ESA’S 2017 EASTERNS FINISHES IN EPIC SURF

The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA)’s 2017 Easterns® Surfing Championships presented by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau concluded on Saturday in ideal surf conditions that some say they’ve never witnessed along the east coast. Hurricanes Jose and Maria provided consistent, overhead, clean, peeling waves for the remaining four straight days of the week-long championship contest held at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina. The perfect waves combined with the ESA’s 50th anniversary made this year’s Easterns® one for the record books.

“I’ve never seen so many perfect days of waves and weather for an ESA event,” said Michelle Sommers, ESA’s executive director. “It truly looked like a perfect day in Hawaii.” Easterns® head judge, Chip Hall, added, “That was the best finals I’ve ever judged.”

All eyes were on the Jr. Mens final on Saturday. After a tribute to ESA-photographer Mickey McCarthy in which all four finalists paddled out with flowers, Florida’s Kai Delorenzo scored a perfect 10 for his first wave of the heat, followed by another perfect 10 by ESA All-Star, Boys U16 and the GoPro Open division winner Logan Kamen.

Hall said, “I’ve been judging a long time and that last final was probably the best heat I’ve ever watched in my 30 years.” After several more high scores among all four finalists, Kamen claimed victory and also took home the Jr. Iron Man Award.

“I arrived focused and excited to compete in 6 to 10 ft surf, ” said Kamen. “It was an honor to be here and win three titles as that 10 in my Jr. Men final was definitely one to remember.”

Kamen, Delorenzo and first-year Easterns® competitor Noah Ferrell each won a Hot Wave Award for scoring perfect 10s in the event. Ferrell, out of the ESA SNC district, put on an amazing show surfing his longboard heats on Friday, and won the Jr. Mens Longboard division on Saturday. Callie Summerlin, another SNC competitor, claimed first in the Jr Women Longboard, while Scott Pieno took the title in the Menehune Longboard division.

Maddie Ryan won first place in the close-scoring Jr. Womens division. Ryan and ESA All-Star Leah Thompson battled it out for the win in another exciting heat. “The level at which all the girls are surfing is so high that I am very proud to have won the Jr Women U18,” said Ryan.

Even the younger competitors courageously paddled out in the powerful waves to battle for an Easterns® champion title. Florida’s Evan Tyson and Blake Turner won first place in the Menehune U12 and Sharkbanz Boys U14 divisions, respectively. Sarah Abbott won the Sharkbanz Girls U14, while Georgia’s Anna Bloess took first in the Girls U16.

ESA All-Star Kainalu Nichols left with the Sportmanship Award for his bravery and heroism in saving a fellow competitor from what could have been a tragic event. Bree Labiak took home the Jr. Iron Woman Award for all of her heats and scores throughout the event.

A full list of finalists may be found on the Easterns® webpage, and the youth divisions finalists are listed below. Special thanks to the event sponsors who provided prizes to the winners.

Kala Brand Music
Sharkbanz
OluKai
Phunky Apparel
dryrobe
Chums
Surfco Hawaii
Zane’s of Carolina
Kingii
GoPro
Beach Gladiator
Sticky Bumps Surf Wax
Many thanks to everyone who supported the 2017 Easterns®.

Jennette’s Pier
The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau
Town of Nags Head
Sun Realty
Cafe Lachine
Whalebone Surf Shop
Kitty Hawk Surf Company
The Spot
Hatteras Island Christian Fellowship
Eastern Surf Magazine
Dick “Mez” Meseroll
Tom Dugan
Mickey McCarthy
Joe McGovern
Shoots Media
Pepsi
Nags Head Pizza Company
Ocean Atlantic Rentals
Tropical Smoothie at the Tanger Outlets in Nags Head
Dunkin Donuts
Yellow Submarine
TW Bait & Tackle
Anchor Scaffolding
Outer Banks Brewing Station
Carve Designs
Millenium Marketing Solutions
Surfin’ Spoon
plak that Printing Company
Harrington Graphics
Tara Mosely Graphic Design
www.Swellinfo.com
Surfer Magazine
Sharkinetics
Tom Leonik Engineering
John Ross Productions

RESULTS FOR THE YOUTH DIVISIONS:

Junior Men U18 (17 & under)

1 – Logan Kamen CNJ

2 – Kai Delorenzo SAFL

3 – Ted Eberhart VA

4 – Kai Barton VA

Menehune U12 (11 & under, M/F)

1 – Evan Tyson SAFL

2 – Carl Burger SAFL

3 – CJ Mangio NY

4 – Chase Lieder NY

“Sharkbanz” Boys U14 (13 & under)

1 – Blake Tanner NFL

2 – Alexander Harris SNC

3 – CJ Mangio NY

4 – Kanoa Wong VA

Boys U16 (15 & under)

1 – Logan Kamen CNJ

2 – Shawn Arthur, Jr. SAFL

3 – Dylon Weeks SNC

4 – Blayr Barton VA

“Sharkbanz” Girls U14 (13 & under)

1 – Sarah Abbott PBFL

2 – Rachel Wilson VA

3 – Bree Labiak NSC

4 – Abbie Yates CFL

Girls U16 (15 & under)

1 – Anna Bloess GA

2 – Leah Thompson SNC

3 – Bree Labiak NSC

4 – Audrey Presti CFL

Junior Women U18 (17 & under)

1 – Maddie Ryan NNE

2 – Leah Thompson SNC

3 – Jasmine Gailey CFL

4 – Sophie Falzone NFL

Menehune Longboard U14 (13 & under, M/F)

1 – Scott Pieno VA

2 – Dakota Cottle CNC

3 – Katelyn Sewell SNC

4 – Trelane McLaughlin NFL

Junior Longboard U18 (17 & under)

1 – Noah Ferrell SNC

2 – Cory Jackson SSC

3 – Trip Chandler NSC

4 – Kainalu Nichols NNE

Junior Womens Longboard U18 (17 & under)

1 – Callie Summerlin SNC

2 – Jasmine Gailey CFL

3 – Georgia Cook GA

4 – Elsa Quillin DMV

Menehune Bodyboard U14 (13 & under, M/F)

1 – Kai Nau SNC

2 – Mako Musilunas NSC

3 – Noah Harrell SNC

4 – Ben Allen SSC

Junior Iron Man –

Logan Kamen CNJ

Iron Man –

Jason Motes NFL

Iron Woman –

Bree Labiak NSC

Hot Wave –

Kai Delorenzo SAFL

Noah Ferrell SNC

Logan Kamen CNJ