Eastern Surfing Association

Jr. All-Star CJ Mangio from NY claimed victory in the Boys U14 division, as well as 2nd place in the Menehune U12. Photo: MEZ/ESM

May 24, 2017 – The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) held its 2017 Northeast Regional Surfing Championship this past weekend in Belmar, New Jersey on 17^th Avenue, across from Eastern Lines Surf Shop. This was the ESA’s third and final regional event that qualifies the participating competitors for The Easterns® Surfing Championships that will be held in Nags Head, North Carolina on September 17-23 at Jennette’s Pier, as well as the USA Championships being held next month in California.

Grand Legends’ winner Ed Fawess enjoyed the hot weather and clean conditions during Friday’s adult divisions. Photo: MEZ/ESM

The weekend began with sunny, hot summer-like air temps on Friday with clean, waist high peelers for the adult divisions. Saturday saw a thirty-degree drop in temps, clouds, onshore winds and bouts of rain for the start of the youth divisions. This provided a building wind swell throughout the day that gave competitors some fun waves going into the finals on Sunday.

Joe Grottola, ESA’s Northeast Regional Director, was not only overseeing the event but was a competitor as well claiming top spots in both the Legends Short- and Longboard divisions. East Coast legend Peter Pan won the Iron Man Award for his final placings in the Grand Legends, Legends Longboard, SUP and Open Bodyboard divisions. Jonathon Cahn won the Unsinkable Polarized Men’s Division, and Becca Speak took the Women’s Division in her very first regional event.
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Girls U14 & U16 first place finalist Rachel Wilson, an ESA All-Star, being chaired up the beach. Photo: Jordan Nason Photography

May 10, 2017 – The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) held its 2017 Mid-Atlantic Regional Surfing Championship this past weekend in perfect waves at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina. A massive frontal storm system moved through the area on Friday and provided excellent surf for the entire weekend.

“Everyone along the east coast knows that the Outer Banks has the most consistent surf so it’s the best place the hold a surfing event,” said Michelle Sommers, ESA’s executive director. “Unfortunately, it also gives us the worst weather along with the great waves. Our competitors agree that it’s always worth dealing with the unexpected conditions that we seem to get every time we are in the Outer Banks.”

The adults persevered on Friday through multiple delays and were rewarded with head-high waves. Kai Dilling took home the Adult Iron Man Award for placing first in Masters Longboard and two-second place finishes in Senior Men Shortboard and the SUP divisions. Outer Banks’ own Leanne Robinson won another Women’s Division while David Taylor took first in the Unsinkable Polarized Men’s Division.
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The ESA is celebrating its 50th year in 2017.
Photo: MEZ/ESM

Friday marked the beginning of the ESA’s Southeast Regional Surfing Championship presented by Long Diggers in choppy, waist- to chest-high waves.  Conditions were fun for competitors who traveled to Paradise Beach Park in Melbourne Beach, Florida from the entire state of Florida and as far away as Georgia.

“This contest kicks off our entire post-season championship event season,” said Michelle Sommers, ESA’s executive director. “ESA competitors from all over the east coast watch to see who they may be competing against at our national championship, The Easterns®, in September.”

The adult divisions were held on Friday, along with the coveting “Go Pro” Open Shortboard Division, in which all ages and genders compete for top honor.
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