VIRGINIA BEACH — It’s a perfect storm of conditions that are setting up for a spectacular atmosphere at this week’s East Coast Surfing Championships at the Oceanfront through Sunday. Forecasted temps for the ECSC are projected in the high 70s to low 80s with the sun shining brightly. “It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful summer week,” ECSC surf director Phil Jackson said.
“Lots of families are coming to town from all over the world and we’re hoping to get that sunny Virginia Beach weather that we all love.” But it’s the effects from Tropical Storm Ernesto camping out off the East Coast that has event staff and competitors brimming with enthusiasm. “We have some Ernesto swell lingering around and another shot of northeast swell coming mid-to-late week so we should have an excitingfinish,” Jackson said.
Added ECSC general manager Tony Pellino: “Ernesto swells were ripping through (early Monday) and we’re hoping it sticks around throughfinals. There were killer waves on Sunday for the start.” Hundreds of surfers from across the globe are expected to compete across the various men’s and women’s divisions — from the youngest mini groms to amateurs to professionals.
Some competitors are traveling from as far away as Costa Rica, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Pro/am competition is scheduled to get underway daily at 7:30 a.m.
at the 1st Street Jetty. “We have a ton of up-and-coming East Coast, West Coast and international surfers in the (men’s) .