Surfs Up-The 50th Anniversary Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships in Va Beach
The Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships, got underway on Monday, August 20, 2012 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The event, which originally grew from a casual party for affluent teenagers in Gilgo Beach, New York during the summer of 1961, has evolved into a seven day beach sports festival.
The surfing contest will feature many of the big names, some of which the area hasn’t seen before.
That’s good news for surfing fans. But boards and waves aren’t the only reasons the ECSC has been attracting more than 100,000 to its yearly sessions.
Besides the pro surf contests, the weeklong competition features other surfing events, as well as skateboarding, BMX and motocross demos, beach volleyball clinics, exhibitions and competitions, flag football and cornhole tournaments, an 8K race, the annual Wareing’s Gym Beach Bum Classic and, of course, the Miss Coastal Edge ECSC Swimsuit Pageant hosted by the International Bikini Team.
ECSC will also feature a variety of bands – including singer/songwriter/surfer Donavon Frankenreiter, ’80s show band The Deloreans, ’70s party-centric The Right On Band and local favorites Butter and Cheap Thrills.
BMX Competition
ECSC will also feature the LXVI BMX Invitational presented by Vans on August 24th and 25th The LXVI BMX Invitational challenges twenty of the world’s best BMX riders including Scotty Cranmer, Ryan Guettler, Ryan Nyquist and Cory Nastazio as they compete in a triple box jump contest for their share of a $25,000 prize purse.
After just competing in the Dew Tour in Ocean City MD , expected Riders Include: Scotty Cranmer (2012 X-Games Gold BMX Park, 2012 Dew Tour Champion BMX Park), Ryan Guettler (2005 Dew Tour Champion BMX Dirt and Park, X-Games medalist), Pat Casey, Gary Young, Kyle Baldock, Cory Nastazio (X-Games medalist), Ryan Nyquist (numerous X-Games medals and Dew Tour championships), Brett Banasiewicz, Dennis Enarson, Jeremiah Smith, and Brandon Dosch.
BMX Contest Schedule – Best 2 out of 3 Runs
Thursday, Aug. 23rd 2PM – 4PM – Open Practice
Friday, Aug. 24th 12PM – 2PM – Qualifiers
Saturday, Aug. 25th 12PM – 1PM – Finals
BIG SCREEN SPORTS
The X-Life Film Festival will combine its stew of extreme-sports movies with the Coastal Edge ECSC. The film fest is screening seven films daily through Sunday at the Ramada Inn of Virginia Beach at 5th Street, along with special screenings at the Virginia Beach Aquarium IMAX.
Sporting events, musical entertainment and access to Vendor Village are open to spectators FREE of charge; individual sports contestants may pay entry fee. Food and beverage concessions are available on site or at nearby resort restaurants.
ECSC is produced by volunteers of the Va. Beach Jaycees and managed by Resort Management LLC. Portions of the proceeds raised benefit the Jaycee’s many charitable projects.
WANT TO GO?
What Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships presented by Vans
Where Virginia Beach Oceanfront
When Through Sunday, Aug. 26
Cost Free and open to the public (except where noted)
Note For surfing competition standings and the most current information and schedule updates go to www.surfusa.org.
Event Schedule: See the 2012 Coastal Edge ECSC Schedule of Events.
Additional Information: Coastal Edge ECSC Official Website