October 14, 2020
The Eastern Surfing Association is pleased to announce the 2020 recipients of its annual Marsh Scholarship Award.
For over 35 years the Marsh Scholarship Award provides financial aid to deserving student surfers who are pursuing college and/or graduate school degrees. Applicants are judged by a panel of six trustees on the basis of academic accomplishments, recommendations, and related credentials with winners announced in time for the upcoming school year.
The program was named in honor of the Marsh Family of North Carolina who were ESA pioneers, and specifically for Mike Marsh who set an example for all students by earning his law degree while fighting cancer.
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Posted in ESA News |
October 1, 2020
The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) held a raffle to support the organization’s Easterns® Surfing Championship that was held last week at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina.
“ESA’s sponsors are always supportive, and this year they went above and beyond to help the ESA,” said ESA’s Executive Director Michelle Sommers. “This year has been difficult for everyone and our sponsors offered their amazing products to help provide support for The Easterns® event that we needed.”
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Posted in ESA News |
September 28, 2020
The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) held its 2020 Easterns® Surfing Championship at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina September 20-26.

ESA All-Star Carl Burger surfed his way to claim two Easterns titles in 2020 – Open Shortboard and Junior Men U18. Photo: MEZ/ESM
The usual six-day event had to be compressed into three and one-half days due to extreme wind and waves in the first part of the week due to effects from Hurricane Teddy. The high winds generated waves that were 15-20 ft. and breaking out past Jennette’s Pier.
“It wouldn’t be an ESA Easterns® event without some kind of crazy weather,” said ESA’s Executive Director Michelle Sommers. “The Outer Banks presents us with a weather challenge each year, but the ESA knows how to make the event happen no matter what.”
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Posted in ESA News |
June 10, 2020
Over three months ago the world seemingly came to a halt and with it many surfing communities around the globe. Those lucky enough to still find themselves in the ocean’s embrace, particularly on the East Coast, throughout the crisis were among the fortunate few.
The cast of ESA All-Stars, each hailing from up and down the diverse coastline, had to deal with the stages of quarantine and stay-at-home orders differently from state to state. Without events to contest, these young talents have been able to take a step back and enjoy the little things with family. We caught up with these All-Stars to reflect on better times, how they’ve been keeping up and motivational quirks that have kept them going.
Pt. 19 features New York’s man of many traits Noah Avallone.
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Posted in ESA News | Tagged Eastern Surfing Association |
April 26, 2020
Another benefit of being an ESA member is having access to ESA’s informative online surf courses. Subjects include, but not limited to, surf forecasting, surf workout training, breath training, amateur to pro pathway, WSL priority and judging clinics.
Led by experts in each topic, these courses will be held every Monday, and several Wednesdays, at 7pm. Courses will vary in time depending on information covered followed by Q&A. On average, please plan for 60-90 minutes.
Participants must have a current ESA membership through September 30, 2020.
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Posted in ESA News |
April 17, 2020
The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) kicked off its online content this week by creating a series entitled “Talking Story.” The live online episodes bring former ESA competitors who are now well-known surfers, pro surfers and industry leaders together with ESA All-Star coach Jason Motes for a fun discussion and Q&A from viewers.

ESA All-Star coach Jason Motes and viewers chatted online with WSL World Champion CJ Hobgood this past Tuesday during ESA’s first episode of “Talking Story.”
“The saying ‘Talking Story’ is when people come together to share stories, history, opinions and ideas,” said ESA’s executive director Michelle Sommers. “It’s when two or more people choose to take time out of their day to slow down and talk.”
The first episode that streamed on Tuesday evening was with WSL World Champion CJ Hogbood. Hobgood surfed in the ESA before moving up the ranks to become a pro surfer and is now leading the brand Salty Crew. Recently, CJ, and his brother Damien, who is also a pro surfer, released the documentary “And Two if by Sea” that is now available on all digital platforms, including Amazon Prime.
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Posted in ESA News | Tagged And Two if by Sea, Billabong, CJ Hobgood, ESA, ESA All-Stars, Jason Motes, Michelle Sommers, Rob Kelly, Talking Story |