OC Hosting Regional Surf Event

OCEAN CITY – The largest amateur surf organization in the U.S., Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) will be bringing over 300 competitors to the resort area over multiple weekends throughout the summer and into early fall, including this weekend.

The ESA Delmarva District is hosting the 2013 Mid-Atlantic Regional Surfing Championships, which began yesterday and runs through the weekend, May 10-12, and co-directors Chris Makibbin and David Clazey, who are volunteers, have been dedicating much of their time to provide competitors and spectators a first-class event.

“The first ESA Regional Championship was held in Ocean City in 1985. Twenty-eight years later, we’re back for the fifth time. Ocean City always delivers for the ESA in the surf and on the beach. We’re stoked to be back and thanks to all in Ocean City who support the ESA,” ESA Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Harry Purkey said.

There will be plenty of local competitors who have qualified for the event. ESA All-Star Team members Simon Hetrick, Laurel Harrington, Sam Deeley and Tyler Clazey are some of Ocean City’s local talent who will be competing. All competitors are surfing for their chance to surf the ESA’s final championship event known as the Easterns in September.

“We are thrilled to bring this event back to Ocean City,” says ESA Executive Director Michelle Sommers. “As a local surfer in this area, I’m happy to have ESA districts from Delaware all the way down to the Georgia/Florida border come experience our town and surf our fun waves.”

A live, streaming webcast will cover all the competition on the ESA website. The ESA is welcoming any local sponsors who are interested.

“Businesses and individuals may get a tax benefit for donating, and they are helping to promote this exciting event to a huge audience of various demographics,” Sommers said.

Last week the Ocean City Mayor and City Council approved a request made by Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) Chairman Greg Shockley to allocate $4,000 of TAB’s annual funding to support the live webcast of the ESA Mid- Atlantic Regionals. The last time Ocean City hosted the regional competition was in 2004.

This week the ESA returned to the Mayor and City Council requesting the amateur surf series competitions be scheduled on the weekends of May 18-19 on 48th Street or the Inlet, June 15-16 on 48th Street or the Inlet, June 29-30 on 48th Street or the Inlet, July 20-21 on 8th Street with Malibu’s surf shop, July 27-28 on 30th Street with Chauncey’s surf shop, Aug. 10 on 36th Street with K-Coast surf shop and the Fall Classic on Oct. 5-6 on 48th Street or the Inlet.

The Mayor and City Council approved the dates based on the Ocean City Beach Patrols (OCBP) conflicts being resolved with the events coordinators.

OCBP has listed several concerns and did not recommend using the Inlet on the weekends due to crowds and interference with the first beach equipment franchise.

If interested in sponsorship opportunities for any of the events, contact Sommers at 410-251-8583.

The ESA just celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2012. It’s a 501(c)(3) non-profit amateur athletic organization dedicated to the sport of amateur surfing. The organization promotes amateur competition for surfers of all ages and abilities and is dedicated to the establishment and preservation of free access to a clean shoreline and ocean environment.