ESA All-Star Kanoa Wong is more than ready to represent the ESA at this weekend’s WSL QS and Pro Junior events after surfing in Hawaii with the ESA All-Star Team training trip. Photo: Krissy Torelli

The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) is excited to continue its partnership with the World Surf League (WSL) in 2020 by offering its top competitors slots into WSL QS and Pro Jr events to help these amateur athletes into their next step of competitive surfing.

The 2020 Ron Jon Beach ‘N Boards Fest begins Thursday and runs through Sunday in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Offering a WSL Men’s QS 1500 event and Men’s and Women’s Pro Junior 1000, this annual festival will welcome surfing competitors from all around the world.

The ESA All-Star Team coach Jason Motes will be on the beach throughout the event supporting all the ESA competitors who may be competing, including the ESA-sponsored athletes.

ESA All-Star Audrey Iglay will be competing in the Ron Jon Beach ‘N Board Fest this weekend in the WSL Women’s Pro Junior event. Photo: Krissy Torelli

Motes, who just returned from Hawaii for the ESA All-Star Team training trip, is excited to attend the event for the ESA.

“Having a WSL event in Florida offers opportunities to showcase some of the great talents that the East Coast has,” said Motes. “The ESA helping its best amateur competitors reach the next level of their surfing career goals is a huge benefit that no other organization is offering.”

The following competitors will be competing as ESA-sponsored athletes:

  • Blayr Barton – ESA VA
  • Kanoa Wong – ESA VA
  • Will Deane – ESA OBNC
  • Audrey Iglay – ESA CNJ
  • Grace Knoechel – ESA NFL
  • Brynn Gallagher – ESA SNJ

ESA All-Star Team coach Jason Motes with ESA All-Stars Will Deane, Kanoa Wong and Blayr Barton as they prepare to surf in the Ron Jon Quiksilver QS event at the Beach ‘N Boards Fest in Cocoa Beach.

“I am super excited to compete in this year’s Ron Jon Roxy Junior Pro,” said ESA All-Star Audrey Iglay. “I feel really prepared following my training with the ESA All-Stars last month in Hawaii.”

ESA All-Star Will Deane will be the youngest ESA athlete competing in the event.

“I’m stoked to have the opportunity to be here to compete and surf with everyone,” said Deane. “I’ve been training a lot this winter, including in Hawaii with the ESA All-Star Team so I feel I am as ready as I can be for this event.”

Follow all the action via the World Surf League website and app with live scores throughout each day.