The Eastern Surfing Association held its 2014 Northeast Regional Surfing Championships presented by Imperial Costa Rican Cerveza in Holgate at the southern end of Long Beach Island, New Jersey this past weekend, showcasing the best amateur surfing from throughout the region.
“We were fortunate to have really fun waves each day of the event,” said ESA Executive Director Michelle Sommers. “The competitors did not disappoint, as they made the most of the consistent and very contestable conditions in the still chilly water. The Long Beach Island community provided so much support for our contest, which brought 200 stoked competitors, along with family, friends and other spectators, to the resort area.”
Surfers qualified for this event through their local ESA districts over the past year and were competing not only for awards and bragging rights, but for a coveted slot at the ESA’s premier event, the 47th Annual Eastern Surfing Association Championships, known as The Easterns®, scheduled for September 14-20, 2014 in Nags Head, North Carolina. The ESA’s three Regional events are also qualifiers for the Surfing America Prime Series and the Surfing America USA Championships.
There was a live webcast during all three days of competition on the ESA website (www.surfesa.org). “It was wonderful to be able to allow people who couldn’t attend the event in person to view it live online while it was happening,” says Sommers.
The GoPro Open Shortboard Division was won for a second year in a row by Southern New Jersey Women’s standout and ESA All-Star, Cassidy McClain, who took home a brand new GoPro camera with accessories for her effort. Central New Jersey’s Cooper Fortney and Southern New Jersey’s Kyle Tester finished second and third, respectively. “Last year was the first time a women ever won the Open Shortboard Division at any ESA Regional event, and for Cassidy to do it two years straight was just exciting for us all to experience!” said Sommers.
The Reflekt Polarized Mens Division was dominated by New Jersey, with Southern New Jersey’s Kevin DeWald and Dylan O’Donnell placing first and second, followed by Central New Jersey’s Peter Rinaldi in third.
Northern New England’s Robbie Goodwin took the Menehune Division, with Kyle Tester and Jake DeMatteo rounding out second and third, respectively. New Jersey led the Boys Division with Nick Brady from Southern New Jersey grabbing first, followed by Central New Jersey’s Keaton Fortney in second and Bailey Redy in third. Central New Jersey also took the top three places in Junior Mens, as Patrick Parenty claimed first place over Alexander Brooks and ESA All-Star Spencer Bridges.
The Girls Division was led by Southern New England’s Maria Barend, with New York’s Miller Overbeck in second and Central New Jersey’s Alexa Muss in third. New York’s Selena Moberly, who is also an ESA All-Star, was first in the Junior Womens Division.
The Iron Man, Junior Iron Man and Iron Woman Awards were presented to Tom O’Brien, Kainalu Nichols and Joanie Sapienza, who competed in multiple divisions and had the highest placings in those divisions during the event. In addition to her wins in both Womens and Open Shortboard, Cassidy McClain also received the Hot Wave Award by garnering the highest one-wave score for a perfect 10 point ride.
A complete list of all the results and photos can be found at www.surfesa.org.
The ESA wants to thank the national and local sponsors for this event, including Imperial Costa Rican Cerveza, Reflekt Polarized, johnnie-O, Sick Trix, Equity Prime, Surf Taco, Catch Surf, Wawa, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Causeway Honda, Thomas J. Keller Builders, Flow House, Surfer Magazine, Sticky Bumps, Swellinfo.com, Surfco Hawaii, Chums, Banx Block Sunscreen, Speakeasy Pizzeria, Uncle Will’s, The Chicken or the Egg, Sea Spray Motel, Coral Seas Oceanfront Motel, Kline Brothers Landscaping, Athleta, GoPro, Sanuk, Long Beach Island Chamber of Commerce, Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, el Swell Taqueria, Faria’s Surf & Sport, Fins Tropicali Cuisine, Howard’s Restaurant, Bowker’s South Beach Grill & Deli, SNP, MCC Global, Inc., Sharkinetics and Media in Motion.
Special thanks also to ESA Northeast Regional Director, Lester Priday, who announced that this will be his last Northeast Regional in the leadership position. Priday, who has been involved with the ESA since the 1980s, plans to retire back to his native Australia.
Stay tuned for the ESA’s premier championship event, The Easterns®, which will be held at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina September 14-20, 2014. Another live webcast will be offered throughout this event and interested sponsors are welcome to come on board!
The ESA, which is in its 47th 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.
Press Contact:
Michelle Sommers
302-988-1953
[email protected]