Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic

East Coast Surfing Competition for Women and Girls Concludes

2015 Results – Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic

Pro Shortboard

1. Savannah Bradley, Folly Beach, SC

2. Kayla Durden, Jacksonville, FL

3. Grace Muckenfuss, Wilmington, NC

4. Kat Neff, Carolina Beach, NC

Pro Longboard

1. Karson Lewis, Wrightsville Beach, NC

2. Julia Eckel, Wrightsville Beach, NC

3. Kate Barrattini, Folly Beach, SC

4. Kat Neff, Carolina Beach, NC

Women Shortboard

1. Swain Curtin, Oak Island, NC

2. Perng Hutson, Folly Beach, SC

3. Jacqueline Pierce, Topsail Beach, NC

4. Amelia Fitzpatrick, Wilmington, NC

Ladies Shortboard

1. Terry Green, Garden City, SC

2. Perng Hutson, Folly Beach, SC

3. Laurel Senick, Wilmington, NC

4. Laurie Cayne, Smithfield, VA

Guppies Shortboard

1. Bree Labiak, Garden City, SC

2. Olivia Wendell, Pauley Island, SC

3. Malia Harrell, Oak Island, NC

4. Saylor Emmart, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Ladies Longboard

1. Carrie Copenhaver, Virginia Beach, NC

2. Terry Green, Garden City, SC

3. Laurel Senick, Wilmington, NC

4. Marylee Sakas, Maui, HI

Women Longboard

1. Perng Hutson, Folly Beach, SC

2. Cameron Paul, Wrightsville Beach, NC

3. Jacqueline Reece, Topsail Beach, NC

4. Nicole Nason, Wilmington, NC

Girls Longboard

1. Bree Labiak, Garden City, SC

2. Leah Thompson, Wrightsville Beach, NC

3. Madeline Eckel, Wrightsville Beach, NC

4. Gabby Viorel, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Girls Shortboard

1. Leah Thompson, Wrightsville Beach, NC

2. Bailey Kaiser, Charleston, SC

3. Olivia Wendell, Pauleys Island, SC

4. Bree Labiak, Garden City, SC

Jr. Women Longboard

1. Madeline Eckel, Wrightsville Beach, NC

2. Bree Labiak, Garden City, SC

3. Samantha Newkirk, Wrightsville Beach, NC

4. Ragan Curtin, Virginia Beach, VA

Jr. Women Shortboard

1. Leah Thompson, Wrightsville Beach, NC

2. Madeline Eckel, Wrightsville Beach, NC

3. Samantha Newkirk, Wrightsville Beach, NC

4. Bree Labiak, Garden City, SC

SUP Paddle Surf

1. Anna Blackburn, Wrightsville Beach, NC

2. Carrie Copenhaver, Virginia Beach, VA

3. Saylor Emmart, Wrightsville Beach, NC

4. Jenna Blackburn, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Tandem Surf

1. Carly Carter / Julia Eckel

2. Camden Hoover / Kat Neff

3. Madeline Eckel / Leah Thompson

4. Lexie Poindexter / Mary Lamporte

All photos courtesy of Ed Potter (unless otherwise indicated)

Thanks to Blockade Runner, The Post Cafe, and South End Surf Shop for media assistance.

Robert B Butler

www.NCPressRelease.org

www.RBButler.com

Move Over Boys

Wahine Classic Returns to North Carolina

Photography by Ed Potter

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC – The Wahine Classic, one of the largest surfing competitions for women and girls on the East Coast, returns to North Carolina Aug. 14-16. “This is a weekend when the men and boys have to move over,” says Jo Pickett, event chair, surf teacher, and U.S. National Champion-Shortboard in 2004.

“There are about six surf events on the East Coast for ladies,” says Pickett, who also serves as mentor for the Eastern Surfing Association All Star Women’s Team. “The Wahine Classic at Wrightsville Beach, which started in 1997, is recognized as the original and one of the major ladies’ surfing events on the East Coast.”

Last year’s Wahine Classic attracted about 130 female surfers, most from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, ranging in age from toddlers to 65.

The Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic includes surfing and paddle surfing, with competition categories divided by age and skill level. “The Classic provides a venue for ladies to play on the beach, learn from others, improve skills, and build confidence,” says Pickett. All skill levels are welcome, as well as beginners who can “borrow or rent a board.”

Activities begin on Friday, Aug. 14, with registration pickup and “a meet, greet, eat, and surf evening at South End Surf Shop,” says Pickett. Saturday’s competition is scheduled from 8 until 4. Sunday is slated from 8 until 3. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Pickett expects most participants from 2014 to return including 2015 East Coast Surfing Association regional winners Julia Eckel and Leah Thompson of Wrightsville Beach, who placed first in shortboard categories of Under-16 and Under-14, respectively.

Liz Hauser, expert judge for the Association of Surfing Professionals, the National Scholastic Surfing Association, and the Eastern Surfing Association, will serve as head judge of The Wahine Classic.

“It is encouraging to see an increase in surfing, standup paddleboard, and other sporting events for ladies and girls,” says Wrightsville resident Mary Baggett, co-owner of the Blockade Runner and host hotel for the event. “The growth of women’s sports is particularly sweet after watching the inspiring USA Women’s Team victory in the World Cup.”

The Teeny Wahine division, for girls under 10 years of age, “is the most joyous part of the weekend,” says Pickett, teacher and owner of Crystal South Surf. “It’s wonderful to see the small ones, encouraged by friends and family, and many being helped by mom or dad.”

Spectators are welcome. Beach access points 37 and 38 are the best entry points.

“This is the most fun thing we do all summer,” says Pickett.

Click here to register for The Wahine Classic

Click here for hotel accommodations

Contact:

Jo Pickett, Chair

The Wahine Classic

Email: JoPickettCrystalSouthSurf@gmail.com

Phone: 910-465-9638

Jack Viorel, Co-chair

The Wahine Classic

Email: jvsurf21@gmail.com

Phone: 910-274-3565

Robert B Butler | Communications | PR

www.RBButler.com

www.NCPressRelease.org

Scroll down for 2014 Wahine Classic Results

Photography by Ed Potter

Host hotel, Wrightsville Beach

Blockade Runner Beach Resort

www.blockade-runner.com

RB Butler and Lemonstripe

Sponsors and Photos

Photography by Ed Potter

Photography by Jo Pickett

Photography by Susan Yerry Sessoms

Photography by Ed Potter, NCSurfPhoto

Photography by Ken Blevins

2013 photo courtesy Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic Facebook

Photography by Ed Potter

Photo supplied by Jack Viorel

Photography by Ken Blevins

Jo Pickett, Crystal South Surf Camp

Co-chair, 2014 Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic

Photography by Richard Perry

Jack Viorel, Indojax Surf Charities

Co-chair, Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic

Anime-style event poster designed by surfer Leilani Pickett

Results for 2014 Wahine Classic in Wrightsville Beach, NC

Pro Shortboard:

First Place: Airlie Pickett, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Second Place: Carly Carter, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Third Place: Kat Neff, Carolina Beach, NC

Fourth Place: Julia Eckel, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Guppies Division:

First Place: Briana Labiak, Conway, SC

Second Place: Madeline Eckel, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Third Place: Bailey Kaiser, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Fourth Place: Anna White, Wilmington, North Carolina

Girls Shortboard 13-14:

First Place: Abby Jolly, Swansboro, NC

Second Place: Madeline Eckel, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Third Place: Malia Harrell, Oak Island, NC

Fourth Place: Leah Thompson, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Junior Women Shortboard 15-17:

First Place: Nina Long, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Second Place: Samantha Newkirk, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Third Place: Michaela Boone, Wilmington, NC

Fourth Place: Hannah Milligan, Ash, NC

Novice Shortboard 16+:

First Place: Deonna Murray, Leland, NC

Second Place: Hannah Buckingham, Wilmington, NC

Third Place: Madison Peele, Cape Carteret, NC

Novice 15 and under Shortboard:

First Place: Alexi Pino, Wilmington, NC

Second Place: Kate Ramsey, Hampstead, NC

Third Place: Julia Boos, Carolina Beach, NC

Fourth Place: Rachel Dodey, Emerald Isle, NC

Ladies Shortboard 18-29:

First Place: Terry Green, Myrtle Beach, SC

Second Place: Elizabeth Hicks, Conway, SC

Third Place: Deanna Wells, Wilmington, NC

Fourth Place: Kristine Turner, Wilmington, NC

Women Shortboard 30+:

First Place: Molly McCrae, Wilmington, NC

Second Place: Margo Quirk, Wilmington, NC

Pro Longboard:

First Place: Misty Mangiacapre, Carolina Beach, NC

Second Place: Carly Carter, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Third Place: Karson Lewis, Ocean Isle, NC

Fourth Place: Julia Eckel, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Girls Longboard 14 and under:

First Place: Kat Neff, Carolina Beach, NC

Second Place: Leah Thompson, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Third Place: Lanie Prevatte, Oak Island, NC

Fourth Place: Madeline Eckel, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Jr. Women Longboard 15-19:

First Place: Hannah Milligan, Ashe, NC

Second Place: Sydney Pittman, Newport, NC

Third Place: Nina Long, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Fourth Place: Samantha Newkirk, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Women Longboard 20 and Up:

First Place: Leigh Powell, Hampstead, NC

Second Place: Johanna Kjesbo, Wilmington, NC

Third Place: Deanna Wells, Wilmington, NC

Fourth Place: Sinetta Ruiz, Topsail Beach, NC

Standup Paddleboard 16 and Up:

First Place: Anna Blackburn, Wilmington, NC

Second Place: Johanna Kjesbo, Wilmington, NC

Third Place: Jackie Fisher, Kure Beach, NC

Fourth Place: Liz Sadler, Holly Ridge, NC

Standup Paddleboard 15 and Under

First Place: Anna Blackburn, Wilmington, NC

Second Place: Jenna Blackburn, Wilmington, NC

Third Place: Saylor Emmart, Wilmington, NC

Highest Wave Scores:

9.4 Carly Carter, Wrightsville Beach, NC

8.8 Brianna Labiak, Conway, SC

8.7 Terry Green, Myrtle Beach, SC

Most Radical Maneuver

Brianna Labiak, Guppy Division Winner, Conway SC

Robert B Butler | PR

www.NCPressRelease.org

www.RBButler.com

Robert B Butler | PR | www.ncPressRelease.com

Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic

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Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic

Move Over Boys - The Wahine Classic Returns to North Carolina WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC – The Wahine Classic, one of the largest surfing competiti Read More

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