Press Release by White Whale Productions
OCEAN CITY, MD.– Next up on the schedule is Delmarva Eastern Surfing Association's largest competition of the year, Atlantic Smith Cropper and Deeley Insurance Maryland State Surfing Championships, Saturday and Sunday at 48 th Street in Ocean City, Md.
“We expect about 250 competitors who will arrive from all over the place,” said Delmarva ESA District Director Art Baltrotsky. “You never know who's going to show up.”
State titles are awarded in four open divisions: Shortboard, Longboard, Bodyboard and Women's Shortboard. The Open Shortboard winner is considered the Maryland State Surfing Champion.
Last year Chris Vaxmonsky, of Ocean Pines, was named state champion and Carly Linthicum, of Salisbury, earned the Women's Shortboard state title.
“It's a championship event and it's open to any ESA member,” Baltrotsky said. “In the ESA you have to do well in all the events to earn points to qualify for Regionals. This competition is a points event, but it's also about bragging rights.”
According to Baltrotsky, the favorite to win is Ocean City's Vince Boulanger, who won the last two ESA competitions he surfed in. “He's the one to look out for.”
The state championship contest started in the 1980s and past champions from the area, who went on to pro careers, were Chad Hopkins, Max Hoshino and bodyboard legend Jay Reale.
The event starts 8 a.m. Saturday with the age divisions going on all day. The open divisions should start Sunday morning.
For information about the event, call 1-888-632-4742 or visit www.DelmarvaESA.org .