Surfing superstar Kelly Slater has taken to Twitter — and may travel to wintry Chicago — in defense of Rex Flodstrom, the guy arrested Tuesday for catching freezing, fresh-water waves in a no-surf zone.

Flodstrom, a 40-year-old artist, poet and online tea company employee, was charged with disorderly conduct and being at a closed beach when police spotted him surfing 4-foot swells at Oak Street Beach. He was handcuffed in his cold-weather wet suit and hauled to a police lockup, where he was held for four hours.

Chicago ended its surfing prohibition in 2009 when the park district caved to pressure from surfing advocate groups including the Surfrider Foundation. But surfing remains heavily regulated. Catching waves is limited to only certain beaches — Oak Street is not one of them.

Flodstrom plans to fight the charges in court on Feb. 16.

“Surfing is not a crime,” the 11-time surfing world champion tweeted Wednesday. “Say what?! Maybe a few of us should attend court with him.”

--- Please as of 2012-01-12 Northeast Regional dates has been changed ---

2012 Southeast Regional Surfing Championships - Qualifier for the 2012 Easterns®
Thursday, April 19th - Sunday April 22nd at New Smyrna, FL

2012 Northeast Regional Surfing Championships - Qualifier for the 2012 Easterns®
Friday April 27th - Sunday April 29th at Hampton Beach, NH

2012 Mid-Atlantic Regional Surfing Championships - Qualifier for the 2012 Easterns®
Thursday, May 3rd - Sunday May 6th at Carolina Beach, NC

2012 East Coast Scholastic Surfing Championships - Qualifier for the ESA All-star Team
Dates & Location to be announced

2012 Easterns® Surfing Championships — Grand Finals
Sunday September 16th - Saturday September 22nd at Cape Hatteras (Buxton), NC
*Sunday, September 23rd is a backup day

Eastern Surfing Association Marsh Board of Trustees Announces The 2011 Marsh Scholarship Winners
The ESA proudly announces the following recipients:
Lindsey Bowman of Virginia Beach, VA awarded $1,000.00
Savannah Bradley of Cocoa Beach, FL awarded $1,000.00
Chelsea Gresham of St. Augustine, FL awarded $500.00
Kelly Powell of Ocean City, MD awarded $500.00
We congratulate all the winners and wish them much success in their continuing education.

COCOA BEACH, FL – June 20, 2011, AAU National Surfing Championships hosted by Slater Brothers Surf Company and Space Coast Sports Promotions, will take place this August 13 & 14. The contest, presented by Sun Bum, will be held behind "Coconuts on the Beach". This annual event welcomes all amateur surfers of all ages to compete. The AAU National Surfing Championships also welcomes high school surf teams, college surf teams and open surf teams composed of four person tag teams.