Another epic Easterns at Jennette’s Pier Photo: MEZ/ESM
The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) held its 2024 Easterns Surfing Championship at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina last week, despite Mother Nature handing officials days of delays due to wind, rain and strong currents. Surfline’s forecast called for Wednesday to be the day for clean, offshore conditions and head-high plus surf, so the event was rebuilt to run in two days from the original four- to five- day schedule.
Four-man heats were made into six-man with a single-beach schedule turned into double. By the time the sun came up on Wednesday, competitors of all ages were frothing as they waited patiently for days to begin their Easterns battle.
“We pulled off a miracle, again, in the Outer Banks,” said ESA’s executive director Michelle Sommers. “We were fighting at tropical storm on the front end of the week, and another possible storm in the forecast on the back end of the week. We had to get it done in the timeframe that the conditions were giving us.”
Open Mens Shortboard champion Gavin Mitchell Photo: MEZ/ESM
ESA All-Stars Gavin Mitchell and Marlynn Glaub claimed the Open Shortboard divisions, with Glaub becoming the first-ever Open Womens Shortboard Champion. Both Mitchell and Glaub came in second place in their specific age divisions.
ESA All-Star Matton Bain took home the title of Jr Mens Shortboard Champion that included the Hot Wave Award for scoring the highest wave score of the event – 9.6. Bain also made it into the final of the Open Mens Shortboard and finished in third.
Elle Rich won the Jr Women Shortboard, Carolina Labin claimed first in the Jr Women Longboard, and Aubrey Rasmussen is the first Easterns Open Women Longboard Champion. Nohea Williams claimed first in the Open Mens Longboard.
The OluKai-sponsored Mens and Womens divisions were exciting to watch as well. ESA All-Star mentor Kai Sommers won the Mens and All-Star alumni Haley Stephens claimed her sixth Easterns title for the Womens. All finalists received a free pair of OluKais along with Plak That wood plaques.
In the youth divisions, new Sharkbanz PODs were provided to the finalists as prizes for their hard work through the many rounds of heats. Stoked groms from Maine through Florida were chaired up the beach with proud smiles and huge trophies provided by BWP Awards.
Outer Banks’ own Masen Barley won Boy 11 & under, North Florida’s ESA All-Star Athan Roberton claimed champion in Boys 12-13 and Virginia’s Liam Maloney walked with first place in Boys 14-15. North Central Florida’s Kydon Larrabee won the Menehune Longboard division 13 & under.
ESA All-Star Ayla Stutzman continued to rip after the event at Jennette’s Pier. Photo: MEZ/ESM
ESA All-Star, and Maine’s only competitor in the event, Ayla Stutzman won Girls 14-15. Stutzman was also a finalist in the Open Womens Shortboard. North Florida’s Ansley West claimed first in Girls 12-13 and Central New Jersey All-Star Keira Soleau won the Girls 11 & under.
The ESA wants to give special thanks to Jennette’s Pier and the Town of Nags Head for working closely with event officials to ensure the event would happen, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes – Northeastern North Carolina for offering logistics and competitor support. The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau is a big supporter of the ESA’s Easterns, and Sun Realty works closely with the ESA for its lodging needs.
Delmarva Aerial 360’s webcast can be viewed on SurfESA’s youTube channel. Photo galleries from MEZ/ESM can be found on ESA’s FB page and throughout @esa_allstars IG posts. Social media reels provided by @eye.on.delmarva and @morgannlavinn
Mark your calendars for the ESA’s 2025 Easterns at Jennette’s Pier September 14-20, 2025.