THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 21, 1994 TAG: 9408200121
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY W. KEVIN ARMSTRONG AND LARRY BROWN, Staff writers
LENGTH: Long : 148 lines
PACK YOUR WAX and step aside. It's time for the real pros to hit the beach next weekend when the East Coast Surfing Championships and Beach Sports Festival kicks off.
The annual event, sponsored by the Virginia Beach Jaycees, should draw about 100 surfing pros and more than 300 amateur competitors to the South Beach where money and pro circuit surfing points are up for grabs.
Everyone is welcome except Tropical Storm Chris, who last week was lurking off the south Atlantic Seaboard. While no one wants bad weather, organizers of this year's classic are dreaming of an encore of last year's ideal waves, enhanced by the hurricane that never came.
``Last year, (Hurricane Emily) was southeast off Hatteras,'' said ECSC co-chairman Jim Davis. ``It kicked up some waves. Personally, I'm hoping that's what Chris does.''
Emily set the stage in '93 for some of the best conditions in recent memory at the surfing event, now entering its 32nd year.
``You hope that the hurricane doesn't come close enough to do any damage, but close enough to kick up the surf,'' explained Kevin Merritt, the ECSC's other co-chairman.
The purse for this year's championships, sponsored by Budweiser and Wave Riding Vehicles, is $20,000, which will be divided among the top finishers along with points needed to place in the Bud Tour's circuit. Virginia Beach is the ninth stop in a 12-city summer tour and the only East Coast city. Hawaii plays host to two contests, and California has the other nine.
As is traditional, the level of experience is cross generational. Long boarders who remember boards made of wood will be out there with whippersnappers who grew up with the fiberglass variety.
Among the local hopefuls is Chris Thompson, 15, who will compete as one of the top surfers in the junior and junior long-board divisions.
``(My goal is) to get into the top three,'' Thompson said Thursday while practicing at the 1st Street jetty.
Jesse Molton, of Virginia Beach, will mark his debut at the the ECSC with his first competition.
``I hope to at least place,'' said Molton, who will stake a claim for the junior short board division.
Jason Erwin is accustomed to the competition. He has surfed in contests since he was 10 and said the ECSC is always a highlight.
``The prizes are different. They're a lot bigger,'' Erwin said. ``At this you get to meet some of the pros.''
This year some of those pros will be women.
For the first time, they can compete in the professional division. Until now, they had been limited to amateur status. About 20 to 30 women are expected to challenge for the $1,000 purse, said ECSC spokesman Maggie Getzinger.
But the event, she points out, is a lot more than just surfing.
More than 2,500 people will be competing in everything from a 5-kilometer run to golf and volleyball tournaments.
Organizers have even added an obstacle course this year in which spectators can race the clock for prizes.
``We did this to get spectators more interested in the events,'' said Getzinger, who got involved with the ECSC two years ago when a friend invited her along. ``We want to make spectators aware that this is more than a surfing event.''
Oceanfront action, which is free and open to the public, begins Thursday and continues through Sunday from Rudee Inlet to 9th Street.
The surfing will take place off 2nd Street, while 30 volleyball courts will be spread between 6th and 9th streets. The ever popular ECSC Swimsuit Contest takes place on Saturday and Sunday with winners named each day.
Last year police estimated that 50,000 spectators showed up on each of the festival's two weekend days, and organizers are planning for a larger crowd this year.
``We expect that to be higher because of the bands we're bringing in,'' said Merritt, explaining that the nationally-known ``Judy Bats'' and ``Smithereens'' headline a slate of entertainment on the stage set up in the sand between 4th and 5th streets.
Aside from those who actually show up for the event, its audience will grow to millions more thanks to Prime Ticket, which will film the event for broadcast Sept. 18 on the Home Team Sports cable channel.
Not to be overlooked is the benefit to the Virginia Beach Jaycees, who stage the event annually as their top fund-raiser. Proceeds from the sale of T-shirts, soda and beer will be used to help fund charitable efforts, such as buying Christmas gifts for needy children and sending kids with handicaps to summer camp
Davis, a Beach native, has been a Jaycees member for 12 years and been involved with the ECSC almost as long.
``The thing has grown to the point where it's a very big event,'' he said, defining his role as co-chairman. ``The hardest part is trying to coordinate all that and seeing that it falls into place at the right time . . . and that everyone gets what they need.''
For Davis, though, this is it.
Next year the self-employed carpenter reaches 40, the cutoff for membership in the civic group.
Merritt said it takes a 36-member executive committee actively planing for nine months and 376 volunteers working on-site for four days to pull off the event.
Those workers, which include most of the Jaycees' membership, their families and friends, get only a big thanks and a T-shirt when it's all over. MEMO: Interested in volunteering or entering the volleyball tournament or 5K
race? Call the ECSC hotline at 557-6140.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
More than 400 surfers will compete in the East Coast championship.
Jesse Molton, 14, right, will be surfing in the championships for
the first time this year, while Jason Erwin, 15, is competing for
the fourth year in a row.
ECSC SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Aug. 24
8 a.m. - Golf tournament at Hell's Point.
Thursday, Aug. 25
7 a.m. - ESA amateur competition begins.
Friday, Aug. 26 8 a.m. - Professional surfers competition begins.
Amateur surfing continues. Beach volleyball begins; skimboarding
competition starts.
Noon - Concessions open.
5 to 8:30 p.m. - ECSC kick-off party at the 5th Street stage,
featuring Bill Deal, Fat Ammon and The Original Rhondels.
Saturday, Aug. 27 6:30 a.m. - Beachfront 5K late registration.
8 a.m. - Beachfront 5K starts.
8 a.m. - Pro/Am surfing continues, beach volleyball begins,
skimboarding competition starts.
9 a.m. - Concessions open, obstacle course opens.
Noon - Team tug-of-war competition begins; the band ``Thrill
Cats'' performs.
2 p.m. - Band ``Shane's Last Stand'' performs.
4 p.m. - Women's swimsuit contest begins.
6 p.m. - Band ``Waterworks'' performs.
8 p.m. - Band ``Judy Bats'' performs on the 5th Street stage.
Sunday, Aug. 28
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Finals for Pro/Am surfing, volleyball, and
skimboarding.
9 a.m. - Concessions open, obstacle course opens.
10 a.m. - Tug-of-war competition.
11 a.m. - Catamaran races.
Noon - Band ``Level Green'' performs.
2:30 p.m. - Awards ceremony.
3:30 p.m. - Women's swimsuit contest.
4:30 p.m. - Band ``The Smithereens'' performs.
by CNB