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Local surfers right in our community have made marks in the surfing industry.

At the Southern South Carolina District of the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) annual Awards Banquet at the Charleston Crab House, Mount Pleasant resident Kai Dilling, owner of Sol Surfers Surf Camp, and Wando High School sophomore M.T. Bourgue, were named SSC-ESA Top Surfers for 2009.

The Surfer of the Year and Wahine Surfer of the Year awards were presented Feb. 20.

Families and competitors spent a sunny afternoon with all-you-can eat oysters while recognizing the area's top 25 surfers in 25 different divisions.

Moultrie Middle School seventh graders Dyer Askins took the Jr. Iron Man Award as well as the Menehune Longboard division while Luke Prunner took first place in Menehune Bodyboard.

In the 1A divisions, Wando High School sophomore Nick Valente took first place while Palmetto Christian fifth grader Maggie Hogane took the top spot in Menehune Shortboard.

Tim Askins, co-director of Eastern Surfing Association, along with Nancy Hussey, said surfing is a lifetime sport. The ESA was founded in 1967 by East Coast surfers to promote, preserve and protect the sport of surfing on the East Coast.

Askins, 57, said that the organization has always been family-oriented with a goal to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

What has been unique to the surfing world, according to Askins, is the family members (multi-generations) getting involved.

They have been seeing a lot of mothers and daughters surfing as well as fathers and sons.

Askins, who started surfing at 13 years old at Myrtle Beach, said no one over 16 or 17 wanted to surf.

Now, the demographics have changed.

"Surfing can be a lifetime sport," explained Askins, who said that surfing is different from sports like football and basketball.

And the ESA caters to all age groups, according to Askins. With a laugh, he says that if kids are into surfing, they can't get into too much trouble.

The surfing competitions teach surfers of all ages to independently use their skills against the waves and other competitors. And or course, ESA stresses good sportsmanship.

"We provide leadership to the younger kids, teaching them the correct etiquette in the water as well as how to handle themselves safely," Askins added. "Any beach community has numerous stories about surfers who have saved swimmers because they are out on the beach and ready and willing to lend a hand."

While healthy lifestyle is another main focus of ESA, so is maintaining the free access of the community's beaches. According to Askins, the Association is able to have the contest at the pier on the Isle of Palms thanks to a partnership with Charleston County Parks and a sponsorship with Charleston Water Sports.

The next contest is scheduled for March 13-14 at the Washout on Folly Beach. Participants can sign up on line at http://ssc.surfesa.org/. The SSC-ESA will be supporting a Beach Fashion Show after the contest at the Holiday Inn with proceeds going to the Surfer's Healing Foundation- Charleston Team.

Competition Results

?SSC-ESA Surfer of the Year: Kai Dilling

?2009-2010 SSC-ESA Wahine Surfer of the Year: Mary Townsend Bourque

?SSC-ESA Iron Man: Rick Anson

?SSC-ESA Junior Iron Man: Dyer Askins

?SSC-ESA Iron Woman: Mary Townsend Bourque

?Doc Couture Award: The Tanner Family, Glenn, Terri, Kristin and Evan

?Director's Cup: Jeanie Muckenfuss

?SSC-ESA DJ McKevlin Award: Jeff and Tara Mosley

?SSC-ESA Top Judge: Kai Dilling

?SSC-ESA Most Heats Judged: Thornton White

Division Champions

?Open Shortboard 3A Girls: Bryant Thomas, Grace Muckenfuss

?1A Menehune: Maggie Hogan

?3A Junior Women: Mary Townsend Bourque

?3A Menehune Womens Shortboard: Sehth Pulsifer, Kristin Tanner

?1A Boys: Jay Malphrus

?Ladies Shortboard: Liz Sullivan Chirles

?3A Boys Menehune Bodyboard: Evan Tanner, Luke Pruner

?1A Junior Men Open Bodyboard: Nick Valente, Rick Anson

?3A Junior Men: Bryant Thomas

?Menehune Longboard: Dyer Askins

?3A Men Jr. Longboard: Cory Brown, Dylan Morone

Masters

?Mens Longboard: Carlisle Carter, Alfred Noe

?Senior Men Masters Longboard: Kai Dilling

?Grandmasters Shortboard, Rick Anson

?Legends Longboard: Rick Anson

?Legends Shortboard: Rick Lawson

?Womens Longboard: Mary Townsend Bourque

?Ladies Longboard: Patti Noe

(Helen Ravenel can be reached at helen@moultrienews.com.)