41st Annual ESA Eastern Surfing Championships Underway In The Outer Banks
Justin Cote
- September 21 2008
- 9 comments
The cream of the Right Coast crop has risen to the top and they’re here all week at the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Day one at the 2008 ESA Eastern Surfing Championships held at Cape Hatteras National Park in North Carolina. Photo: Justin Cote
The big news here is that the contest has gone mobile. That’s right, just like a WCT event, the ESA—with the blessing of the National Park Rangers—is looking to move the event down the coast to Frisco, a quick ten-minute drive down Highway 12.
Why the move? Try having a contest in 40-knot winds and sending 10-year old girls into triple overhead surf. That said, it’s Game On for everyone here and the level of excitement concerning the swell is palpable.
It’s not perfect, but with overhead lefts reeling down the beach and the water in the mid 70s, nobody’s complaining—especially with some solid surf coming our way midweek.
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The adult divisions ran today in windy, yet head-high and rip-able conditions. We were quite busy surfing really fun waves down the beach and there was tons of spray that made it difficult to see who was ripping the hardest, but suffice to say these old boys out here on still on their A-game.
We just got home from the opening banquet, where we were treated to a heavy dose of Southern hospitality courtesy of the ESA and Hatteras Realty. With food like this: fried chicken, pulled pork, potato salad, ‘slaw, baked beans, hushpuppies, and sweet tea, we best be doing some serious paddling in the next couple days…
Vegetarian? You ain’t from these parts are ya?
On a side note, four nearby portal-potties were burned to the ground today by an arsonist and there’s a $1000 reward out for this jerkoff. Contact Justin.cote@transworld.net with any leads—I only take 25%. In all seriousness, let’s not allow someone to ruin the privilege of having the ESA Championships at one of America’s premier spots. It’s way too beautiful out here for that.
ESA member Kyla holds a beautiful painting donated by ESA legend Cecil Lear that went up for bid.
Log on everyday to transworldsurf.com for daily updates, photo galleries, and video clips from the 41st annual ESA East Coast Championships—Justin Cote and Dirty Jerz
Thanks heaps for this indeed!… if anyone else has anything, it would be much appreciated. Great website Super Piano Links 
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September 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 am
ya boys! surfs gonna be BOMBING! youll get to see the massive, sketch i get to paddle out in when it gets big, haha. just left John Wayne a few hours ago, stayin the night in Pheonix. see ya Tuesday. late
p.s.- frisco could be good this week… super bad current, but could be pretty alright.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:58 am
Yeah Brett! Let’s do this. I’m coming in wednesday night, haven’t surfed in weeks, can’t wait to get worked. I misplaced your cell #, email it to me and we’ll get the crew together for some dirt barrels.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
yea It definately was that sunday, but the swell angle was reeling down the bar, just ALOT of water moving. way to go at the contest by the way Brett!
September 25th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Hey All,
Just want to thanks you for the GREAT coverage and photo’s. I can’t be at Hatterras to cheer on my daughter Nora Vasconcellos (Jr. Womans Long and short) because of work commitments, so being able to SEE and read about it is. . . well priceless.
I so appreciate all you are doing to keep the contest going despite the weather. So many contestants and families stretch their budgets, limits and school schedules to be there and you honor them with your gallant effort. In these girls (and all contestents) hope, commitment, passion and promise are muscles dying to be exercised. And because of you, some of them are getting the best workout of their lives!
Forever Grateful!
Joan Vasconcellos