The Wrightsville Beach Museum announces it’s 3rd annual SUP Surfing Pro-Am scheduled for April 15-17, 2017 to support the museum and its Waterman Hall of Fame. This institution recognizes individuals for their excellence in water sports and their contributions to our beach community as part of the museum’s work to support and interpret the rich history of Wrightsville Beach.
The Wrightsville Beach Pro-Am is a three-day Stand-Up Surf event, drawing the world’s best professional Stand-Up Surfers to this competition. In 2015, the event became the largest of its kind on the East Coast attracting SUP professionals from Mexico, California, Florida, and Hawaii, as well as the best amateurs from the US. This year we are expecting 100-150 participants for the Pro-Am.
As always, our participants are encouraged to set an example of good sportsmanship, both in and out of the water. This year’s competition will award the 2017 “All-Waterman” trophy to the individual who has the highest combined finishes in the Wrightsville Beach Pro-Am Pro Division and Longboard SUP Division.
NEW THIS YEAR: A mobile app will be available for beach goers and competitors to see scores in each heat while the competition is in progress. Thanks to Carolina Paddleboard Co. for making this possible. The finals will still be published at the end of the contest.
PRO DIVISIONS. $8,000 IN CASH
* $8000 prize purse is dependent on participation within each division. A Pro Division with 25 or more participants will be considered an “A Tier” payout schedule totaling $8000 and will be as follows:
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Men’s A Tier Payout Schedule
1st Place – $2000 2nd Place – $1250 3rd Place – $550 4th Place- $200 |
Women’s A Tier Payout Schedule
1st Place – $2000 2nd Place – $1250 3rd Place – $550 4th Place- $200 |
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Men’s B Tier Payout Schedule
1st Place – $1650 2nd Place – $850 3rd Place – $350 4th Place – $150 |
Women’s B Tier Payout Schedule
1st Place – $1650 2nd Place – $850 3rd Place – $350 4th Place – $150 |
Additional prizes will be awarded to all divisions (see below), both Professional and Amateur 1st through 4th place.
Thanks to Clontz-Newkirk we’ve got a $1000 Prize Purse just for the Longboard SUP Division!In addition to the prizes as scheduled, The Newkirk Waterman Award is given each year to the participant that has the highest combined finish in the Pro and Longboard Divisions of the Wrightsville Beach Pro-Am. The payout for the award is $500 and male and female participants are both eligible. Professional Longboarder and Carolina Beach Native, Tony Sylvagni won the inaugural Newkirk Waterman Award in 2014. In 2015, Fisher Grant from Florida won the award.
This award is named for Haywood Newkirk, Sr., Wrightsville Beach’s original waterman. In the early 1950s, Haywood Senior was fishing the Gulf Stream waters off Wrightsville Beach, swimming on the All Army Swim Team; barefoot skiing through Banks Channel; lifeguarding at Lumina Pavilion and surfing area beaches on a converted airplane wing. Today, the award remembers his contributions while honoring new talent shining in local waters.Locals will also be vying for the coveted Carolina BAMF Award. This award is open to Carolinian locals (SC, NC) entering the pro division against some of the world’s best. Jarrod Covington and Anna Blackburn won the 2015 awards.
DIVISIONS.
Men’s
Women’s Amateur (Am) $54/pp & groms free
Men’s (ages 15-49)
Men’s over 50
Women’s (ages 15-49)
Women’s over 50
Groms (boys 14 and under)
Grom-ettes (girls 14 and under)
SUP Longboard Style Men’s**
SUP Longboard Style Women’s**
** The ” SUP Longboard Style” division is for boards 9 feet and over. This division will be judged on style, including trim and nose riding. If there are less than 8 entries in either of the “SUP Longboard Style” men’s and women’s categories, the field will be combined for a mixed gender “SUP Longboard Style” division.
SCHEDULE.
First Wave Project and Meet and Greet
4-5 PM – First Wave Project
- SUP clinic for youngsters with and Jo Pickett of Crystal South Surf Camp and Jarrod Covington of WB SUP – YWCA Afterschool Program in museum yard
- Afternoon Surfing History for Kids with Skip Funderburg at Wrightsville Beach Museum
Packet Pick-up and Welcome
5:30 PM Registration and packet pick up for WB SUP Surf Pro-Am Competition. Meet and mingle with fellow watermen and our world-class SUP Surfers.
SATURDAY April 15
Hobie Salt Life WB SUP Surf Pro-Am Competition
7 AM Late registration for WB SUP Surf Pro-Am
7:45 AM Surfers Meeting
8 AM Heats begin
Lunch Break
SUNDAY April 16
Easter Sunday
Services
Easter Egg Hunt
2pm Afternoon Surf Heats
6pm Awards
MONDAY April 17
8 AM Continuation of Pro Heats if needed
