the new england contingency put out a ridiculous showing at the ESA northeast regionals this past weekend. this contest is the qualifier for the ESA easterns, which feature the best competitive surfers in the entire East Coast. to illustrate the point:
Chuck Barend (RI): 1st senior mens, 1st masters longboard
Ana Barend (RI): 1st ladies
Kai Nichols (NH): 5th boys, 4th menehune longboard, 2nd open bodyboard
Lenny Nichols (NH): 3rd legends, 4th legends longboard
Liam O'Regan (RI): 1st open shortboard, 2nd boys, 3rd menehune longboard, winner of "ironman" award
Chad Bruce (MA): 1st junior mens longboard, 2nd open shortboard, 7th junior mens
the list could continue on and on with the amount of new englanders who made finals or placed highly. the northeast surfers are becoming a force to be reckoned with, the east coast should take notice!