Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head, NC – Home of The ESA’s 2019 Easterns. PC: MEZ/ESM
September 13, 2019 – The Eastern Surfing Association will hold its 2019 Easterns® Surfing Championship at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina, beginning this Sunday, September 15 and running through the week until September 21.
Presented by The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and Surfer Dudes, The Easterns® is one of the most prestigious East Coast amateur surfing events held each September in the Outer Banks. Competitors from the entire East Coast, including the Great Lakes and Florida’s Gulf Coast, have qualified through their respective ESA Regional events in order to gain an invite in hopes of becoming an ESA Easterns® Champion.
“The Easterns® is the most important surfing event for surfers of all ages in the ESA,” said Michelle Sommers, ESA’s executive director. “Everyone looks forward to Easterns® week each year in the Outer Banks as it’s a fun time for competitors to compete, surf and hang with friends from all over the East Coast.”
This event is even more important now that the ESA has partnered with the World Surf League (WSL) to create a pathway for its competitors to reach the next level of competitive surfing.
ESA implemented WSL priority heats in 2019.
“The ESA is working with the WSL to alleviate the confusion among competitors with so many surfing organizations running events,” said Sommers. “The ESA is where competitive surfing begins on the East Coast and it’s important that it provides an avenue for its members who wish to move into the professional realm of surfing.”
Introducing WSL four-man priority heats in several ESA divisions has brought more excitement to these championship events. The Open Shortboard division at Easterns® will be running priority as well in order to offer its adult competitors experience with this.
Finalists from several Easterns® divisions will be awarded ESA-sponsored slots into upcoming WSL QS & Pro Junior events. Upcoming event locations include California, Hawaii and Barbados.
The Easterns® kicks off with adult divisions surfing Sunday and Monday, followed by the Open Shortboard, SUP and Bodyboard divisions on Tuesday. The youth divisions will surf Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, however, the schedule is always tentative and subject to change based on waves and weather.
There will be a live webcast each day on www.surfesa.org by John Ross Productions, as well as recap videos from NPI Productions. Competitors will receive a commemorative t-shirt with artwork provided by artist Jamie Swim from Hawaii.
The ESA is also offering all competitors an ESA water bottle in hopes of promoting less waste and recycling. Freshwater will be available for people to refill their water bottles instead of using disposable water bottles and creating more waste.
“The ESA wants to limit its waste on the beach from its surfing events,” said Sommers. “We are asking ESA competitors and spectators to think about what their impact has on the environment that all surfers enjoy.”
Event sponsors will be on the beach to provide prizes, giveaway and product demonstrations throughout the week.
“We have implemented many positive changes for East Coast surfing this year,” said ESA head judge, and WSL priority judge, David Portch. “The ESA has a very promising and bright future.”
Special thanks to ESA national and Easterns® event sponsors:
- Outer Banks Visitors Bureau
- Town of Nags Head
- Surfer Dudes
- Jennette’s Pier
- Hatteras Island Christian Fellowship
- Anchor Scaffolding
- FL Space Coast Office of Tourism
- Indo Jax Surf School and Charities
- Nixon Watches
- Lieber Films- Bethany Hamilton’s UNSTOPPABLE
- Sharkbanz
- Sun Realty
- The Spot/Secret Spot Surf Shop
- Surfin’ Spoon – host ESA All-Stars
- Surfalorus
- OluKai
- Rip Curl
- Jamie Swim Art – Easterns® artwork
- Matt Lusk Photography – Photos for awards
- Eastern Surf Magazine
- Surfline – Wave forecasting
- Sticky Bumps -Wax
- Chums
- Surfco Hawaii – surf safety
- Surfer Magazine
- Tara Mosley Graphics – ESA Graphics
- Plak That Printing Company
- Comfort Inn South Oceanfront
- Johanna’s (formerly known as Café Lachine)
- Yellow Submarine
- Nags Head Pizza Company
- Outer Banks Brewing Station
- Carolina Brewery
- Cahoons Market
- Pepsi
Additional thanks to the following who make the The Easterns® possible:
- Mez – Eastern Surf Magazine
- NPI Productions
- John Ross Productions
- WSL
- Plak That
- Harrington Graphics & Screenprinting
- Tara Mosley Graphics
- Millennium Marketing Solutions
- Anchor Scaffolding & Ladder