NSSA - National Scholastic Surfing Association

The National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage and assist its members in their interest to learn and develop the fundamentals and skills of surfing competition while competing in structured and quality events. The NSSA promotes the qualities of discipline and competitive excellence while supporting the merits of academic achievement to young surfers. The NSSA strives to provide a fun surfing experience for all of its members.

The NSSA is one of the few national youth sports organizations that require its participants to maintain academic standards in order to compete. Since 1978, the NSSA program philosophy has been that athletics and scholastics go hand in hand. More than 80 NSSA events are run nationwide that culminate with the annual National Championships which is regarded as the highest profile youth surfing event in America.


2020 EAST COAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS!

2020 NSSA EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS!

Monday, September 14, 2020| Written by Janice Aragon

2020 NSSA EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS

CAROLINA BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA

SEPTEMBER 11-13

CONDITIONS: WAVES WERE 2-4 FEET AND CLEAN ON OPENING DAY BUILDING TO WINDBLOW CHOPPY 3-5 FOOT PEAKS ON DAY 2 AND THEN PUMPING 4-6 FOOT LEFTS AND RIGHTS WITH CLEAN CONDITIONS ON FINALS DAY. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2020 EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS

**A thrilling historical finals day at the East Coast Championships saw the championship event moved to Carolina Beach, North Carolina. It was the first time the East Coast Championships has moved from Florida since its inception in 1993.

**15-year-old Blayr Barton from Virginia Beach, VA captured his second consecutive triple crown winning the Open Mens, Explorer Juniors and Airshow. In 2019, Barton won the Open Juniors, Explorer Juniors and Airshow. 

 **14-year-old Mia Gallagher Ocean City, NJ, claimed her first two Regional titles in the premier Open Womens division and the Explorer Girls

**For the second straight year, 14-year-old Kepa Mendia took home two Regional titles. In 2019, he won the Open Boys and Junior Airshow. This year he claimed the Open Juniors and went back-to-back in Junior Airshow victories.

**11-year-old Cruz Dinofa went back-to-back claiming his second straight Regional titles in Open Mini Groms and Explorer Super Groms.

**13-year-old Mack Landry surfing in his home waters in Carolina Beach successfully defended his Open Longboard Regional title and also claimed the Explorer Longboard.

**13-year-old Ethan Harbinson captured his third career Regional title in the Explorer Menehuene division. Ethan won double titles in 2018 in Open Mini Groms and Explorer Super Groms.

**17-year-old Noah Brownell took home his first Regional title in Explorer Mens. The victory for Noah was special because his brother Evan took the same title in 2017.

 **Additional first title victories: 13-year-old Abbie Yates in Open Girls, 12-year-old Vance Weyandt in Open Boys, 12-year-old Kylie Pulcini in Open Super Girls, 15-year-old Charles Oblinger in Explorer Boys, 15-year-old Madison Lavender in Explorer Womens, 13-year-old Savannah Love in Explorer Super Girls and 17-year-old Gabby Viorel in Explorer Womens Longboard.

**12-year-old Kora Passarelli took the Caroline Marks Rookie Award. Kora made 4 finals in her first year competing at the East Coast Championships. The Rookie Award given to a Regional Championship newcomer who exceeds expectations at the East Coast Championships event was established by the Marks family in 2018.  

**In the non-student categories, Jason Motes sealed his fourth straight Seniors title. Charley Hajek won his third straight Duke title, Anthony Passarelli won his third Regional title in the Super Seniors (he won the Master and Seniors in 2016) and Eric Worley took his first Regional title in the Masters.

THE SCOREBOARD

FINAL RESULTS

SCORES BASED ON TOP TWO WAVES

EAST COAST OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

OPEN MENS

1. Blayr Barton-Virginia Beach, VA 17.70

2. Braedon Kopec-Ponce Inlet, FL 13.53

3. Owen Wrenn-Wilmington, NC 9.67

4. Noah Brownell-St Augustine, FL 9.56

OPEN JUNIORS

1-Kepa Mendia-West Palm Beach, FL 15.30

2. Blayr Barton-Virginia Beach, VA 13.43

3. Owen Carter-Wrightsville Beach, NC 10.94

4. Charles Oblinger-Wrightsville Beach, NC 10.40

OPEN BOYS

1. Vance Weyandt-Tequesta, FL 12.20

2. Cruz Dinofa, Ocean City, NJ 11.27

3. Ethan Harbinson-New Smyrna Beach, FL 11.30

4. Will Deane-Kill Devil Hills, NC 8.47

OPEN MINI GROMS

1. Cruz Dinofa-Ocean City, NJ 18.04

2. Grady Love-Longwood, FL 13.90

3. Gavin Bren-Ocean City, MD 13.36

4. Gus Hultgren-New Smyrna Beach, FL 9.33

OPEN WOMENS

1. Mia Gallagher-Ocean City, NJ 13.50

2. Ellie Barimo-Jupiter, FL 11.47

3. Madison Lavender-Sorrento, FL 8.73

4. Sarah Stotz-Cocoa Beach, FL 7.24

OPEN GIRLS

1. Abbie Yates-Melbourne, FL 15.30

2. Niyah Rosen-New Smyrna Beach, FL 13.07

3. Mia Gallagher-Ocean City, NJ 11.03

4. Kora Passarelli-Indialantic, FL 8.30

OPEN SUPER GIRLS

1. Kylie Pulcini-Melbourne, FL 14.54

2. Savannah Love-Longwood, FL 11.63

3. Kora Passarelli-Indialantic, FL 10.66

4. Brynn Gallagher-Ocean City, NJ 8.34

OPEN LONGBOARD

1. Mack Landry-Carolina Beach, NC 14.23

2. Rob Schweizer-Flagler Beach, FL 9.60

3. Gavin Idone-Cocoa Beach, FL 8.33

4. Abigail Remke-Pensacola, FL 4.36

EAST COAST EXPLORER CHAMPIONSHIPS

EXPLORER MENS

1. Noah Brownell-St. Augustine, FL 12.43

2. Owen Wrenn-Wilmington, NC 11.73

3. Eric Worley-Palm Coast, FL 11.56

4. Jason Motes-Jacksonville Beach, FL 8.33

EXPLORER JUNIORS

1. Blayr Barton-Virginia Beach, VA 15.60

2. Owen Carter-Wrightsville Beach, NC 15.30

3. Braedon Kopec-Ponce Inlet, FL 13.57

4. Charles Oblinger-Wrightsville Beach, NC 11.16

EXPLORER BOYS

1. Charles Oblinger-Wrightsville Beach, NC 14.54

2. Owen Carter-Wrightsville Beach, NC 14.50

3. Kepa Mendia-West Palm Beach, FL 13.20

4. Braedon Kopec-Ponce Inlet, FL 12.03

EXPLORER MENEHUENE

1. Ethan Harbinson-New Smyrna Beach, FL 13.30

2. Will Deane-Kill Devil Hills, NC 12.87

3. Dylan O’Hallaron-Pompono Beach, FL 11.50

4. Cruz Dinofa-Ocean City, NJ 10.96

EXPLORER SUPER GROMS

1. Cruz Dinofa-Ocean City, NJ 16.80

2. Gavin Bren-Ocean City, MD 15.67

3. Cash Nipper-Ponce Inlet, FL 14.47

4. Gus Hultgren-New Smyrna Beach, FL 5.20

EXPLORER WOMENS

1. Madison Lavender-Sorrento, FL 13.80

2. Ellie Barimo-Jupiter, FL 8.23

3. Grace Knoechel-Neptune Beach, FL 7.63

4. Mia Gallagher-Ocean City, NJ 6.76

EXPLORER GIRLS

1. Mia Gallagher-Ocean City, NJ 13.87

2. Niyah Rosen-New Smyrna Beach, FL 10.50

3. Abbie Yates-Melbourne, FL 9.44

4. Kora Passarelli-Indialantic, FL 8.66

EXPLORER SUPER GIRLS

1. Savannah Love-Longwood, FL 11.63

2. Kylie Pulcini-Melbourne, FL 11.60

3. Kora Passarelli-Indialantic, FL 10.33

4. Carlie Eastwood-New Smyrna Beach, FL 7.50

EXPLORER MASTERS

1. Eric Worley-Palm Coast, FL 13.74

2. Jason Motes-Jacksonville Beach, FL 10.33

EXPLORER SENIORS

1. Jason Motes-Jacksonville Beach, FL 15.14

2. Anthony Passarelli-Indialantic, FL 12.66

EXPLORER SUPER SENIORS

1. Anthony Passarelli-Indialantic, FL 12.66

2. Jason Motes-Jacksonville Beach, FL 11.76

EXPLORER DUKE

1. Charley Hajek-New Smyrna Beach, FL 16.30

EXPLORER LONGBOARD

1. Mack Landry-Carolina Beach, NC 15.30

2. Gabby Viorel-Wilmington, NC 9.76

3. Gavin Idone-Cocoa Beach, FL 9.54

4. Rob Schweizer-Flagler Beach, FL 9.24

EXPLORER WOMENS LONGBOARD

1. Gabby Viorel-Wilmington, NC 12.07

2. Abigail Remke-Pensacola, FL 7.66

EAST COAST AIRSHOW CHAMPIONSHIPS

1-Blayr Barton-Virginia Beach, VA

EAST COAST JUNIOR AIRSHOW CHAMPIONSHIPS

1-Kepa Mendia-West Palm Beach, FL

ROOKIE AWARD presented by Caroline Marks

Kora Passarelli

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2020 EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS

About NSSA

The National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage and assist its members in their interest to learn and develop the fundamentals and skills of surfing competition while competing in structured and quality events. The NSSA promotes the qualities of discipline and competitive excellence while supporting the merits of academic achievement to young surfers. The NSSA strives to provide a fun surfing experience for all of its members.

The NSSA is one of the few national youth sports organizations that require its participants to maintain academic standards in order to compete. Since 1978, the NSSA program philosophy has been that athletics and scholastics go hand in hand. More than 80 NSSA events are run nationwide that culminate with the annual National Championships which is regarded as the highest profile youth surfing event in America.