ESA Eastern Surfing Championships Return To Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head

Posted By Matt Artz on September 21, 2015

The 48th annual Eastern Surfing Association’s (ESA) Easterns® will began yesterday (Sunday, September 20) and will run through this Saturday, September 26th, showcasing the East Coast’s best amateur surfers from the Great Lakes through the Gulf Coast of Florida.  The organization’s largest championship event will be held at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina and there will be a live webcast provided.

“The waves are great at Jennette’s Pier and the ESA is thankful that the Pier staff and the Town of Nags Head welcome us back each year,” says Michelle Sommers, ESA’s Executive Director.   Michael Remige, Director of Jennette’s Pier adds, ““We are honored that the ESA has chosen to bring Easterns® back to Jennette’s Pier again in 2015.  The entire community looks forward to hosting this prestigious event every September.”

Swellinfo.com is forecasting consistent waves throughout the entire week with strong northeasterly winds, a welcome change from recent conditions.  “It wouldn’t be Easterns® without a nor’easter blowing through,” Sommers states.  “Mike (Remige) says it’s the flattest September he has remembered in 23 years on the Outer Banks so we will be thankful for whatever waves we are presented with.  Thankfully, ESA competitors are used to surfing these types of conditions – it’s what make a true Easterns® champion.”

New to this year’s event will be aerial video footage provided by Aerial Media Productions on the final day.  This will feed into the live webcast via a drone that will allow viewers to watch the action from various viewpoints.  “Aerial Media Productions did a fantastic job at our Northeast Regionals and we’re excited to have them provide the same experience for our Easterns® viewers,” says Sommers.

OluKai Premium Footwear will be offering free shoes to finalists, and the Reflekt Polarized Men’s Division will see four finalists walk away with a free pair of shades.   The youth divisions are supported by Catch Surf who is offering boards as prizes, and O’neill Wetsuits is allowing certain finalists to purchase wetsuits at wholesale prices.  Athleta is offering the Women and Ladies Divisions gift cards for awesome apparel, and Liquid Shredder will be on the beach each day with demo boards for everyone to try.  The GoPro Open Shortboard Division winner will receive a brand new Hero 4 camera.  More prizes and swag will be provided by Surfer, Sticky Bumps Surf Wax, Chums, Surfco Hawaii, Board Buddy, Chobani, Banxblock Sunscreen and Jack Link’s Beef Jerky.

There are many local businesses supporting the Easterns® throughout the Outer Banks.  Sun Realty has helped with lodging, Kitty Hawk Surf Company is offering a discount to all Easterns® competitors, Café Lachine and Waveriders Coffee is providing food for the event and Pamlico Jack’s is holding the annual Easterns® Competitors Banquet that is also supported by Carolina Brewery, and open to the public.  Hatteras Island Christian Fellowship will provide support throughout the entire event on the beach as they do each year.   

Artist Damien Share has provided the official 2015 Easterns® artwork and Ben J. Hicks donated photos for the adult awards.  The Easterns® official photographer will be Outer Banks local Mickey McCarthy.  The webcast will be provided by John Ross and the judges will be using computer scoring provided by Surf Scorer Leonik Engineering.  

The ESA All-Star Team, supported by Rip Curl, will be on the beach providing necessary assistance and working with the younger generation of surfers.  The announcement of the 2016 ESA All-Star Team members will be prior to the awards for the youth divisions on the final day, and can be viewed online.  Gnarly Charley will be on hand as well to offer fun surf coaching for the “groms” throughout the week as well.  

The ESA, which is in its 48th year, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit amateur athletic organization dedicated to the sport of amateur surfing.  The organization promotes amateur competition for surfers of all ages and abilities, and is dedicated to the establishment and preservation of free access to a clean shoreline and ocean environment.

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