NSW surfing contest goes ahead after two shark attacks

A junior surfing contest will go ahead on the NSW north coast despite two shark attacks.

Organisers of the Skullcandy Oz Grom Open made the call for the Lennox Head contest to start on Saturday morning after a helicopter patrolling the beaches gave the all clear.

It comes after body boarder Matthew Lee was bitten by a shark at Ballina on Thursday and another surfer was knocked from his board on Friday.

Beaches in the Ballina Shire were closed after the two attacks.

Ballina Shire mayor David Wright said a helicopter had not spotted any sharks during a patrol on Saturday morning.

"There are already a dozen surfers in the water and the waves are fantastic," he said.

"There is a big crowd here and we are ready to start."

The event, which attracts 300 competitors, will kick off at 9am.

Australian aerial patrols will circle the beaches for the next three days and watercraft will also be used to keep an eye out for sharks.

Skullcandy Oz Grom Open event director Cameron Lindsay said the council, police, organisers and Surf Life Saving all deemed the event safe to recommence.

"We will continue to patrol the area, both from the air and the water, over the course of the day, ensuring the competitors' safety," he said.