The 55th annual Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships was another triumph as professional and amateur surfers alike descended on Virginia Beach to compete for top honors and awards, or just for the love of the sport.
From Sunday, August 20th, throughout the week, athletes of all ages had their chance to battle the waves in multiple events. Virginia Beach has a long history with the East Coast Surfing Championships, which has been organized by the Virginia Beach Jaycees since 1963. Though the week was certainly highlighted by all the surfing talent, Virginia Beach locals and visitors were able to enjoy many forms of entertainment and activities such as a 5K run, volleyball tournament, BMX, a swimsuit pageant, and live music. Sponsored by Coastal Edge, ECSC has always brought together families, friends, and local businesses to soak up the fun and support their city.
A Virginia Beach favourite, Coastal Edge is a one stop shop for everything surfing, skating, and attire. For the last nine years, Coastal Edge has sponsored of East Coast Surfing Championships. “It is amazing to see the generations of board riders that converge here every year in Virginia Beach to celebrate this 55-year-old event. We are very appreciative to the Jaycees, the city of Virginia Beach, and all of our sponsors without whose help, this event could not possibly take place and be as memorable as it has become. We are just very happy to be a part of it,” said Coastal Edge owner, Dee Nachnani.
In addition to mainstream event sponsors like VANs, Monster Energy, and Jeep, many local companies were present to showcase their services. As a guest judge for the Miss ECSC Pageant, ABS Technology CEO, Hunter Dorroh, enjoyed his ninth consecutive appearance at the surfing championship. “We’ve always loved the community aspect of ECSC. It’s always wonderful to see people of all ages enjoy this event, and giving back to the community is our favourite part of it.” Headquartered in Virginia Beach, ABS Technology is a premier IT solutions provider, in addition to staffing services. “We offer everything from the cable to the cloud, but we’re absolutely excited about the direction of our staffing services in particular.”
As a first time attendee of ECSC, ABS Staffing Solutions Manager, Caitlin Johnson, could not have asked for a more perfect day. “I’ve had a wonderful time today. There’s something here for everyone to enjoy. I personally just like spending some time on the beach with my friends and work colleagues.” When asked about ABS Staffing Services, Caitlin said “business is certainly surging in that area. We’re all very excited. We take great pride in being able help so many Virginia Beach businesses, especially in this competitive economic climate.”
Left to Right: Hunter Dorroh: CEO of ABS Technology (wearing glasses), Dee Nachnani: Owner of Coastal Edge, Caitlin Johnson: Staffing Solutions Manager at ABS Technology
Aside from the bustling between the business tents at ECSC, it wasn’t hard to spot kids and families partaking in the festivities. Live music was free of charge, and large crowds took advantage to watch performers such as Ballyhoo!, Passafire, and The Expendables. Bleachers were filled with spectators for the Tidewater Volleyball Association tournaments, with top prizes being up to $10,000. One of the more unique features of the day was from the first appearance by IHeart Radio, who brought a massive swimming pool onto the beach for anyone to cool off in and watch the Miss ECSC Pageant. For those of us who left our surf board at home, it was easy to join a game of cornhole or check out the Freestyle Motocross, which was certainly a fan favourite with the youngsters.
So if you missed out on the action at this years Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships, come back next year, grab a drink, and let atmosphere and fun take care of the rest.
