Catching Waves for Charity
Longboard contest is a highlight of the Wrightsville Beach surf scene
BY Fritts Causby
Mark your calendar!
October 16th
Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association’s
Pro-Am Longboard Surf Contest
Take the shoes off, grab a chair, and watch some of the best surfers on the East Coast compete for a $2,000 cash prize in the Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association’s (WBLA) upcoming Pro-Am Longboard Surf Contest, set to take place on Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Stone Street beach access (number 28) in Wrightsville Beach.
The contest, in its 16th year, will feature a nose riding division as well as a twin fin retro event, for those who are averse to the glide. The family-oriented competition will have a hospitality tent with complimentary breakfast items and coffee, as well as a raffle for a longboard from local board maker Savage and many other prizes.
In the past, the event has attracted top names including Tony Silvagni, a Carolina Beach native and U.S. surf team gold medalist, Brad Rose, and Steven Mangiacapre.
“People come from all over the East Coast to compete in this, from as far away as New Jersey and Florida,” says WBLA president Laura Shearin.
Funds raised will be allocated to the WBLA’s ongoing community service efforts.
“I would like to thank our sponsors, especially Jerry Allen’s, our local surf shops and members for making this happen,” Shearin says.
Outreach initiatives have included a monthly beach sweep, service scholarships, financial assistance with medical bills, gas and gift cards, and Thanksgiving and Christmas presents.
“We are 50 percent outreach and 50 percent fun,” Shearin says, “and always on the lookout for new ways to help the community.”
The WBLA was founded in 1999 with a mission to promote surfing as a healthy lifestyle, engage with the local community, and build a stronger coastal community. The association meets the first Monday of every month at Katy’s Great Eats in Wilmington and has a weekly paddle-out at access 10 in Wrightsville Beach.