Checking in on the S&A team at ESA Mid-Atlantic Regionals

OK, I know this post is a bit belated, but doesn't the old saying go, "better late than never?"That certainly applies to the recognition two of Surf and Adventure's team riders deserve for their performances at the Eastern Surfing Association's Mid-Atlantic Regionals May 13 through May 16, which qualifies surfers for September's "Easterns," the ESA's grand championship.
Hillary Watters and Forrest Roberts managed the small-but-contestable conditions at First Street Jetty to punch their tickets to Buxton.

Renaissance man Forrest Roberts showed his prowess on a different type of shred stick, winning a super-tight open bodyboard finals in which two points separated first and third places.
Forrest also knocked on the door of his bread-and-butter division in junior men's shortboard, placing third in the round-of-30 and second in the quarterfinals to earn a spot in an absolutely stacked semifinal heat. Against the likes of Outer Banks ripper Julian Payne and Central North Carolina's Evan Barton, who placed first and second in the division's finals, respectively, Forrest came up short in the deteriorating conditions and placed sixth.
However, his semifinal push in one of the ESA's most rugged divisions is solid evidence of Forrest's constant improvement, wave-reading savvy and explosive natural talent. Hats off!
Hillary showed her diversity as well as she cruised to two Easterns births in women's shortboard and longboard.
In shortboard, Hillary put a distance of five points between herself and fourth-place finisher Kaitlynn Curran of Delmarva to lock down a finals appearance and a guaranteed trip to Easterns. She ended the tournament with a fifth-place finish.
Hillary improved on her shortboard showing by earning a third-place finish in longboard, using her style and grace to snag a great seeding for Easterns.
Good luck in September guys, and keep checking the blog for how our team riders fare!

-- John Streit