Kyle Tester claimed 1st place in ESA’s Easterns GoPro Open Shortboard Division. Photo: Mickey McCarthy
The ESA is currently holding its annual Easterns® Surfing Championships presented by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina. The week-long event began on Sunday and will continue through Friday. The adult short- and longboard divisions were held Sunday and Monday in chest-high surf followed by the SUP, Open Shortboard and Bodyboard divisions on Tuesday in blown-out conditions.
Despite two rain delays on Tuesday, Southern New Jersey’s Kyle Tester became one of the youngest ESA competitors at 14 years of age to win the coveted Easterns GoPro Open Shortboard Division. “I was so stoked to not only make the Open Shortboard final, but to actually win it at 14 is so awesome!” Tester is taking home a brand new GoPro camera for his efforts.
ESA All-Star Logan Kamen during Tuesday’s Easterns event. Photo: Mickey McCarthy
Nohea Futrell, an ESA All-Star, claimed second place at his home break. North Florida competitor Colin Anderson, who took third in the Reflekt Unsinkable Mens Division, also claimed third place in the Open. Another ESA All-Star, Logan Kamen, won all of his Open division heats in order to advance to the final to take fourth.
The youth divisions began this morning after another weather delay. Follow the ESA on Facebook (Eastern Surfing Association) and Instagram (@surfesa) for updates throughout the remaining event schedule. Be sure to check out the Easterns® event sponsors that are on the beach each day – Boardgrab, Sharkbanz, Liquid Shredder Soft Surfboards, OluKai, Reflekt, Banxblock – along with the products from East Coast Customs Skateboards, Lost Coast Surfpacks, DryRobe changing robe, Chums and Surfco Hawaii. Waveriders Coffee & Deli and Cafe Lachine are open all week for spectators to get their breakfasts and lunches at their Nags Head locations.
The ESA, which will be celebrating its 50th year in 2017, 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.