|
|
|
|
EASTERN ERUPPTION
Nick Rupp and Keenan Lineback win 41st ESA Easterns in wild Hatteras surf
|
 VIEWS:24054
|
|
By:
Mike Cianciulli
All photos: Kenny Onufrock
September 27, 2008
How do you wrangle well-overhead Hatteras storm surf?
You can't. You simply embrace it. ESA vets Nick Rupp and Keenan Lineback are no strangers to Cape Hatteras or the Easterns podium. Rupp previously won the Menehunes and Boys (twice) divisions and just added a Junior Men's title to his resume. Meanwhile, Lineback -- last year's Girls champ - took charge in the wild and wooly surf to claim the Junior Women's crown.
|
|
"I'm glad they moved it back to the lighthouse because every Easterns has been here," Lineback said after her victory and naming to the ESA All-Star Team. "It just didn't seem like Easterns over there." Rupp credits his Junior Men's title to luck, which could have gone to any of the finalists until the right lump swung his way. "I got a lucky wave and just rode it," Rupp laughed. "I turned around in the whitewater and it sectioned up for me. I was almost falling because I was going too fast." Good thing he held on because what transpired was the most lined-up wave of the entire event. The afternoon onshores along with the leftover Nor' Easter swell mixed with pulsing Hurricane Kyle sets. Rupp, Cole Richards, and underdog Floridian rippers Peter Polanski and Chris Tucker were being swept down the beach when a surprisingly clean, long wall rolled right to Rupp. He cranked a sharp backside bottom turn and went straight up into two massive, rapid-fire top blasts that practically sprayed his heat-mates out the back. No one could answer that. "This event means a lot to me because there aren't too many big events on the East Coast. I just want people to do good from the East Coast."
-- Junior Mens Champion, Nick Rupp
"At the beginning of the event, I was worried about Tommy Orsini and Ian Bloch but then these Florida kids just showed up out of nowhere and blew up," Rupp recalls. "This event means a lot to me because there aren't too many big events on the East Coast. I just want people to do good from the East Coast." Part of doing good means dealing with adversity. And if you've ever been to the Outer Banks during hurricane season, you know it offers plenty of tribulation for just a small window of reward. Five longboards were broken in the final day's wonky yet powerful conditions, with everyone from groms to girls charging on their logs. Keenan Lineback, who is also a top-ranked swimmer, was the first out the back in the Junior Women's final. She watched as her heat-mates took a stacking set on their heads. While the rest of the Boys final was grabbing shoulders and dodging bombs, Florida flyweight Tristan Thompson threw the only man-sized turn of the entire heat. His Jax Beach camp hoisted him on their shoulders and marched him up the beach. But what stands out most about the 41st running of the ESA Easterns is that no matter what obstacles sprang up - be it giant surf, gale force winds or flooded roads - the Eastern Surfing Association always has fun. There are dodge ball games in between heats, family barbecues each night, plus the best surfers on the Eastern Seaboard flocking to the lighthouse at Cape Hatteras for a great week at the beach. Perhaps, Keenan Lineback said it best: "I really wanted to win this event because I've just always done the ESA. It's like my home." OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE 41ST EASTERN SURFING ASSOCIATION EASTERNS: Menehunes 1. Tristan Thompson 2. Justin Croteau 3. Jake Fairly 4. Daniel Glenn 5. Matt Kaltenback 6. Chad Bruce Boys 1. Keto Burns 2. Christian Miller 3. Cam Richards 4. Julian Payne 5. Ryan Croteau 6. Jonathan Hatton Junior Mens 1. Nick Rupp 2. Chris Tucker 3. Peter Polanski 4. Cole Richards 5. Kevin Cox 6. Mikee Fitts 7. Jonathan Mincher 8. Frank Roper Mens 1. David Holloway 2. Tanner Deprin 3. Austin Allen 4. Jeff Anthony 5. Alex Fawess 6. Tom-Zac Kenny Masters 1. Shawn Clark 2. Travis Ajay 3. Chris Costa 4. Chris Lisanti 5. Chad Carr 6. Chris Kretzer Senior Mens 1. Rodrigo Miranda 2. Pat McManus 3. Bill Bowman 4. Todd Brazell 5. Charlie Hajak 6. Jason Motes Grandmasters 1. Rick Anson 2. Bill Whatley 3. Resse Patterson 4. Jim Miller 5. Joe Grottola 6. Lynn Harrington Legends 1. David Sledge 2. Keith Thompson 3. Bill Helmuth 4. Bill Roach 5. Kevin Brandt 6. Mark Mitchell Grand Legends 1. Rich Kinney 2. Bryant Hungerford 3. John "Chum" McCraniels 4. Robert Gillinder 5. Kitty Pechet Girls 1. Jasset Umbel 2. Quincy Davis 3. Rachel Harrell 4. Brittney Hickey 5. Emily Ruppert 6. Nikki Viesins Junior Womens 1. Keenan Lineback 2. Leila Geesey 3. Liza Caban 4. Chelsea Gresham 5. Haley Watson 6. Alex Geesey Womens 1. Mallory Turner 2. Leanne Foster 3. Jessie Carnes 4. Lauren McLean 5. Kayla Beckmann 6. Jennifer Morris Ladies (Senior Womens) 1. Ana Barend 2. Mindy Fitzpatrick 3. Vivian Jordan 4. Marty Mentzer 5. Cayce Patterson 6. Nathalie Glenn Menehune Longboard 1. Zach Tomlinson 2. Daniel Glenn 3. Patrick Nichols 4. Michael Ciaramella 5. Josh Richardson 6. Zach Greaser Junior Longboard 1. Asher King 2. Patrick Fallon 3. Jake Buchler 4. Alex Strangways 5. Kevin DeWald 6. Anthony Mariano Mens Longboard 1. Ty Roach 2. Robert Brad Long 3. Thomas Capps 4. Alex Fawess 5. David Taylor 6. Kyle Sumer Masters Longboard 1. Tom O'Brien 2. Buddy Evans 3. Bill Whatley 4. Jason Motes 5. Les Carrithers 6. Reese Patterson Legends Longboard 1. Bill Roach 2. Kevin Grondin 3. Bobby Holland 4. Rick Anson 5. David Sledge 6. Tom Leonik Womens Longboard 1. Chelsea Gresham 2. Kate Easton 3. Allison Parks 4. Brittney Hickey 5. Lisa Autrey 6. Mallory Turner Ladies (Senior Womens) Longboard 1. Ana Barend 2. Mindy Fitzpatrick 3. Jo Pickett 4. Beth Schub 5. Tina Tyrone 6. Heather Jenkins Menehune Bodyboard 1. Michael Bain 2. Caleb Buchler 3. Morgan-Taylor Leavel 4. John Joyce 5. Zach Greaser 6. Cyrus Lewis Open Bodyboard 1. Jorge Colomer 2. Austin Dalton 3. John Heyman 4. Caleb Buchler 5. Forrest Roberts 6. Bo Hickey Open Shortboard 1. Billy Olsen 2. Cole Richards 3. Chris Kelly 4. Nick Rupp 5. Cody Leutgens 6. Keto Burns East Coast Hall of Frame 1. Peter Pan 2. Dick Mesoral ESA All-Star Tag Team 1. NCFL Team 2. NSC Team 3. SNJ Team 4. TransWorld Surf Team 5. SNC Team 6. TCFL Team 7. CFL Team SURFLINE HOME PAGE MORE SURFNEWS |