North America’s Oldest Surf Contest Celebrates 50 Year Anniversary with ASP 6-Star Designation

Virginia Beach, VA (March 28, 2012) – The 50th anniversary edition of the Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships (CE-ECSC), North America’s oldest surf contest, gains even more prestige as the Pro division, the Vans Pro, is designated as an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star event and the Vans Pro Junior contest is upgraded to a 6-Star ASP Junior Qualifying event.

The $155,000 Vans Pro and $30,000 Vans Pro Junior presented by Coastal Edge and hydrated by vitaminwater will run concurrently within the ECSC at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront August 20-26, 2012, with dramatically increased purses and valuable pro tour rating points on the line, enabling surf fans to see many of the top surfers in the world in Virginia Beach and on the global webcast.

The 6-Star Vans Pro and Junior Pro at the Coastal Edge ECSC returned to ASP sanctioning last August and were contested under intense seas kicked up by Hurricane Irene. Until this year, the 2011 4-Star designations were the highest ever for the pro contest at the ECSC. Although the Vans Pro is one of ten ASP Star events scheduled globally in 2012, it is the only ASP 6-Star event taking place in North America and the highest rated event on the East Coast.

Surfers competing in ASP Star events gain ratings points that figure into the ASP World Rankings with the top 32 surfers qualifying for the ASP World Tour.

“The Coastal Edge ECSC’s historic standing of 50 years in 2012 is just a few years more than Vans’ 45-plus years supporting surf and skate,” says Doug Palladini, Vans’ Vice President of Marketing. “We’re excited to help lead the 50th annual Coastal Edge ECSC giving North American surfers the opportunity to gain ASP ratings points and prize money while literally taking part in surf history.

“Last year, we were excited to regain ASP sanctioning and have the international surf community rediscover the event’s place among the tour’s elite contests. To have a 6-Star event here in Virginia Beach — the largest ASP designated contest in the United States – we are overjoyed,” added D. Nachnani, president, Coastal Edge.

“I remember the first ECSC all those years ago, and I’ve looked forward to it every year since,” said Virginia Beach Mayor William B. Sessoms, Jr. “I’m thrilled with the enthusiasm that surrounds this event every year, and I’m proud that the ASP’s six-star rating finally gives the championship the recognition and prestige it deserves. Here’s to 50 more years!”

The Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships presented by Vans, is the oldest surf contest in North America and the second longest continuously-run surf contest in the world. Year in and year out, the Coastal Edge ECSC is also one of the largest surf events held globally with more than 800 participants across more than 35 divisions in 2011. Produced annually by the Virginia Beach Jaycees and managed by Resort Management, LLC, the Coastal Edge ECSC beach festival, will also include skate, BMX and motocross demos along with many other beach activities. The event is open to the public and is free of charge. Portions of the proceeds raised at the CE-ECSC benefit the Jaycees many charitable projects. For event information, visit www.surfecsc.com. Contact: George@surfecsc.com for sponsorship inquiries.

About Vans Surf

Vans supports and promotes surfing and surfers through a full line of footwear and apparel and events such as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, the ASP 4-Star Vans Pier Classic at Huntington Beach and the ASP 6-Star Vans Pro at the East Coast Surfing Championships and the progressive longboard Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational contests. The Vans Surf team is led by a talented group of riders including Nathan Fletcher, John Florence, Joel Tudor, Dane Reynolds, Pat, Dane and Tanner Gudauskas, Ivan and Nathan Florence, Alex Knost, Andrew Doheny, Dylan Graves, Kalani Chapman, Wade Goodall and Leila Hurst.

For more information on Vans’ surf happenings, our team plus our footwear and apparel, visit vanssurf.com and follow us on Twitter @vanssurf.

For more information on Coastal Edge, please visit www.coastaledge.com.

Photos of 2011 winners in:

Men’s Junior Pro—Nat Young

Men’s Pro—Kolohe Andino

Women’s Pro—Chelsea Roett

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy East Beach Photography

SHOP CE ECSC SWEATSHIRTS

RESULTS

HURRICANE IRENE FORCES SCHEDULE CHANGES TO COASTAL EDGE

EAST COAST SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Vans Pro and Vans Pro Junior Events Will Conclude Friday;
• Other  Surfing Divisions May Continue This Weekend as Conditions Permit;
• All Music and Stage Activities Cancelled;
• All Ancillary Beach Sports Cancelled for Saturday, Sunday

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011) –  Weather conditions caused by Hurricane Irene have forced several changes to the weekend events schedule for the 49^th Annual Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships (ECSC) presented by Vans.

As of 3 p.m. today, event organizers have officially cancelled all ECSC beach activities, musical entertainment and non-surfing sporting events for Saturday, Aug. 27 and Sunday, Aug. 28.

Based on forecasts for the path of Hurricane Irene, the beach festival’s producers will determine whether Friday activities will also be affected and will make an announcement after 6 p.m. Thursday.

Changes to CE-ECSC schedule of events:

• Cancelled: Donavon Frankenreiter, the popular surfer/singer/songwriter was scheduled to perform on Saturday, Aug. 27.

• Cancelled:  Hardee’s Chicken Tenders Main Stage events.   Saturday and Sunday musical acts and the Miss Coastal Edge ECSC swimsuit competition.

• Cancelled:  Skullcandy Stage events. All musical acts scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Skullcandy Stage at the Jetty.

• Cancelled:  All ancillary beach sports have been cancelled for Saturday and Sunday.  This includes: Professional and Amateur beach volleyball; skimboarding; skateboard and BMX demonstrations, including Tony Hawk exhibition; Whiffle Ball, Flag Football, Cornhole tournaments, and the boardwalk 8K race.

• Cancelled: Exhibitions.  Including: “Life Rolls On,” Billabong All-Out Tow-At, “Reef Clash of the Legends” surfing challenge, Tony Hawk Birdhouse World Skate Tour.

• Early Completion: ASP 4-Star rated professional surfing – the Vans Pro Men’s, and the Vans Pro Jr. Men’s  ($85,000 and $20,000 respective purses) —both divisions will be completed on Friday, Aug. 26, including the finals and award presentations.  [This division was originally scheduled to conclude on Sunday, Aug. 28.]

• Early Completion:  Surfing divisions for surfers under 18 years of age will be concluded by Friday.

• Surfing continues for adult and more accomplished divisions and may be contested, as conditions safely permit.  Some divisions may be conducted Saturday, Aug, 27 and possibly Sunday, Aug, 28, weather and safety conditions permitting.  [Originally scheduled to end Sunday, Aug. 28]

The Coastal Edge ECSC is located on the Virginia Beach oceanfront from 2^nd to 9^th streets. This year’s event expected more than 100,000 people to attend.

About CE-ECSC

The 49^th Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships presented by Vans, Rockstar Energy Drink and Skullcandy is the oldest surf contest in North America and the second longest continuously-run surf contest in the world.  Year in and year out, the Coastal Edge ECSC is also one of the largest surf events held globally with more than 900 surfers participating in 2011.

Produced annually by the Virginia Beach Jaycees, the Coastal Edge ECSC beach festival, which will also include skate and BMX demos along with many other beach activities, is open to the public, free of charge.  Portions of the proceeds raised at the ECSC benefit the Jaycees many charitable projects such as Camp Virginia Jaycee.  For event information, visit www.surfecsc.com.

For more information on Vans and Vans Surf, please visit vans.com or vanssurf.com.   For more information on Coastal Edge, please visit www.coastaledge.com

Crews hit the beach to prep for Monday’s start of the East Coast Surfing Championships and other events, including a half-pipe ramp to be used by pro skateboarder Tony Hawk.

There is still time to:

VOLUNTEER – get a FREE T SHIRT!

COMPETE

or be a VIP SPECTATOR