Story by Jason Hoover:
The culmination of the sophomore season of the East Coast Grom Tour ( ECGT ) presented by O’Neill took place on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in pumping October conditions ranging in size from 5-8 feet. After nine qualifying stops along the east coast from Maryland to Florida, event founders Phil Jackson and Seth Broudy, with assistance from Brad Beach and Hatteras local Elwood Wescoat, pulled the trigger to run the championship at the historic “Wave Magnet” also known simply as the first groin at the Hatteras lighthouse. The event kicked off with Grom Tour competitor Camden Hoover singing the national anthem and, from the opening heat, it was obvious that both spectators and competitors were in for a show that would hit plenty of high notes during the two day tilt.
The legendary “Wave Magnet” is back in play as a viable, east coast competition venue with the O’Neill ECGT availing themselves with the National Park Service’s blessings. Lighthouse front and center or not, is there a battlefield as rich in right coast comp history or surfing folklore than this rusted, left angled metal protrusion located so close to the edge of the Continental Shelf’s deep drop-off? We think not. Photo: Mez
Highlights included an air and rail show put on display by Blayr Barton, Kanoa Wong, Stephen Muglia, and Reid Largin as they battled it out in the Shortboard Open final. ESA All-Star Barton took the win in Open, Boys’ 11-13, and Boys’ longboard, earning himself $1500 cash! Reid Largin snatched the Nixon Most Radical Maneuver award, and Kanoa surfed well all weekend, earning second place and a new AJW board in Boys’ 11-13 and a respectable 4th place in Open. Floridian Preston Persichetti edged out the other push and go finalists to claim first prize and $250 cash, which he immediately said would be spent on a new Ben “Mr. Nub TV” Gravy board.
Blayr Barton has continued his stone cold roll since winning multiple, marquee divisions at the 2018 ESA Championships up in nearby Nags Head, NC. with his three division Grom Tour victories in the Boys 11-13, Open Shortboard and Longboard divisions. Photo: Mez
Born and bred Buxton local Max Bigney put his rail game on display while his crew raucously cheered him on from high atop their front row, sandbox seats on the north dune and came away with $500 by winning the Boys’ 14-17 division. On the Girls’ side, another top ESA All-Star, Callie Summerlin surfed her way to a $1000 cash and wins in both shortboard and longboard. Noah Harrell took the top spot over Mako Musilinas and the other bodyboard finalists to secure the $250 prize, and Porter Hall was honored to win the Elijah Cox Stoked Grom award.
Max Bigney put his roots knowledge to good use with a huge victory in the marquee Boys 14-17 division in front of the hometown crowd. The Buxton boys are understated ( an understatement in and of itself ) and low profile by nature but could this victory have tasted any sweeter or be more of a reason for jubilant celebration by this tight knit, low key crew? On ya’ Max! Photo: Mez
Other highlights included a guest MC appearance by longtime O’Neill team rider and brand ambassador Cory Lopez, brave longboarder’s kamakazie-like charging on massive set waves, beach football games and, in a contset highlight, the young “push and go” division competitors and their parents getting their first taste of some heavy Hatteras conditions. As the contest concluded, participants and their families met up at Real Watersports for the awards banquet, featuring incredible prize packs for the podium finalists including $500 cash for each first place contestant, and a brand new AJW surfboard provided by Sothis Glassing for second place!
Push and Go division second place winner Brynn Johnson . Photo: Mez
A beaming Phil Jackson and Seth Broudy were very thankful for all of the sponsors and volunteers who chipped in throughout the year, and during the awards mentioned “I think we conquered exactly what we set out to do which was bring new kids into the activity that we love, while encouraging some of the best young talent the East Coast has to offer, the contest series has brought camaraderie and excitement back into a competitive format”!
Not to mention how totally cool it was to see a high level contest format back in Buxton and the fabled break at the Lighthouse, the perfect place for a culmination of one of the east coast’s fastest rising events.
Guest MC Cory Lopez flanked by O’Neill’s Brad Beach ( left ) along with ECGT co-founder, Jersey Phil Jackson. Photo: Mez
With a third season confirmed and the addition of New Jersey to the schedule, the East Coast Grom Tour presented by O’neill continues to grow in popularity and in promoting a positive, family atmosphere while spreading the stoke along the East Coast! – Jason Hoover –
Buxton support crew cheering on local boy Max Bigney from their exclusive sand box seats up on the north dune. Photo: Mez
RESULTS:
Boys -Girls 10 & Under
1st – Evan Oblinger $500
2nd – William Deane – AJW Surfboard
3rd – Palladin Pelliccia
4th – Gage Jackson
Boys 11-13
1st – Blayr Barton $500
2nd – Kanoa Wong wins AJW Surfboard
3rd – Kai Westcoat
4th – Mako Musilunas
Kanoa Wong, 2nd Boys 11-13 division. Photo: Mez
Boys 14-17
1st – Max Bigney $500
2nd – Max Egerton wins AJW Surfboard
3rd – Stephen Muglia
4th – Reid Largin
Steven Muglia, 3rd Boys 14-17 division. Photo: Mez
Girls 17 & Under
1st – Callie Summerlin $500
2nd – Chloe Weinert wins AJW Surfboard
3rd – Sunny Barton
4th – Camden Hoover
Callie Summerlin, 1st Girls 17 and Under and Girls Longboard division. Photo: Mez
Girls Longboard
1st – Callie Summerlin $500
2nd – Camden Hoover wins AJW Surfboard
3rd – Lily Brooks
4th – Sunny Barton
Camden Hoover, 2nd Girls Longboard, singer of a pre-contest, knock-out version of our National Anthem and stand-in photog for story author, her dad Jason. Is there anything she does not do? Photo: Mez
Boys Longboard
1st – Blayr Barton $500
2nd – Scott Pieno AJW Surfboard
3rd – Bear Von Horn
4th – Mack Landry
Scott Pineo, 2nd Boys Longboard division. Photo: Jason Hoover
Open Shortboard
1st – Blayr Barton $500
2nd _ Reid Largin wins AJW Surfboard
3rd – Stephen Muglia
4th – Kanoa Wong
Blayr Barton spraying a little liquid icing on his ECGT championship cake with a win in the coveted Open Shortboard division. Photo: Mez
Open Bodyboard
1st – Noah Harrell $250
2nd – Mako Musilunas
3rd – AJ Jackson
4th – Mack Landry
5th – Gage Jackson
Push & Go Super Groms
1st – Preston Persichetti $250
2nd – Brynn Johnson wins Womper
3rd– JB 2 Bayer
4th – Emery Oblinger
Elijah Cox Stoked Grom Award – Porter Hall
Nixon Most Radical Maneuver – Reid Largin
Reid Largin, 2nd in Open Shortboard division, 4th Boys 14-17 division and winner of Nixon’s Most Radical Maneuver award. Photo: Mez
Kano Wong negotiating another set wave at the Lighthouse. Photo: Mez
The judges ( r-l ) Denny Green, Adam Fills, Junior Dills and WSL judge Dave Portch were on it all day both days with their scoring and dedication to giving every ridden wave and the surfer who rode it the proper score. It’s as close to a thankless job in surfing as possible and, truth be told, most are cool with that and prefer no spotlight so they can just do the work fairly and accurately as possible for such a subjective sport. But hey dudes, a sincere huge THANKS from all of us! Photo: Mez
He may not have finaled but Hunter Clarke ripped one of the best backside top turns we saw during the entire two days of competition. Photo: Mez
Kai Westcoat, 3rd Boys 11-13 division. Photo: Mez
Open Shortboard finalists (l-r) Kanoa Wong, Blayr Barton, Reid Largin and Stephen Muglia. Photo: Mez
Mack Landy, 3rd Boys Longbaord and 4th Open Bodyboard division. Photo: Jason Hoover
Kanoa Wong with support crew stretching it out before the Open Shortboard semi’s. Photo: Mez
Largin and in chargin’, Nixon Radical Maneuver winner Reid Largin earning it. Photo Mez
Mako Musilinas 4th Boys 11-13 division and 2nd in Bodyboard. Photo: Mez
Magnitized. Photo: Mez
Blayr Barton, 1st Boys Longboard division. Photo: Mez
O’Neill ECGT’s co-founder, Seth Broudy all smiles with trophy’s and the closing out of a super successfu second year. Above photo: Hoover
Girls 17 and Under finalists. Above photo: Hoover
Boys-Girls Under 10 finalists. Above photo: Hoover
Boys 11-13 finalists. Above photo: Hoover
Boys 14-17 finalists. Above photo: Hoover
Bodyboard finalists. Above photo: Hoover
Push and Go finalists. Above photo: Hoover
Open Shortboard Finalists. Above photo: Hoover
Girls Under 17 finalists. Above photo: Hoover
Stoked Grom winner, Porter Hall. Above photo: Hoover
Open Shortboard finalists. Above photo: Hoover
Push and Go winner Prseton Perschetti with Camden Hoover. Above photo: photo: Hoover
Going for the gold, sunset over the Pamlico, Buxton, NC. Photo: Mez
