ESA All-Star Kanoa Wong PC: MEZ/ESM
The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA)’s 2019 Easterns Surfing Championships began on Sunday with Jennette’s Pier offering some of the best waves that the adult competitors have had for the event. Light winds and waves that were waist to chest high provided excitement for everyone watching on the beach and online via the event’s live webcast.
Presented by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and Surfer Dudes, The Easterns® brings nearly 300 of the best amateur surfers from along the East Coast, including the Great Lakes and Gulf Coast of Florida. Competitors were invited to this event based on ESA rankings from its three regional events held in the spring.
ESA All-Star team mentor, Kainalu Nichols, claimed an ESA-sponsored slot into WSL’s QS event in Barbados by claiming the top spot in the Mens Division. Nichols also took home the ESA Adult Iron Man award for all of the divisions he surfed and the scores obtained.
East Coast stand-out Blayr Barton also obtained an ESA-sponsored slot to Barbados by securing a win in the Open Shortboard Division on Tuesday. Barton then followed with a 2nd place finish in the Jr Men U18 Shortboard Division. Both divisions included the WSL 4-man priority heats.
ESA All-Star Carl Burger won the Jr Men U18 Division, which will solidify him as an ESA-sponsored slot into the next East Coast WSL Pro Junior event.
“I was so stoked to even make it to the final, and it was great to take the win,” said Burger.
Team members who competed in the All-Star Adult District Challenge PC: MEZ/ESM
The ESA held an All-Star Adult District Challenge that had ESA districts compete to benefit the ESA All-Star team coach. Five district teams each surfed 10-minute heats in hopes to claim bragging rights and a cool trophy to take back to their members. North Central Florida won the challenge, followed closely by North Florida.
Jamie Swim from Hawaii created another amazing design for the event’s adult awards and t-shirts. Matt Lusk offered four of his fantastic Outer Banks photos and Plak That created awards that every competitor wanted to claim.
Blayr Barton took home an amazing piece of artwork by Jamie Swim Art and Plak That for winning the ESA’s Easterns Open Shortboard division at Jennette’s Pier. PC: MEZ/ESM
The youth divisions will begin and run through the remainder of the week. Contest officials put the event on hold Wednesday due to high winds. The next call will be Thursday morning at 7:30 am for an 8:00 am start. Schedule updates will be posted as needed.
Full results for the adult and open divisions may be found on ESA’s event webpage. Below is a list of a few:
Open Shortboard
- 1 – Blayr Barton
- 2 – Owen Carter
- 3 – Will Deane
- 4 – Josh Motes
Jr Men U18
- 1 – Carl Burger
- 2 – Blayr Barton
- 3 – Kai DeLorenzo
- 4 – Kanoa Wong
Mens
- 1 – Kainalu Nichols
- 2 – Josh Motes
- 3 – Mason Burke
- 4 – Chris Moore
All-Star Team Challenge
- 1 – NCFL
- 2 – NFL
- 3 – CFL
- 4 – SNC
- 5 – SNJ