Keira Soleau won first place Girls 11 & under. PHOTO : DICK “MEZ” MESEROLL / MEZAPIXELS DIGITOGRAPHY @MEZAPIXELS
May 18, 2024 – The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) wrapped up its East Coast regional championship tour last weekend in Ocean City, Maryland for its 2024 Northeast Regionals. This is following the ESA’s Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regional events that were held weeks prior in North Carolina and Florida, respectively..
Nearly 200 competitors from Maine through Maryland surfed to qualify for the ESA’s 2024 Easterns Surfing Championship that will be held September 15-21, 2024 at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina.
The three-day surfing championship event in Ocean City saw a variety of weather that produced surf that made for great conditions for surfers of all ages to show their skills.
“It wouldn’t be an ESA Northeast regional without a nor’easter,” said ESA’s executive director Michelle Sommers. “Thanks to the storm, our event had great waves on Saturday and Sunday for everyone to enjoy.”
The event began Friday morning but soon had to be canceled when winds, waves and the current picked up too much for the contest to run safely.
ESA Delmarva standout and All-Star mentor, Kai Sommers, claimed first place wins in the Open and Mens shortboard divisions at his home break.
“I’ve wanted a regional Open win for so long,” said Kai. “Being able to achieve that at my local surf break in Ocean City with all my friends there made it even more special.”
Maine’s All-Star Ayla Stutzman became the first ESA Northeast Open Womens Shortboard champion and will now head to The Easterns to surf against the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast winners.
Ayla Stutzman is the first Northeast Womens Open Shortboard champion.. PHOTO : DICK “MEZ” MESEROLL / MEZAPIXELS DIGITOGRAPHY @MEZAPIXELS
Stutzman also claimed the event’s Hot Wave award by scoring a 9.43 in her Girls 14-15 final on Sunday.
“Ayla has checked all the boxes,” said ESA All-Star coach Jason Motes. “She’s got the speed, power and flow criteria covered in her surfing and is on her way to winning many more titles.”
ESA’s Central New Jersey district was a powerhouse throughout the event with its surfers winning more heats than any other district.
All-Star Declan Fitzgerald and Gavin Mitchell put on a show for everyone while winning their respective age divisions as well as making the final in the Open.
ESA Delmarva’s Carolina Labin won the Jr Iron Woman Award for surfing the most heats throughout the event. Labin is an ESA Developmental Team member who made the final in nearly all of the divisions she surfed in.
Full results may be found by clicking here.