleball courts reflect the growing popularity of the sport among all age groups at the shore.
“I think they are absolutely amazing – not just the courts, but also the players and the city’s recreation department. They are so open to growing pickleball,” he said of the support for pickleball in Sea Isle.
The first Summer Social Pickleball Tournament was held in mid-September of 2021. Now that the second tournament was shifted to Labor Day weekend, Stroyek hopes that it will continue to be a holiday tradition in Sea Isle.
“I think there are tons of people down here at the shore for Labor Day. Pickleball is a great way to enjoy the holiday,” he said.
