Surfing and Surf Culture in Southeast North Carolina

1961

A small group of parents host a surfing competition for their children in Gilgo Beach, NY (Summer). This contest is the forerunner to the East Coast Surfing Championships, held annually in Virginia Beach, VA since 1963.

1962

A surfing contest known as the “The East Coast Surfing Championships" is held in Gilgo Beach, NY (September 7). At this competition, the case is presented to move the contest to Virginia Beach, VA.

1963

The Southern Bell Telephone Directory for Wilmington, NC lists the heading, "surfboards - see sporting goods." Under this heading, Boseman's, Pennington's, and Pickards are listed as selling surfboards.

Robert Parker goes surfing for the first time on the north side of Johnny Mercer's Pier in Wrightsville Beach. The sport of surfing had arrived and was here to stay (August). Ironically, according to the Wilmington Star-News, there are only two surfers in Wrightsville Beach, Gary Peterson and a “fellow on the police force.” (August 18). Peterson was Parker's cousin's fiancé and the surfboard that Parker rode belonged to Peterson.

The Virginia Beach Junior Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Virginia Beach Surfing Club and local surfboard dealers hold the Virginia Beach Surfing Carnival. (August 24).

1964

Tommy Morrow opens Atlantic Beach Surf Shop in Atlantic Beach, NC .

Bruce Brown, Hobie Alter, and the Hobie Surf Team travel up the east coast in Hobie’s RV promoting Brown’s film, The Endless Summer. In Virginia Beach, they provide surfing demonstrations and give away a free Hobie surfboard at the film’s premiere (July). On July 4, they provide a surf exhibition in Ocean City, MD and Bruce Brown narrates a showing at Stephen Decatur High School that evening. The event was sponsored by Eastern Surfer, a local surf shop located on 18th Street in OC.

Jim Freeman’s "Let There Be Surf" plays at the Crest Theatre in Wrightsville Beach, NC (September 30).

The Town of Wrightsville Beach institutes surf zones, marking the beginning of the Town's efforts to regulate surfing along the beach (August).

"Ride the Wild Surf" plays at The Colony Theatre in Wilmington, NC (October 1).

Lank Lancaster and Harold Petty open East Coast Surfboards in Carolina Beach, NC (Fall). East Coast Surfboards is one of the first surf shops in North Carolina, and arguably, the only one at this time that produces its own line of surfboards. Sonny Danner and Herman Pritchard's Atlantic Surf Shop, down the road in Kure Beach, opens a short time later and they also produce their own surfboards.

1965

Jim Freeman’s "The Last Wave" plays at the Crest Theatre in Wrightsville Beach, NC (April 30).

The First Annual Surfing Contest is held in Wrightsville Beach, NC (June 12-13). The Wrightsville Beach Jaycees sponsors the contest.

The Surfing East Association, Inc. publishes the first issue of Surfing East magazine (Summer). Lank Lancaster and Harold Petty’s East Coast Surfboards in Carolina Beach, NC, is listed in the magazine’s surf shop directory.

"How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" plays at the Bailey Theater in Wilmington, NC (July).

"Ride the Wild Surf" plays at the Crest Theatre in Wrightsville Beach, NC (July).

The Beach Boys play at Dorton Arena in Raleigh, NC (July 12).

An advertisement for "Surfer Shooter" shoes is printed in the News and Observer (July 25).

According to an article from Wilmington's Sunday Star-News (September 5, 1A), “A handful of surfers put on a fine display for viewers on the beach Saturday as they took advantage of Betsy-whipped surf. … Two boards were broken by the force of the sea, which led one Cape Fearless to point out “California has nothing on us, now.”

Jim Phillips writes about Fort Fisher in the ‘Surfari’ column of Surfing East magazine (Autumn). Local surfers, Sonny Danner and Herman Pritchard, are featured in the article. Both surfers become representatives for Surfing East magazine, and their Atlantic Surf Shop is included in the surf shop directory for this issue.

Hunt’s Surf Shop in Wilmington, NC is listed in a Miller Surboards/Daytona Beach Surf Shop advertisement in Surfing East magazine (Autumn).

The Wrightsville Beach Surf Club sponsors the first annual Thanksgiving Day Surfing Competition (November 25). Tom Davidlie, a transplant from La Jolla, CA, placed first in the Juniors division while Jimmy Shepard took first and Robert Parker took second in the Men's division.

1966

The Ocean Surf Shop, owned by Frank Sproul and located in Wrightsville Beach, NC, is listed on a Dive N' Surf wetsuits advertisement in Surfer magazine (January). East Coast Surfboards, located in Carolina Beach, and Atlantic Surf Shop, located in Kure Beach, is also listed in the advertisement.

Greg MacGillivray’s "The Performers" plays to a "full house packing the Crest Theatre" in Wrightsville Beach, NC (April 8). The Wrightsville Beach Surf Club sponsors the film.

The Spring Surf Festival is held in front of the Lumina Pavilion in Wrightsville Beach, NC (April 8-9). Greg Noll is in attendance for the skateboard contest that follows the surf competition.

The First Annual Pawley’s Island Surfing Contest is held in Pawley’s Island, SC (April 1). Mike Curry places first in the Boys division along with Jeff Allen placing third in the same division. Sonny Danner wins the Run-Paddle-Run race.

The Second Annual Wrightsville Beach Surfing Contest is held in Wrightsville Beach, NC (May 28-29). The Wrightsville Beach Jaycees sponsors the contest.

The First Annual Carolina Surfing Championships is held on the Isle of Palms, SC (November 5-6). One hundred and twenty surfers compete in the contest. Local surfers place in the competition: Richard Verzaal (Men’s Open, 2nd; Junior Men’s, 2nd), Mike Curry (Men’s Open, 3rd; Junior Men’s 1st), Robert Parker (Senior Men’s, 1st), Joe Funderburg (Senior Men’s, 3rd), Kathy Dean (Women’s Open, 3rd), Dean Monk (Boy’s, 1st), Billy Curry (Boy’s, 3rd), and Wayne Sutton (Novice, 2nd).

Sponsored by the South Island Surf Club, the South Atlantic Surfing Championships are held at Wilmington Beach between Carolina and Kure Beaches (November 12-13).

1967

Bruce Brown’s "The Endless Summer" plays at the Bailey Theatre in Wilmington, NC (April 5-11).

The Second Annual Pawley’s Island Surfing Contest is held on Pawley’s Island, SC (April 22-23).

Held in conjunction with the Wrightsville Beach All-Fish Tournament and Sport Festival, the Third Annual Wrightsville Beach Surfing Contest draws over a hundred entries (May 27-28).

A photograph taken by Charlie Davis of local surfer, Robert Parker, appears in Surfer Magazine (July); it is the first surfing photograph taken of Wrightsville Beach to appear in the magazine.

"The Endless Summer" plays at the Crest Theatre in Wrightsville Beach, NC (July 1-2).

Wrightsville Beach surfers, Joe Funderburg and Robert Parker, travel cross-country to California. While there, they surf many of the famous surf breaks, spend time with Don Hansen and Hansen Surfboards, travel to Baja, and attend the Monterrey Pop Festival (Summer).

Surfing East magazine ceases publishing.

The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) is formed.

1968

The Fourth Annual Wrightsville Beach Surfing Contest is held in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. As one of the first ESA-sponsored contests, it is split into two divisions, one for ESA members and the other for non-ESA participants (May 26).

Balsa Bill Yerkes shows his film, A Way of Life, in Carolina Beach (July).

1971

Popularly known as “The Easterns,” the Eastern Surfing Association Championship is held in Cape Hatteras, NC; the previous year’s event was cancelled due to political infighting between representatives from Florida and the rest of the east coast.

1972

Paul and Brooks Pearce open 'A Part of the Universe', a surf shop and furniture store in Carolina Beach (June).

The First Annual American Surfing Contest is held at "Cowboys" in Kure Beach (August 5-6). The event includes an "Under Dog" contest for surfers who have never placed first, second, or third in a contest; an "Aquarian" division in which males and females compete together; a paddling contest; and a waxing contest.

1973

The Second Annual America Surfing Festival is held near the Carolina and Kure beaches (July 7-8). The event is sponsored by Paul Pearce, owner of America Surfboards.

1974

Red Dog's, a beach icon and popular bar among surfers and beachgoers alike, is opened in Wrightsville Beach, NC by Charlie Maultsby and Steve "Red Dog" Parker. The bar closes temporarily in 1995, but is reopened nearly a year later by Reggie Barnes.

"Eastern Waves," the magazine of the Eastern Surfing Association, begins publication (spring).

The Third Annual Fourth of July Surfing Festival is hosted by America Surfboards in Carolina Beach (July 4-6). Bud Browne's "Going Surfin'" is shown at Carolina Beach City Hall as part of the festivities.

Jim Mincher opens Two Wheeler Dealer and Mark Mitchell opens Snug Harbor Sports in Wrightsville Beach (August).

The United States Surfing Championships are held in Cape Hatteras, NC (September). It is the first time since its inception in 1959 that the championships are held on the eastern seaboard.

1975

Surf'n Stuff is opened by Woody Styron (September).

1976

Bud Browne’s "Goin Surfin’" plays at Kenan Auditorium at UNCW (February 12).

Surf'n Stuff, owned by Woody Styron, moves to a new location at the Plaza East Shopping Center in Wilmington (July). Styron also owns the Free Wheelin' Skateboard Ranch.

Owned by Jim Skiba and Dave Endress, Sweetwater Surf Shop opens in Wrightsville Beach, NC.

1977

Bill Delaney's "Free Ride" plays at Kenan Auditorium at UNCW (March 23).

Classical Glass is opened by Dave Endress. It is the largest surfboard factory in Southeastern North Carolina.

UNCW student and Surf Club founder, Rik Beitel, competes in the All-American National Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach, California (December 28-30). Two other Southeastern North Carolina surfers, Bill Redlinger and Jerry Cornwell, make the cross-country journey with him to compete as well.

1979

Will Allison wins the East Coast Surfing Championships (September 8); wins the United States Surfing Championships, San Padre Island, TX (September 14-23).

Bill Curry captures first place in the longboard and kneeboard divisions at the Eastern Surfing Championships.

1980

Bill Curry wins the Men's Division at the Eastern Surfing Championships, becoming the first North Carolinian to do so.

The UNCW Surf Club is formed although it had been “unofficially” functioning since 1977 (September).

1981

Bill Curry takes fifth overall in the US Amateur Surfing Championships and wins the Iron Surfer award for accumulating the highest point totals at the event (July).

Surfabout '81 is held in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Myrtle Beach's David Nuckles wins the professional event followed by Atlantic Beach's Buddy Pelletier. Kim Watters and Jo Roycroft, both of Wilmington, finish second and third respectively in the Women's competition. In the Men's competition, Wilmington's Rex Thompson finishes second while Michael Roberts finishes third in the Master's division (September).
Will Allison wins the Master’s Division at the East Coast Surfing Championships (August).

1982

The UNCW Surf Club is officially chartered (March).

The film, "Adventures in Paradise," is shown at UNCW's Kenan Auditorium (April 23).

Blue Safari, Big Wednesday, and The Fantastic Plastic Machine are featured at the “Surfin and Beach Party” at the Pub at UNC-Wilmington (April 6).

Will Allison wins the Senior Men's and Longboard Divisions at the East Coast Surfing Championships (August).

Bill Curry is named the Outstanding Surfer in the East Coast and US Surfing Championships. Curry places in the longboard (1st), individual paddle race (1st), men's kneeboard (2nd), master's (3rd), and bodyboard (4th) at the Eastern Surfing Championships (September 5-8). His paddle-race team also places first at the contest in Hatteras. Attending the US Championships, he places first in the longboard, first in the individual paddleboard, third in the kneeboard, and eighth in the master's division (September 9-13).

Bill Curry wins the Master’s and Longboard Divisions at Surfabout '82 (September 25-26). Will Allison finishes second in the Master's Division followed by Mike Quinn and Walker Purden. Behind Curry in the longboard division was Richard Markett, Charlie Hunt, and Ken Curry.

Owned by Roy Turner and Mark Allison, Surf City Surf Shop opens in Wrightsville Beach, NC.

1983

The Mad Monk, a favorite bar among local surfers, is opened (February 27).

Surf City, NC's Paradise Pier is destroyed by fire. Three surfers helped save several people from the wind-swept fire (May).

The Record Bar Pro-Am is held in Wrightsville Beach, NC (September 18-19).

1984

"Follow the Sun, Part II" is shown at the Mad Monk in Wilmington, NC (July 13).

North Carolina's Buddy Pelletier finishes third in the Pro division at the 22nd annual East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia Beach, VA (August).

Kim Watters finishes second in the Women's Kneeboard, Jo Whaley places third in the Senior Women, and Bill Curry finishes third in the Longboard Division at the Eastern Surfing Championships in Cape Hatteras, NC.

Sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) and the fifteenth stop on the WCT, the Record Bar Surfabout is held in Wrightsville Beach (September 19-23). The contest includes a $22,000 prize purse and is won by Australian, Cheyne Horan.

1985

Eastern Skateboard Supply is opened in Wilmington by Reggie Barnes.

Wilmington native, Will Allison, participates as a judge in the world’s first inland surfing championships at Dorney Park's Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, PA. Australian, Tom Carroll, wins the event (Summer). The contest is the second stop on the world tour.

With a $25,000 prize purse, the Record Bar Pro-Am is held in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) and the ninth stop on the WCT, it is the largest professional surfing tournament on the East Coast. Featuring Tommy Carroll (top-seed), Matt Kechele, Derek Ho, and Mark Richards, among others, Gary "Kong" Elkerton wins the Pro Division while Wilmington's Brian Tracey finishes third in the Men's Amateur Division, Gina Blakenship finishes third in the Women's Amateur, and Bill Curry finishes first in the Open Longboard and is followed by Carolina Beach's Charlie Hunt in third place, and Mike Curry in sixth place. Bill Curry also finishes fourth in the Master's Division. Jo Whaley takes fifth in the Women's division. The event is sponsored in-part by Surf City Surf Shop. Scandinavian freestyle skater, Per Welinder, provides a exhibition at Surf City Surf Shop as well. (September 18-22).

1986

The Record Bar Pro-Am, scheduled to be held in Wrightsville Beach, NC is cancelled because the ASP is unable to secure a beach permit from the town (July 21-26).

Bill Curry is named to the 1986 ESA Allstar Team. The only other North Carolinian is Tod Martin from Morehead City.

1987

Hot Wax Surf Shop opens in Wilmington, NC (August 1).

"North Shore" is shown at the Independence 3 theater in Wilmington (August 14).

At the 25th annual East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia Beach, VA, Will Allison finishes second in the Senior Men and Longboard divisions while Kim Watters takes first in the Women's division followed by Jo Whaley in fourth (August).

Bill Curry captures first in the Longboard and Men's Paddleboard divisions, and receives the Iron Man Award at the 1987 ESA Eastern Surfing Championships held at the lighthouse in Cape Hatteras, NC. He also finishes third in the Master's and sixth in the Senior Kneeboard divisions. Jo Whaley takes first in the Senior Kneeboard and receives the Ironwoman Award. Ed Fawess captures first in the Senior Men followed by Will Allison in second place. The Southern North Carolina team consisting of Will Allison, Bill Curry, Jon Jones, and Clark Wallin takes first place in the Men's Team Paddleboard event.

The inaugural Hot Wax Challenge is held at Crystal Pier in Wrightsville Beach (October).

At the United States Amateur Surfing Championships in North Padre Island, TX, Will Allison (1st, Senior Mens) and Bill Curry (1st, Longboard) won the titles in their divisions. Jo Whaley, also of Wilmington, placed fourth in the Senior Women's Division. Allison and Curry were also members of the winning east coast paddleboard team that included Bill McMillan and Bruce Walker of Florida (November).

1988

Team USA member, Bill Curry, places 3rd in the Open Longboard division at the ISA World Surfing Games in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

The ASP/East begins its first year.

Spinnaker Surf & Sport opens in Surf City, North Carolina.

Beach Bash '88 is held at Onslow Bay, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (June).

At the 26th annual East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia Beach, VA, Will Allison places first in the Senior Men's division followed by fellow North Carolinian's David Sledge and Bill Roach in third and fourth respectively. Eddie Crawford places sixth in the Junior Men's division (August).

Wrightsville Beach's Bill Curry places first in the Senior Men's Division, second in the Longboard, second in the Senior Kneeboard, first in the Men's Paddleboard, and captures the Iron Man Award at the 1988 Eastern Surfing Championships in Cape Hatteras. Carolina Beach's Fisher Culbreth finishes seventh in the Junior Men's division while Wilmington's Bryan Tracey takes seventh in the Master's division (September).

The Monster Mash Halloween II Surf Contest is held at Onslow Bay, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (October).

1989

The 2nd Annual Brunswick Islands Beach Festival/Surf Contest is held at Holden Beach, North Carolina (June).

Paul Prewitt's, "Atlantic Crossing" plays at the Mad Monk in Wilmington (July 12).

Oak Island's Jon Jones wins the Senior Men's Division at the US Amateur Surfing Championships in Oceanside, CA. Another Cape Fear surfer, Bill Curry, places sixth in the Senior Men's and fourth in the Longboard Division (mid-July).

The UNCW Surf Team travels to Huntington Beach, CA for the NSSA National Championships. Finishing 6th, the team is the highest scoring team from the East Coast (August).

Hurricane Gabrielle hits the eastern seaboard. Hurricane Hugo hits Charleston, South Carolina on September 21 as a category 4 storm ranking as one of the most intense hurricanes to make landfall (September).

Wrightsville Beach's Bill Curry wins the Senior Men's Division at the 1989 ESA Eastern Surfing Championships in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina while also capturing first place in the Men's Paddleboard and winning the Iron Man Award. He also places fifth in the Senior Kneeboard. Wilmingtonian, Tamara Paul, takes first place in the Women's Kneeboard and second in the Women's Bodyboard, while Sonia Seigler places third in the Women's Kneeboard and third in the Women's Bodyboard. Jill Longordo, places fifth in the Girls Division, while Jon Jones takes second place in the Longboard and Randy Griffin places third in the Junior Kneeboard (September).

A surfing contest is held as part of the NC Festival by the Sea in Holden Beach (October 28).

1990

Brothers Dean and Jim Lassiter open Aussie Island Surf Shop in the Landfall Shopping Center in Wilmington, NC (March).

Bill Delaney's, "Surfers - The Movie" plays at the St. Regis Hotel in Topsail/Snead's Ferry, North Carolina (July 12).

1991

Eastern Surf Magazine begins publishing (January).

Local Call Surf Shop opens in Oak Island, NC (February).

"Point Break" is shown at Cinema 6 in Wilmington (July 12).

The Mad Monk, a popular nightclub among surfers in Wilmington, NC, burns down. It moves to a second location at Marketplace Mall (November 20).

1992

Wrightsville Beach's Bill Curry wins the Senior Men's, Open Longboard, and Individual Paddleboard Divisions while taking third in the Senior Men's Kneeboard Division at the 25th annual Eastern Surfing Championships in Buxton, North Carolina (September 13-17).

1993

Chris Jackson, Wilmington surfer and manager of Aussie Island Surf Shop, organizes the Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, a national volunteer organization dedication to preserving the coastal environment.

Bill Curry captures first place in the Open Longboard Division and the Senior Longboard Division at the US Amateur Surfing Championships in Oceanside, CA (August 2-7), and earns a spot on the USSF 1993 US Team.

At the 26th annual Eastern Surfing Championships the following placed: Ben Bourgeois (1st, Boys); Bill Curry (1st, Senior Longboard; 2nd, Senior Men); Mark Hunt (5th, Men's); Chris Curry (5th, Menehune); and Guion Lee (7th, Junior Men's).

The Seventh Annual Hot Wax Challenge is held at Crystal Pier in Wrightsville Beach (October 9-10).

1994

Bill Curry wins the Open and Senior Men divisions at the 1st Annual Bette Marsh Memorial Classic in Atlantic Beach, NC. His son, Chris, places second in the Boys division while Guion Lee finishes second in Junior Men, and is followed by Kyle Kight in third (April 2-3).

Team USA member, Bill Curry, places 3rd in the Open Longboard division at the ISA World Surfing Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"The Endless Summer II" plays at Indepence 3 theater in Wilmington (June 3).

"Ten Toes Over" is shown at at Red Dogs in Wrightsville Beach, NC (July 20).

At the 28th AAU Junior Olympic Games Surfing Championships at Sebastian Inlet, FL, Chris Curry wins gold in the Menehune division and places eighth in the Junior Longboard division. Ben Bourgeois wins the silver in the Junior Men division (August 1-3).

Chris Curry places first in the Menehune division at the Eastern Surfing Championships at Cape Hatteras (September 11-17). Mitch Baker places third in the Boys division while Ben Bourgeois finishes third in the Juniors division. In the Men's division, Carolina Beach legend, Fisher Culbreth, places fourth and is followed by Mark Hunt in seventh place. Guion Lee places fourth in the Junior Longboard and Marty Mentzer places sixth in the Junior Women division. Bill Curry places fifth in the Senior Men, third in the Senior Longboard, and second in the Kneeboard divisions.

At the 1994 U.S. Amateur Surfing Championships, held at Sebastian Inlet, FL, Ben Bourgeois wins 1st place in the Junior division. Carolina Beach surfer, Fisher Culbreth wins the Men's division while Bill Curry wins the Senior Longboard division and places third in the Kneeboard division (November 20-29).

1995

Wrightsville surfer, Ben Bourgeois, wins the Quiksilver World Grommet Contest in Bali. His parents purchase Sweetwater Surf Shop from Jim Skiba.

The Buddy Pelletier Surfing Scholarship Foundation is started in honor of Buddy Pelletier who passed away from cancer. Pelletier was from Atlantic Beach, NC and known as the “Southern Gentleman” of the professional surfing circuit.

The summer of surf. Surfers in the Cape Fear Region and all along the eastern seaboard experience some of the best waves on record as Hurricane Felix and his siblings pass by the Carolina coast. Bill Curry, a local surfer, recalls, "we had waves every day." (Interview with Bill Curry over dinner at King Neptune's Restaurant in Wrightsville Beach, February 5, 2002).

Donavon Frankenreiter and his band, Sunchild, play at the Mad Monk in Wilmington, NC as part of Reef Brazil's "Turning the Tide" tour (August 9).

Matt Perkins' film, Surferpalooza 2 premieres at Jerry Allen's in Wrightsville Beach, NC (Fall). It is the first of several by Perkins who states, "all of these films were made just for fun and they were never intended to be "real" surf videos. They were just for all the guys on the beach to have and watch and we always threw a big party at Jerry Allen's for the premiere."

Nuclear NRG (Surf NRG Video, Volume IV) plays at the Mad Monk in Wilmington, NC (August 30).

The ASP-East Hot Wax Pro-Am is held in Wrightsville Beach, NC (October 7-8).

1996

The East Coast Surf Legends Hall of Fame is founded by Greg Noll (January).

The Mad Monk, a popular bar among local surfers in Wilmington, NC, closes due to financial difficulties (May).

The Mid-Atlantic Sound, Surf and Skate symposium is held in downtown Wilmington, NC (June).

The Ninth Annual Sweet Willy's Pro-Am Surf Challenge is held in Emerald Isle, NC. Bill Curry wins the Longboard Pro Division (June).

Blue Energy (Surf NRG Series, vol.5) shows at Skylight in Wilmington, NC(July 24, 1996).

Southeastern North Carolina fares well in the 29th annual Eastern Surfing Championships in Hatteras (September 8-13). Boys: Matt Gilligan (2), Chris Curry (3); Juniors: Ben Bourgeois (1), Mitch Baker (8); Men: Mark Hunt (4), Tony Butler (7); Grandmasters: Will Allison (5); Women: Marty Mentzer (4); Senior Longboard: Billy Curry (2); Kneeboard: Billy Curry (3); Tag Team: Southeastern North Carolina; and Junior Hot Wave: Ben Bourgeois.

Wrightsville Beach surfer, Ben Bourgeois defeats Taj Burrow, Damien Hobgood, and Troy Brooks to capture the Junior’s Division of the ISA World Games in Huntington Beach, CA (October 5-13).

1997

Matt Perkins' Surferpalooza 3.14 premieres in Wrightsville Beach, NC (Spring).

Matt Perkins' Surferpalooza 5 premieres in Wrightsville Beach, NC (April).

Ben Bourgeois finishes second in the Junior's Division and first in the Men's Division at the NSSA Eastern Championships at Sebastian Inlet, FL (April 27-28).

Onshore Surf Shop opens its doors in Surf City, NC (May).

Bill Curry places first in the Senior Men’s Longboard Division at the 37th Annual U.S. Amateur Surfing Championships in Oceanside, CA. Will Allison places second in the Grandmaster’s Division. Marty Mentzer, of Ocean Isle Beach, places second in the Women’s Division (July 14-19).

The East Coast Wahine Championships (ECWC) begin; the event is held in Wrightsville Beach, NC (August).

The Eastern Surfing Championships (ESA’s 30th Anniversary) are held. Will Allison wins the Grandmasters Division (45-55). The event is held in Hatteras during Hurricane Erika (September).

1998

"In God's Hands" is shown at United Artists theater in Wilmington (May 15).

Grieg Border launches Sncsurf.com, the first web-based surf portal for surfers in the Cape Fear Region. Features include weather reports, surf cams, surf videos, and daily photos of surf conditions at C-Street in Wrightsville Beach, NC (July 3).

Rusty Surfboards holds the Rusty Grom Fest in Carolina Beach, NC (July).

The 12th Annual Hot Wax Challenge, sponsored by Hot Wax Surf Shop, is held in Wrightsville Beach, NC (October).

1999

Wrightsville Beach’s Matt Gilligan finishes second in the Open Division at the US Amateur Surfing Championships in Oceanside, CA (July 10-18).

The Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association (WBLA) is formed (August).

The 32 Annual Eastern Surfing Championships are held in Cape Hatteras (September 12-15). Matt Gilligan places 2nd in the Open division while Shane Upchurch finishes 3rd in the Menehune division. Carl Wallin takes 2nd in Junior Longboard and Eileen O'Conner places 4th in the Girls division.

2000

Wrightsville Beach’s Matt Gilligan finishes fourth in the Explorer Men’s Division at the NSSA’s National Open and Explorer Championships at Lower Trestles, CA (June 27-July 1).

The first Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Contest is held in Atlantic Beach, NC (July).

The East Coast Surfing Championships (ECSC) are held in Virginia Beach, VA. Tim McAuliffe, of Wilmington, wins the Junior Longboard Division; Chris Curry, of Wrightsville Beach, wins the Men’s Open Division and finishes in second place in the Men’s Shortboard; Richard Gilligan, also of Wrightsville Beach, wins first place in the Junior Men’s Shortboard; Tony Silvagni, of Kure Beach, takes second place in the Menehune Longboard (August).

2001

Swell.com ranks the University of North Carolina at Wilmington sixth in the top ten U.S. colleges for surfing (May).

Extreme Surf & Skate opens in Carolina Beach, North Carolina (August).

Pride Surf Shop opens in Wilmington, NC (August).

Wrightsville Beach’s Ben Bourgeois finishes third in the Men’s Division at the PSTA Rip Curl Pro on 56th Street in Newport Beach, CA (September 5-9).

The Topsail Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is formed, becoming the 53rd chapter of the national organization (October).

Ben Bourgeois finishes fifth at the Rip Curl Cup on Sunset Beach, HI and clears the way for fellow east coaster, CJ Hobgood to win the world title. The Rip Curl Cup is the second leg of the Van’s Triple Crown of Surfing (December).

2002

Surfer Magazine places Wilmington, North Carolina in the top ten surfing towns worldwide (February).

2002 Freestyle Scholastics/AAU National Juniors Surfing Championships are held in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Stephen Mangiacapre wins the bronze, while Tony Silvagni and Thomas Mangiacapre finish fifth and sixth respectively in the Open Longboard Division while Shane Upchurch finishes fourth in the Junior Men's Division. The UNCW Surf Team composed of Pete Erickson, Jeff Weisler, Carl Wallin, and Brad Sutton also competes (March 23-25).

The Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association (WBLA) hosts the First Annual Longboard Classic in Wrightsville Beach, NC (May 18-19).

"Fanning the Fire" is shown at the Icehouse in Wilmington (July 5).

Southport’s Shane Upchurch wins’ the Junior Men’s Division and places third in the Open Men’s Division at the 42nd Annual United States Surfing Championships in Oceanside, CA (July 20-26). Sara Willis (Atlantic Beach, NC) places first in the Junior Women’s Shortboard Division.

"Blue Crush premieres" in Wilmington at Carmike 16 theaters the evening before the kickoff of the Sixth Annual East Coast Wahine Championships (August).

The 3rd Annual Surf for Cystic Fibrosis Classic is held at Fort Fisher to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The event, sponsored by Michael's Seafood Restaurant and Havoc Surfboards, is organized by local surfers, including Dru McDaniel, surfboard shaper for Havoc (August).

The 35th Annual ESA Eastern Surfing Championships are held in Cape Hatteras, NC (September 22-28).

Ben Bourgeois finishes second in the Men’s Division (ASP 3 star WQS) behind Aaron Cormican in the First Annual Outer Banks Pro. Sarah Willis finishes third in the Women’s Division (ASP 1 star WQS). Held at the Kitty Hawk Pier (October 3-6).

Joe Cheshire's film, "Alluvium," premieres at Kefi in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina (November 21).

Pat Stublen's film, "Destined for Second," premieres at Red Dogs in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina (November 22).

UNC Wilmington's Randall Library hosts Surf Nite and features three films, "Surfing Carolina" by Jason Glazener; "Dawn Patrol" by Chip Hackler; and Balsa Bill Yerkes' seminal classic, "Summer of '67" to a standing-room only auditorium in the library (September 18).

2003

Kure Beach native, Tony Silvagni, takes third place in the Banana Boat Junior Men’s Longboard and third place in the Pat Magee’s Nostalgia 40 and Under (pre-69 surfboards) contests at the 39th Annual Easter Surfing Festival in Cocoa Beach, FL (April).

UNC Wilmington's Randall Library hosts Surf Nite and features the films, "3 Degrees" by Poor Specimen; "20 Some Years Young," a senior project documentary on surfing by Pete Erickson; and a preview for "Full Color," by local videographer Adam Hawley. Due to large crowds from the previous fall the event is moved to nearby Morton Hall Auditorium on the UNCW campus (January 24).

"The Outsiders" is shown at Roland Grise Middle School in Wilmington (February 12).

Quiksilver's 'Unleash the East' tour stops at UNC Wilmington to premiere one of its newest films, "People Skills." Jason Borte, Josh Hoyer, Todd Morcom, and Cam Powell are on hand to sign autographs. The UNCW Surf Club hosts the event and Chip Hackler, a UNCW film professor wins the surfboard donated by Whalebone Surf Shop (March 21).

At the 9th annual Cucalorus Film Festival "Surfari," "Dawn Patrol," "Surf Movie," and "Longer" are shown at the Level 5/City Stage Theater in Wilmington (March 22).

Tony Silvagni wins the Open Longboard Division; Nick Rupp finishes second in the Menehune Division and fifth in the Open Longboard; and Mason Pourcha finishes sixth in the Open Bodyboard Division at the OP East Coast Scholastic Surfing Championships, run for the 18th year by the Eastern Surfing Association (April 12-14). The UNCW Surf Team (Pete Erickson, Jeff Weisler, Carl Wallin, and Brad Sutton) also participates in the contest.

The Topsail Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation's holds its first annual "One Board" surf contest." More of an expression session than a contest, there are no age divisions, and each competitor rides a 9' epoxy longboard. Organized by On Shore Surf Shop, top honors are captured by Randy Howe, followed by PJ Watkins, Kyle Sumer, and Josh Bradley (April).

Sweetwater Surf Shop’s manager, Tony Butler, launches his website, wblivesurf.com, featuring local surfing action, news, and photographs (April).

The 2nd Annual WBLA Longboard Classic is held at Shell Island in Wrightsville Beach, NC (May 3).

Boardsports retail representatives from across the U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico meet in Sonoma, CA. The group formalizes the Board Retailers Association and elects its initial advisory board. Surf City Surf Shop's Roy Turner, serves as the association's president, and states that the body's mission is “to give independent boardsport retailers a united voice to communicate with their manufacturers, tradeshows, and the media.” (May 10-11).

Ace Cofer opens Cafe del Mar in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Located next to Vito's Pizza, it is a coffeehouse with a surf-oriented atmosphere (May 31).

The Eastern Surfing Association announces that it is severing ties with the United States Surfing Federation (June 1).

"Rise Above" is shown at Kefi in Wrightsville Beach (June 10).

Poor Specimen's film, "Drive Thru Japan," premieres at Kefi in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Prior to the film, extreme sports photographers, Aaron Chang and DJ Struntz, showcase some of their works in an all-ages slideshow (June 19).

Kure Beach native, Tony Silvagni, takes second place in the Open Longboard and third place in the Explorer Longboard Divisions at the NSSA National Championships at Lower Trestles, San Clemente, CA (June 20-28).

Tony Silvagni heads to the United States Surfing Championships in Oceanside, California and wins first place in the Open Longboard Division (June-July).

The First Annual Red Dog’s / Rusty Open and Bikini Kill is held at Mercer’s Pier in Wrightsville Beach, NC (July 8).

"The Motus Mix" is shown at Red Dog's in Wrightsville Beach (July 17).

As part of the Billabong "Right Coast Summer Tour '03," The Donavon Frankreiter Band plays at Cafe del Mar and signs autographs the next day at Sweetwater Surf Shop (July 19-20).

Volcom Stone holds a contest at the Oceanic Pier in Wrightsville Beach, NC as part of the Jellyfish Surf Series. (July 26-27). The following place first through sixth in the contest: Matt Gilligan, Richard Gilligan, Cane Faircloth, Danny Wertz, Mark Yonkers, and Dallas Tolson.

Wrightsville Beach native, Ben Bourgeois ties for fifth with Rob Machado at the Philips Fusion Honda Element U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA (July 28 to August 3). Both finish behind other notables: Cory Lopez (1st), Taj Burrrow (2nd), Andy Irons (3rd), and Bobby Martinex (4th).

Ben Bourgeois represents the East Team in Huntington Beach, CA along with Kelly Slater, CJ Hobgood, Damien Hobgood, reigning U.S. Open champion Cory Lopez, Shea Lopez as surfing makes its long-awaited debut in the X-Games. (August). The East Team goes on to defeat the West.

The Rusty Grom-O-Rama and Airshow is held at Hamlet Street in Carolina Beach, NC (August 3).

"Out of Order" is shown at Café Del Mar in Wrightsville Beach (August 5).

Jo Pickett, from Wilmington, NC, wins the Shortboard 36+ and Longboard 41+ Divisions at the Betty Series Virginia Beach Surf Jam. She also finishes second in the Shortboard Pro and fifth in the Longboard Pro Divisions respectively. Her daughter, Leilani, finishes fourth in the Shortboard 13-17 Division, and fourth in the Shortboard Pro Division (August 9-10).

The Seventh Annual East Coast Wahine Championships are held in Wrightsville Beach (August 16-17).

Tony Silvagni, age 16, wins the Pro Longboard Division and the Junior Longboard Divisions at the 41st Annual East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia Beach, VA (August 20-24).

"The Next Episode" is shown at Kefin in Wrightsville Beach (August 28).

The Fourth Annual Surf for Cystic Fibrosis is held at Fort Fisher, NC (August 30).

Hurricanes Fabian and Isabel make landfall providing the area with waves that some consider being the best since the summer of 1995 (September).

"Circle One" is shown at Kefi in Wrightsville Beach (September 4).

"Yield" is shown at Red Dog's in Wrightsville Beach (September 26).

UNC Wilmington's Randall Library hosts Surf Nite and features the films "Heart of the Sea" and "Full Color" in Morton Hall Auditorium on the campus (October 1).

"Single Fin Yellow" premieres at Tower 7 in Wilmington, NC (October 16).

Dana Brown’s "Step into Liquid" premieres in Wilmington at Carmike 16 theaters (October 17).

Postponed due to Hurricane Isabel, the 36th Annual Eastern Surfing Championships are held at Cape Hatteras. Kure Beach's Tony Silvagni wins the Iron Man Award, while Drake Courie wins the Menehune Longboard Division (October 25-31).

Taylor Steele’s "Campaign" premieres at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington, NC (November 13). Organized by wblivesurf.com and Sweetwater Surf Shop, the film sells out twice in the one-night only showing.

The “Win Ben" kickoff party is held at The Whiskey, a downtown Wilmington bar. Sponsored by Feralnation.com, The Whiskey, Electric Sunglasses, Reef, and Sweetwater Surf Shop, K38 Baja Grill, Spy, Coastal Limousine, Da Kine, and Surf City Surf Shop (December 13) local females play for a chance to win a date with local professional surfer, Ben Bourgeois.

2004

ASG rocks it out for New Year's Eve (December 31-January 1) at Red Dogs in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Dave Dorosko's film, "Nice Music for Nice People" plays at Cafe del Mar in Wrightsville Beach (January 4). The film features various entertainment including music, surfing, and skating and stars local surfer, Chet Childress, along with Bruce Irons, and family member Mike Dorosko.

Dr. William D. Moore, a history professor at UNCW Wilmington, hosts a history of surfing class at the University (Spring).

Wrightsville Beach surfer, Bill Curry, is inducted into the East Coast Surfing Legends Hall of Fame. He and nine other surfers join the existing group of 71 surfers already in the Hall (January).

ASG tears it up again at the downtown Wilmington bar, The Whiskey, co-owned by Matt Perkins, an alum of the UNCW Surf Club (January 30).

William Randall Library and the UNCW Surf Club co-sponsor the dirty south premiere of "Ishmael," a film developed by New Englander, Ben Keller. The film is about surfing in the harsh elements of New England's cold, wintery climates (February 3).

Co-sponsored by Billabong and wblivesurf.com, Billabong's "Odyssey" plays to a packed house at Hollywood East Cinema Grill (February 12).

Poor Specimen's "Drive Thru Australia" plays at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington, North Carolina (February 26).

"Destined for Second", "The Far Shore," and "Riding Waves" play at Level 5/City Stage Theater in Wilmington as part of the 10th Annual Cucalorus Festival (March 27). Craig Peterson, Kevin Naughton, and Cyrus Sutton, and Pat Stublen are guests of honor.

Joe Cheshire's film, "Global," plays at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (April 15).

Roy Turner, owner of Surf City Surf Shop in Wrightsville Beach is listed as the seventh most influential person in the surf industry by Transworld SURF Business Magazine (April 22).

Globe Shoes' film, "Somewhere, Anywhere, Everywhere" plays at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (May 5). It is the only showing of the film in North Carolina.

The Eastern Surfing Association's (ESA) Mid-Atlantic Regionals are held at Hamlet Avenue in Carolina Beach, NC (May 7-9).

The Aaron Chang Model Search is held at Kefi's in Wrightsville Beach (May 13).

Tony Silvagni places sixth in the Men's Noseriding Division behind Christian Wach, Josh Baxter, Steve Newton, Brent Russell, and Joel Tudor at the 2004 California Open in Oceanside , CA (May 14-16).

The 3rd Annual WBLA Longboard Classic is held at Shell Island in Wrightsville Beach (May 15).

"Wanderjahr" plays at Cafe Del Mar in Wrightsville Beach (May 15). The film documents the life, travels and personality of Brendan “Margo” Margieson in an era when the surf industry began looking for more that just competition surfing to quench the appetite of a hungry surf public and with the support of sponsors like Billabong, Reef and Maurice Cole surfboards, was able to take his focus away from competition surfing and commit himself to the full time job of traveling the globe in search of perfect waves.

Jack McCoy and Billabong visit Wilmington as part of the Jack McCoy Surf Film Festival. As part of their tour up the east coast, they premiere McCoy's newest film, "Blue Horizons," at select cities along the tour. This film is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill (May 20). The film follows the incredible journey of two of the world's best surfers; world champion pro surfer, Andy Irons, and Australian ‘soul surfer' Dave ‘Rasta' Rastovich. The film documents their unique and contrasting lifestyles, while taking viewers to exotic locations and exciting new surf territories around the world.

The Lost Surf Jam Mid-Atlantic Tour hosts a contest at Fort Fisher with a party at Red Dogs in Wrightsville Beach afterwards (June 6). Final Results: 1. Shane Upchurch $200 + $20 for beating Dustin Ray and Chucky; 2. Tai Graham $100 + $20 for beating Dustin Ray and Chucky; 3. Anthony Osment $50 + $20 for beating Dustin Ray and Chucky; 4. Cain Faircloth $45; 5. Zack Rice $35; 6. Richard Gilligan $25. (ESM, September 2004).

The Quiksilver Crossing North America Tour passes through Wrightsville Beach, NC. Its envoy, a 75-foot diving and survey vessel named the Indies Trader, docks at Seapath Marina (June 11). That evening, a special showing of the films "Kelly Slater and the Young Guns" and "Second Thoughts" (a gone-feral-in-Indo flick) are shown at Red Dogs. The next morning, members of the Quiksilver crew host a surf camp at Crystal Pier.

Kure Beach native, Tony Silvagni, places first in the Junior Longboard and fifth in the Open Shortboard at the inaugural American Surfing Championships (ASC) in Huntington Beach, CA. Fellow SNC surfer, Nick Rupp takes first place in the Menehune final. Surfing America is the newly-appointed National Governing Body for the sport of Surfing in the United States. Jo Pickett, from Wilmington, places 3rd in the Womens/Sr. Women Final and is crowned the Senior Women champion (June 13-17).

The 2nd Annual Red Dogs/Rusty Open is held at Johnny Mercer's Pier in Wrightsville Beach, NC (June 19-20). The contest features both a pro and amateur division, and an air show. $1000 cash to air show champ. All divisions....tons of sponsors such as Rusty, Quick, Feralnation, Surf City, Aussie Island, SOD surfboards....etc. Mercers pier is the location....and yes, the infamous bikini contest..the winner takes home a whole line of clothing from Rusty (ESM, August 2004).

At the NSSA National Open and Explorer Championships at Lowers-Trestles, CA, Tony Silvagni places first in the Open Longboard while Shallotte surfer, Nick Rupp, places sixth in the Open Boys division (June 22-26).

At the 44th annual USSF U.S. Surfing Championships in Oceanside, CA, Tony Silvagni places first in the Junior Longboard (June 26-30).

The Billabong Right Coast Detour stops in Wrightsville Beach. All the local groms are out for an autograph signing in the Neptune restaurant's parking lot with Peter Mendia, Brian Hewitson, Geoff Moysa, and Bucky Lasek. Later that day, Bucky Lasek provides a skate demo at Greenfield Park (July 21).

Local surfers, Leilani Pickett and Tony Silvagni, join 18 fellow ESA competitors who have qualified through the recently held American Surfing Championships (ASC) to surf in the inaugural Surfing America USA Surfing Championships and U.S. Team Trials Selection taking place at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA (July 23-25).

The Sixth Annual Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic is held (July 24-25) in Atlantic Beach, NC (ESM, September 2004).

North Carolinians, Kelly Nicely (Women) and Tony Silvagni (Longboard), are selected to join 29 other surfers as members of the 2004 USA Surf Team (July 23-25). They will compete at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships 2004 in Papenoo, Tahiti from December 2-14, 2004.

The Rusty Gromarama is held at the Surf City Pier in Surf City, NC (July 31).

The Rusty Surfboard Demo Day is held at Johnny Mercer's Pier in Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 1).

The RB5X (pronounced R-B-five-by) or Red Bull 5X East Coast Freestyle Surfing Competition stops in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Billy Hume and Ian Parnell compete against local surfers Tony Butler, Matt Gilligan, and Mark Hunt (August 9). Judged on several categories that include torque, boost, push, mojo, and combo, Matt Gilligan is declared the overall winner.

The film, "Sprout," is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington as part of an east coast tour promoting the film (August 16).

The Eighth Annual East Coast Wahine Championships are held in Wrightsville Beach (August 21-22).

The Labor Day Surf Off is held at Long Beach Pier in Long Beach, NC (September 4-5), and is supported with sizable waves generated by Hurricane Frances.

"Drive Thru South Central America" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (September 23).

The Cape Fear Surfrider Foundation hosts its first Surfer Sweep (September 11). Over 200 people turn out to support a beachwide cleanup and is sponsored by several area businesses including Tower 7 Baja Mex and the local band, Da Howlies, who provide an acoustical jam session.

Event #3 of the 2004 Atlantic Bodyboarding Association Pro/AM Championship Series is held at Crystal Pier in Wrightsville Beach, NC (September 18-19).

UNC Wilmington's Randall Library hosts Surf Nite and features the films "ECWC '03" and "Through the Looking Glass" in Morton Hall Auditorium on the campus (September 30).

Ocean Isle Beach resident, Jesse McCrery, wins the Open Shortboard division at the 42nd Annual East Coast Surfing Championships in August (ESM, October 2004).

The 2004 ESA Eastern Surfing Championships "The Easterns" are held at Cape Hatteras (September 19-25). Slater Powell (Men’s), Shea Lindon (women’s bodyboard), Tony Silvagni (Junior Longboard), and Nick Rupp (Menehune) take first place in their respective divisions. The Southern North Carolina District of ESA finishes 2nd overall in competition. (ESM, October 2004)

The 18th Annual Hot Wax Challenge is held at Fort Fisher State Park (October 9-10).

"Back to the Front" is shown at Hollywod East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (October 21).

"Riding Giants" is shown at Thalian Hall in Wilmington. A small table exhibit on the history of surfing in southeastern North Carolina is also displayed along with several historic surfboards owned by private collectors (October 24-26).

"Noah's Arc" is shown at Thalian Hall in Wilmington (October 29).

"A Broke Down Melody" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (November 4).

The Christian Surfers host the Cold Water Classic on Wrightsville Beach (November 20).

"Freak Show" is shown at Café Del Mar in Wrightsville Beach (November 5).

"Destroy Everything Now" is shown at Café Del Mar in Wrightsville Beach (November 12).

Nate Lee and Jerry Ricciotti's film, "Trailer Trash" is shown at Red Dog's in Wrightsville Beach (December 2).

2005

"The Free Way" is shown at Hollywood East cinema Grill in Wilmington (January 20).

"Seasons" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (February 10).

"Inner Visions" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (March 31).

"Back to the Front," "Heart," "A State of S," and the "Innermost Limits of Pure Fun" are shown at Level 5/City Stage Theater as part of the 11th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival in Wilmington (April 2).

"The Ripple Effect" is shown at Sharp Shooters in Jacksonville, NC (April 12).

"Trailer Trash 2" is shown at Red Dog's in Wrightsville Beach, NC (April 14).

"Drive Thru Europe" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (April 21).

UNC Wilmington's Randall Library hosts Surf Nite and features the films "Pacific Vibrations" and "Viajar" in King Hall Auditorium on the campus (April 25).

The St. Jude "Surf for a Cure" Contest is held at Fort Fisher, North Carolina (April 16-17), and is sponsored by the Southern Stiks Surf Company.

The 4th annual WBLA Longboard Classic is held in Wrightsville Beach (May).

"No Way Man" is shown at Kefi in Wrightsville Beach (May 5).

"Fair Bits" is shown at Level 5/City Stage Theater in Wilmington (May 6).

"Unsalted" is shown at Level 5/City Stage Theater in Wilmington (June 20).

"Campaign 2" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (July 3).

Line Up Magazine is launched (July 4).

The film, "Young Guns II" is shown at Red Dog's in Wrightsville Beach as part of Quiksilver's Belly of the East Tour (July 13).

Hosted by wblivesurf.com, the Reef / Sweetwater Pro-Am is held in Wrightsville Beach behind Sweetwater Surf Shop (July 23-24).

The Ninth Annual East Coast Wahine Championships is held in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina (August 20-21).

"State of S" and "What's Next" is shown at Level 5/City Stage Theater in Wilmington (August 22).

"Fishing for Birds" is shown at Red Dog's in Wrightsville Beach (September 6).

Sponsored by the Cape Fear and UNCW chapters of the Surfrider Foundation, the Cape Fear Clean Water Classic is held on Wrightsville Beach (October 8-9).

"Burn" is shown at Wrightsville Beach Park (October 22).

Sidearm Surf & Skate opens in Wilmington, NC (November).

"Nobody's Heros" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (November 10).

"Always Right" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (December 7).

The Christian Surfers Association hosts the Cold Water Classic on Wrightsville Beach (December 17).

2006

The Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is recognized as a runner-up for the award, "Outstanding Chapter Performance - Activism," in the 2nd annual Making Waves Chapter Recognition Awards sponsored by the international organization, Surfrider Foundation (Winter 2005/2006).

Wrightsville Beach surfer and shaper, Will Allison, is inducted into the East Coast Surfing Legends Hall of Fame at the Surf Expo in Orlando, FL. (January 13-15).

Wrightsville Beach native and graduate of UNC-Wilmington, Josh Hunter, is named senior editor in charge of the surf content for the TransWorld Business, a leading publication dedicated to reporting the surf, snow, and skate industries (January).

UNC Wilmington's Randall Library hosts Surf Nite and features the film "Stylemasters" at Morton Hall Auditorium on the campus (March 21).

"Drive Thru South Africa" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (April 13).

The 5th annual WBLA Longboard Classic is held at Wrightsville Beach (May).

"Separate Volume" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (May 25).

"Free as a Dog" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (June 14).

Touring the east coast to celebrate his seventh world title, Kelly Slater, makes an appearance in Wrightsville Beach and hosts a free showing of the Quiksilver film, "Letting Go," which documents his life on the WCT. (June 15)

"Critically Acclaimed" is shown at Red Dog's in Wrightsville Beach (July 14).

Hosted by wblivesurf.com, the Reef / Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest is held in Wrightsville Beach behind Sweetwater Surf Shop (July 14-16). The event includes a $20,000 pro purse.

Sponsored by Bavaria Holland Beer, the 1st Annual Bavaria Holland Beer Pro/Am Silvagni Benefit Surf Contest is held at Fort Fisher, North Carolina (July 22-23). All proceeds are given to local resident, Andrew Silvagni, to help him fight Lyme Disease.

The Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic is held at Oceanana Resort in Atlantic Beach, NC (July 29-30).

The Tenth Annual East Coast Wahine Championships is held in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina (August 19-20).

Surfers Healing is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (September 13).

"Secret Machine" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (September 27).

"Post Cards from Paradise" is shown at Wrightsville Beach Park (September 30).

"Sipping Jetstreams" is shown at Hollywood East Cinema Grill in Wilmington (October 4).

The 2nd annual Clean Water Classic is held in Wrightsville Beach, NC (October 7-8).

"The Freddy P Project" is shown at Kefi in Wrightsville Beach (October 12).

The Hot Wax Challenge is held at Fort Fisher, NC (October 21-22).

The UNCW Surf Team takes first place at the 3rd annual Terrapin Collegiate Surf Contest in Ocean City, MD (October 21).

A Volcom VQS event is held at Wrightsville Beach to qualify for the May 2007 Totally Crustaceous Tour VQS World Championships in Newport Beach, CA (October 22).

At Soup Bowls in Barbados, Ben Bourgeois winds the sixth stage of the Latin and Caribbean Surfing Tour, ALAS Special Event, Reef Latin Pro Barbados (November 6).

Tony Silvagni takes first place in the longboard division and finishes 11th in the Men's Pro at the Jupiter Pro/Am Fall Classic in Jupiter, FL. Thomas Cannon finishes in 4th place while Drake Courie ties for 5th in the longboard division as well (November 17-19).

The 3rd annual Cold Water Classic Hope From Helen Surf Contest is held in Wrightsville Beach (December 2).

2007

Kure Beach's Tony Silvagni is signed by Bavaria Holland Beer (January).

Corey Howell, Dylan Kowalksi, and Nick Rupp were named as members of the 2007 ESA Allstar Team at Surf Expo in Orlando, FL (January).

Pride Surf Shop closes its doors. Moving to a new location on South College Road in Wilmington, it is renamed 17th Street Surf Shop and is affiliated with 17th Street Surf Shop in Virginia Beach, VA (March).

Tony Silvagni of Kure Beach, NC receives an invitation to participate in the Oxbow World Longboard Championship in Anglet Basque Country, France, April 30, 2007. He is ranked #5 among the top 100 longboard surfers in the world (March).

Several individuals from southeastern North Carolina placed at the 21st Annual 2007 Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) Scholastic Championships, held in New Smyrna Beach, Florida from March 31-April 2. These included Tony Silvagni (2nd, Open Longboard); Corey Howell (2nd, Menehune); Nick Rupp (1st, Boys - 2nd, Junior Men - 4th, men); and Dylan Kowalkski (4th, Boys).

Tony Silvagni takes first place in the premier event, the Men's Longboard Pro, at the 43rd Annual Ron Jon Easter Surf Festival in Cocoa Beach, FL. He also finishes in second place in the event's nose riding competition. Nick Rupp of Ocean Isle Beach, NC wins the Amateur Boys division (April 5-8).

The UNCW Surf Club hosts the Cape Fear Surf Fest at Fort Fisher, NC (April 14-15).

"Baggage," a film by Nate Lee premieres at Hollywood East Cinema Gril in Wilmington (May 17).

The "Off the Beaten Path" skate tour stops at Eastern Skateboard Supply in Wilmington (May 19).

Tony Silvagni wins 1st place in the Kanaka Longboard Division (20-29 yrs), 1st place Retro Open Longboard Division, 1st place Pro Longboard, and 1st place in the Tandem Division (with Kate Easton) at the 4th annual Steel Pier Longboard Classic in Virginia Beach, VA (May 26-27).

The inaugural King of the Peak contest is held at the county line in Surf City, NC (May 27). The event is sponsored by the Surf City Mafia, On Shore Surf Shop, and Blueheavensurf.com.

Local-Session Surf Magazine debuts in southeastern North Carolina (June).

The 6th annual Longboard Classic is hosted by the Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association and Rippy Automotive in Wrightsville Beach, NC (June 2-3).

The Billabong Surf Rat Series '07 is held in Wrightsville Beach (June 3).

"Mixed Tape" is shown at Wrightsville Beach Park with professional surfer Bobby Martinez in attendance (June 6).

Tony Silvagni wins the Open Longboard Division, Men's Longboard Division and the Men's Shortboard Division at the Herden Label Memorial Classic in Garden City, SC (June 9-10).

"One Winter Story" is shown at Riverfron Park in downtown Wilmington as part of the kickoff celebration for the Scene First Student Film Festival (June 14).

Wblivesurf.com presents the film "Drive Thru Caribbean" at WOW Cafe & Wingery in Wilmington (July 5).

The 3rd Annual Reef/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest is held in Wrightsville Beach (July 13-15).

The 2nd Annual Bavaria Holland Beer Pro/Am Silvagni Benefit Surf Contest is held at Fort Fisher State Park (July 21-22).

Hanover Seaside Club Surf Challenge is held at Wrightsville Beach and includes paddling, running, and watermelon races (July 28).

"The Buddy" Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic is held at the Sheraton Resort in Atlantic Beach, NC and includes an open pro division (July 28-29).

Former ASP World Tour surfer and Wrightsville Beach local, Ben Bourgeois defeats the Brazilian Heitor Alves at the Rip Curl Boardmasters 5 star World Qualifying Series (WQS) surfing contest (August 12). The win increases his ranking on the WQS to #2 and clinches him a spot on the World Championship Tour for 2008.

Surfer's Healing, a surfing day camp begun in California, comes to Wrightsville Beach (August 16). The organization "host[s] day camps at the beach where autistic children and their families could be exposed to a completely new experience of surfing."

Barefoot Wine, the Surfrider Foundation, and the Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation designate Wrightsville Beach as " barefoot-friendly" and host a beach cleanup. Wrightsville Beach is one of seven beaches nationally chosen by the organizations to receive this attention (August 18).

The film "Trilogy" is shown at Wrightsville Beach Park (August 18).

The 11th annual East Coast Wahine Championships are held in Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 18-19).

Tony Silvagni wins the ASP Pro Longboard and Men's Longboard divisions at the 45th East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia Beach, VA. He also places 3rd in the Men's Shortboard and 2 nd in Open Longboard divisions. Nick Rupp wins the Boys division at the same contest (August 22 � 26).

Tony Silvagni wins the Longboard Pro Men's Division at the 22nd Annual Cocoa Beach Surf Company / NKF Pro-Am Surf Festival in Cocoa Beach, FL. August 31-September 3, 2007.

"The Dirty South 2" is shown at Kefi in Wrightsville Beach (September 6).

Tony Silvagni wins the Longboard Pro division at the Verizon Belmar Pro in Belmar, NJ . September 7-9, 2007.

The film "El Lorax" is shown at Red Dogs in Wrightsville Beach (September 10).

The 3rd annual Clean Water Classic is held in Wrightsville Beach, NC (October 5-7).

The 21st Hot Wax Challenge, sponsored by Hot Wax Surf Shop, is held at Fort Fisher State Park (October 20-21).

The film "Walking on Water" is shown at UNCW's Kenan Auditorium in Wilmington, NC (October 25).

The film "One California Day" is shown at Thalian Hall in Wilmington, NC (October 25).

Southeastern North Carolina surfers Nick Rupp and Dylan Kowalski are named to the 2008 PacSun USA Surf Team (October 30).

As part of the Cucalorus Film Festival, three surf films are shown locally. "Baggage" is featured at Riverfront Park on the waterfront in downtown Wilmington (November 7); "Thread" is shown at UNCW's Lumina Theater (November 8); and "Any Given Morning" is shown at Jengo's Playhouse (November 9).

The film "The Best Laid Plans" is shown at UNCW's Lumina Theater and is sponsored by the UNCW Surfrider Club and Sweetwater Surf Shop (November 11).

Sweetwater Surf Shop manager and WBlivesurf.com owner, Tony Butler, is recognized by the weekly newspaper, Lumina News, as the Person of the Year in Wrightsville Beach for his contributions to the community (December).

2008

UNCW's Randall Library hosts the exhibit, "Country Soul: The Surfing Experience in Southeastern North Carolina" (February 1 - November 30).

Sponsored by Wblivesurf.com, the film "Lightning Strikes' is shown at W.O.W. Cafe and Wingery in Wilmington (February 19). Funds raised are used to support New Jersey surfer, Dean Randazzo, in his battle against cancer.

Surfing in swim zones during red flag days is an issue at Wrightsville Beach, NC (spring).

Hosted by On Shore Surf Shop, the 2nd annual County Line Classic Surf Contest is held at the Onslow-Pender County line in Surf City, NC (March 15-16).

The UNCW Surf Club's team wins the tag team division at the ESA Scholastics. The team includes Cody Leutgens (Captain), Chris Curry, Ben Powell, and Michael Powell (March 15-17).

Tony Silvagni wins the Longboard Pro division at the 44th annual Easter Surf Festival sponsored by Ron Jon's Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach, FL. Drake Courie wins the Nose Riding division (March 20-23).

The 2nd annual Cape Fear Surf Fest, sponsored by the UNCW Surf Club, is held at the north end pier in Carolina Beach, NC (April 5-6).

The Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and the Town of Wrightsville Beach reach an agreement with property owners to retain public access to beach access 33 in Wrightsville Beach (March-April).

The film "Drive Thru New Zealand" is shown at W.O.W. Cafe and Wingery in Wilmington (April 10).

"Any Given Morning," by Wilmington filmmaker Laurel Hughes, wins the Audience Choice Award for Short Documentary at the Rincón International Film Festival in Puerto Rico (April 28-May 3).

Surf Carolina Magazine, focused on surfing in North and South Carolina, hits shelves on the Carolina coast (May).

Ben Bourgeios wins the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, CA (May 3). It is an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4 Star event.

Coastal Urge opens in the Landfall shopping center in Wilmington, NC (May 16).

The 7th annual WBLA Longboard Classic is held at Shell Island in Wrightsville Beach, NC (May 17).

Joseph "Skipper" Funderburg's book, Surfing on the Cape Fear Coast, is published (June).

Wilmigton photographer, Sean Ruttkay, has the photographic essay, "Beyond the Barrier" published in the Surfer's Journal (Summer).

Wilmington photographer, Kenny Onufrock, is included in the Water magazine article, "No Place Like Home," an article featuring seven east coast surfing photographers (Summer).

Taylor Steele's film, "Stranger than Fiction," is shown at W.O.W. Cafe and Wingery in Wilmington (July 1).

The 4th annual Reef Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (July 11-13). Hurricane Bertha churns offshore providing quality surf for the event.

The film, "SurfWise," is shown at Thalian Hall in Wilmington (July 14-16).

The Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic is held at Oceanana Resort in Atlantic Beach (July 26-27).

Kure Beach surfer, Tony Silvagni places 2nd in the Longboard final at the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing (presented by O'neill) in Huntington Beach, CA (July 18-27). Taylor Jensen (San Clemente, CA) places 1st while Ned Snow (Hawaii) places 3rd and Noah Shimabukuro (Oceanside, CA) places 4th.

Sponsored by IBX Promotions, the 3rd annual Silvagni Surf Pro/Am is held at Carolina Beach, NC (August 2-3).

The film, "The Life," is shown at Wrightsville Beach Park (August 4).

The film, "Just Add Water," is shown at Wrightsville Beach Park (August 11).

Surfers Healing is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 14).

The 12th annual East Coast Wahine Championships are held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 16-17). The film, "Surfers: The Movie Then and Now" is shown at Wrightsville Beach Park.

Cody Leutgens, from Surf City, NC, wins the Mens Division at the 2008 SIMA Surfing America USA Championships in Huntington Beach, CA (August 19). Weston Williams places third in the Junior Longboard division.

Tony Silvagni wins the Longboard Pro division at the 10th annual Unsound Pro in Long Beach, NY (September 3-7).

"Any Given Morning," by Wilmington filmmaker Laurel Hughes, wins the title for Best Documentary at the SoCal Independent Film Festival in Huntington Beach, CA (September 9-14).

Tony Silvagni wins the Pro Longboard division at the Foster's Belmar Pro in Belmar, NJ. His brother, Andrew, places third in the Pro Longboard division, respectively (September 11-14).

The film, "The Pursuit," plays at 17th Street Surf Shop on College Road in Wilmington (September 24).

UNCW's Alpha Xi Delta and Delta Chi present the 1st Annual Kelp Classic surfing contest at Wrightsville Beach (September 27).

Wilmington-based filmmaker, Joe Cheshire, and professional surfer, Jesse Hines both from North Carolina won Billabong's Freewave Challenge for the best barrel ride caught on film on the U.S. mainland during the 2008 summer months. The wave was filmed on the Outer Banks during Hurricane Ike in September. Hines receives $3000 for the ride and Cheshire pockets $750 for filming it (October 17).

The film, "Between the Lines," is screened at UNCW's Lumina Theater (October 25). Following the film there was a panel discussion moderated by Dr. William Moore and featuring Dr. Taylor Fain, Robert Parker and David Watters. Both Parker and Watters were two of Wrightsville Beach's first surfers and served in Vietnam.

The Fourth Annual Clean Water Classic, sponsored by the Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, is held at Wrightsville Beach (October 25-26).

Sean Ahlum, Chair of the Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, joins the Board of Directors for the Surfrider Foundation (November 3).

Benny B's Pimp My Blaze Surf Event is held at Oceanic Street in Wrightsville Beach (November 8).

The film, "Under the Sun," is screened at UNCW's Lumina Theater as part of the 14th annual Cucalorus Film Festival (November 14). Cyrus Sutton, the filmmaker, is in attendance as well.

UNCW student and Kure Beach resident, Tony Silvagni, places fourth at the Costa Del Mar Pro Championships in Huntington Beach, CA (November 16). Taylor Jensen (USA) places 1st, Harley Ingleby (AUS) is second, followed by Kekoa Uemura (HAW) in third.

The film, "Beyond the Barrier," premieres at Kefi in Wrightsville Beach (December 3). The film is by local filmmaker, Joe Cheshire.

The fourth annual Hope from Helen Silent Auction is held at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort in Wrightsville Beach (December 5).

The Lost film, "5'5" X 19 1/4": Redux," is screened at Charlie Brownz in downtown Wilmington (December 6).

2009

The film, "On Surfari in Russia" is screened at UNCW's Lumina Theater. It is sponsored by the UNCW Surf Club and WB Christian Surfers (January 6).

The film, "Life as a Movie," is screened at Red Dog's in Wrightsville Beach (January 8).

The film, "Under the Sun," is screened at Jengo's Playhouse in Wilmington, NC (February 21). The screening is sponsored by the Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association.

The film, "Fly in the Champagne," is screened at Wild Wing Cafe in Wilmington, NC (February 28).

Tony Silvagni places second in the Pro Longboard division at the 7th Annual Surfing the Blues Surf Contest held at Jacksonville Beach Pier, FL (April 4-5).

Tony Silvagni wins the Men's Longboard division at the 45th annual Ron Jon Easter Surfing Festival in Cocoa Beach, FL (April 10-12).

The film, "Just Add Water," is screened at UNCW's Lumina Theater (April 15).

The UNCW Surf Club took home first place in the College Team event at the NSSA East Coast Championships in Sebastian Inlet, FL. Two members of the team also took top honors in the College Men's division, Mike Powell (1) and Ian Tilghman (2). Ben Powell also placed 5th in the College Men's division and local Kure Beach standout and UNCW team logger, Drake Courie, placed 6th in the College Longboard division (April 18-19).

The Cove Surf Shop, in Carolina Beach, closes after nearly 30 years of business (May).

The 8th Annual WBLA Longboard Classic is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (May 2).

The film, "The Present," is screened at Level 5 / City Stage Theater in downtown Wilmington (May 4).

The film, "Picaresque," is screened at Level 5 / City Stage Theater in downtown Wilmington (May 20).

Tony Silvagni places first in the Open Longboard division, the Open Shortboard division, and the Men's Longboard division while also placing second in the Men's Shortboard division at the Herndon Lebel Memorial Surf Tournament in Garden City Beach, SC (June 13-14).

The UNCW Surf Club team places 2nd behind California State University San Marcos at the 2009 NSSA National Championships in Salt Creek, CA (June 17). Team members and brothers Ben and Mike Powell of Ocean Isle, NC finished second and third, respectively, in the Men's College division. Drake Courie of Carolina Beach, finished fifth in the College Longboard division.

The Noseriders, a surf band from Wilmington, releases its first album. The release party for "Ten" is held at the Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar in Carolina Beach (July 4).

The 2009 Reef Sweetwater Pro Am is held at Wrightsville Beach (July 10-12).

The 10th Annual Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic is held at Oceanana Pier in Atlantic Beach (July 25-26).

WLT rookie, Tony Silvagni, is put out in the first round by Colin McPhillips at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Longboard Tour (WLT) Yumeya presents Oxbow WLT at Tahara, Japan (July 28-August 2).

Ben Bourgeois and Tony Silvagni are selected to be members of the PacSun USA Surf Team for the 2009 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica (July 31-August 8). The United States wins gold for first time since 1996.

The 4th Annual Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar/Silvagni Pro/Am Surf Contest is held in Carolina Beach (August 1-2).

The Life Rolls On Foundation hosts a "They Will Surf Again" event at Wrightsville Beach (August 8).

The Surfhouse Cafe and Shop, opens at the location of the old Cove Surf Shop in Carolina Beach (August 8).

The 13th Annual East Coast Wahine Championships is held at Oceanic Pier in Wrightsville Beach (August 8-9).

The film, "Still Filthy," is shown at Red Dogs (August 12) due to a rainout at Wrightsville Beach Park. Professional surfers, Andy Irons and Shane Dorian, are on hand signing autographs for attendees.

Surfers Healing is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 13).

The film, "Dear and Yonder" is shown at UNCW's Lumina Theater (August 26). The screening is hosted by the UNCW Surf Club.

Local surfers Evan Barton (Open), Weston Williams (Menehune Longboard), and Liz Hauser (Senior Women) all place first at the 47th Annual East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia Beach, VA (August 27-30).

Wrightsville Beach's Dylan Kowalski is ranked as one of the top 10 under 16 in the USA. It is the 3rd consecutive year that he has ranked this high nationally (September).

Ben Bourgeois win the Men's Pro division at the Belmar Pro surfing contest in Belmar, NJ (September 11-13).

Mike Powell places 2nd behind Ben Bourgeois at the Hurley/WRV Outer Banks Pro in Nags Head (September 18-20).

The Volcom VQS Cooterfish Series contest is held at Wrightsville Beach (September 19).

The 2nd Annual Kelp Classic is held at Wrightsville Beach (September 26). The event is hosted by UNCW's Alpha Xi Delta and Delta Chi to benefit Autism Speaks & the Jimmy V Foundation.

Coastal Urge, Wilmington outdoor lifestyle boutique, hosts the 1st Annual Southeast SUP Championship, a 3.5 mile course around Wrightsville Beach's Harbor Island (September 26).

The film, "Modern Collective" is shown at the Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach (November 4).

The 2009 Carolina Surf Awards are held at the Courtyard by Marriott in Carolina Beach (November 6). The event is sponsored by Surf Carolina Magazine.

The Hot Wax Challenge is held at Carolina Beach (November 7).

Hallelu, a boutique in Wrightsville Beach, hosts the art show "Yearwood and Friends: Expressions of Joy" (November 8).

The film, "Drifter" is shown at the Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach (November 9). Rob Machado, Taylor Steele, and Jon Swift are in attendance.

The UNCW Surfrider group hosts a �Be Ocean-Minded� event featuring the music of Jason Andre, a talk by Bonnie Monteleone and Jennifer O'Keefe on plastics in the world's oceans, and the film, �Lost Jewel of the Atlantic� at UNCW's Lumina Theatre (November 10).

The WBLA hosts "Surf Swaptopia" at Kitchen and Lighting Designs in Wilmington (November 14). The event features community and surf business owners selling new and used surf goods.

Tony Silvagni places 3rd in the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1-Star PLA Pro Championships in Oceanside, CA (November 15).

Captain Fisher Bain Culbreth, III, passes away (November 20). Culbreth was a former U.S. surfing champion and was highly regarded in both the surfing and fishing communities.

2010

The film, "Gum for my Boat," is shown at Kefi (February 6).

The film, "Sliding Liberia," is shown at UNCW's Lumina Theater (February 22).

The film, "Jazz the Glass," is shown at Level 5/City Stage Theater in Wilmington (February 24). The film is sponsored by the Wrightville Beach Longboard Association.

Tony Silvagni wins the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 2-Star Ocean Beach PLA Pro contest in grisly 10-12 foot surf at San Diego's Ocean Beach Pier (February 28).

50 South Surf Shop opens in Surf City, NC (March).

The film, "Surfing through Barriers," is shown at the Tileston Auditorium in Wilmington (March 18).

Southeastern North Carolina is well represent at the 2010 East Coast Scholastic Surfing Championships (March 26-28, New Smyrna Beach, FL). The brothers, Ben and Michael, Powell place 1st and 2nd in the Collegiate Men's division while Michael also places 3rd in the Open Shortboard division. Bradley Rose takes 4th place in the Open Longboard while Evan Barton and Mason Barnes capture 1st and 4th place in the Junior Men's division. The UNCW team (Ben and Michael Powell, Ian Tilghman, Tony Silvagni) also is victorious - winning the Tag Team division.

Bradley Rose wins the Men's Longboard division at the 46th annual Ron Jon Easter Surfing Festival in Cocoa Beach and Shepard Park, FL (April 2-4) while Tony Silvagni and Drake Courie place 1st and 4th in the Ron Jon $5,000 Men's Longboard Pro division.

The team from Sweetwater Surf Shop wins the third stop of SURFER Magazine's Oakley Surf Shop Challenge in Kitty Hawk, NC, and is crowned the Mid-Atlantic Regional Champion (April 22-23). The team is composed of Mason Marnes, Owen Moffett, Michael Powell, and Ross Stevens.

Ben Bourgeois is inducted into the Greater Wilmington Hall of Fame (May 2) becoming the first surfer in the area to enter the hall.

The Craig Marshall Memorial Surf Contest is held on the north side of the Surf City pier (May 8-9). The contest is held in memory of Craig C. Marshall, a student from Topsail High School who died tragically while surfing in the Outer Banks in October 2009.

Conor Hughes and Chandler Hatch are announced as the recipients of the 2010 Craig C. Marshall Scholarship. Each scholarship is worth $10,000 (May).

The Surf It, Save It: Aquarium Surf Festival is held at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (June 5-6).

South End Surf Shop opens in Wrightsville Beach (June 12).

The UNCW Surf Club team places 4th at the 2010 NSSA National Championships in Salt Creek, CA (June 16). Team members and brothers Mike and Ben Powell of Ocean Isle, NC took 1st and 3rd, respectively, in the Men's College division. Drake Courie of Carolina Beach, finished fourth in the College Longboard division.

Steven Mangiacapre wins the Men's Longboard division and Bradley Rose places second in the Junior Longboard division at the 7th annual Surfing America USA Championships at the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier, CA (June 19-21) and Lower Trestles, San Onofre State Park, CA (June 23-28).

As part of the Von Zipper "Sunz Out Bunz Out!" east coast surf tour, the film "High-5" is scheduled for a free screening at Wrightsville Beach Park (July 14). Due to heavy rains, the film screening is relocated to Red Dogs.

The 6th Annual Reef Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest presented by Actionsportsnow.com is held at Wrightsville Beach (July 16-18). The event's electricity is bicycle-powered.

They Will Surf Again, an event enabling individuals with spinal injuries to spend a day surfing and enjoying the beach, is held at Wrightsville Beach (August 7). The event is sponsored by Life Rolls On.

Tony Silvagni wins the Guy Takayama Pro Open Longboard Contest in Oceanside, CA (August 13-15). He also places second in the event's noseriding contest.

Surfer's Healing is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 19).

Southern NC is well represented at the 48th annual East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia Beach, VA (August 25-29). Drake Courie (2), Brad Rose (3) and Steven Mangiacapre (4) place in the Pro Longboard; Brad Rose (1) in the Junior Longboard; Steven Mangiacapre (2) in both the Open and Men's Longboard divisions; and Knox Harris (4) in the Junior Men's division.

The 9th Annual WBLA Longboard Classic is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (September 11).

Tony Silvagni places first in the Longboard Pro division at the Belmar Pro surfing contest in Belmar, NJ. Michael Powell places 3rd in the Men's Pro division and Steven Mangiacapre places 3rd in the Longboard Pro division, respectively (September 17-19).

The ESA Eastern Surfing Championships are held at the Cape Hatteras lighthouse jetty (September 19-25).

Sweetwater Surf Shop wins the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge National Championships in Huntington Beach, CA. The team is composed of Mason Barnes, Tony Butler, Owen Moffett, Ben Powell, Michael Powell and Ross Stevens (September 21).

Ben Bourgeois places 3rd and Michael Powell places equal 7th at the WRV Outer Banks Pro in Nags Head (September 24-26).

Local rippers, Ben Bourgeois and Tony Silvagni, are selected as members of the PacSun USA Surf Team. The team represents the United States at the 2010 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games in Lima Peru (October 19-27).

Cody Leutgens and Romy Sidelsky are selected as the Tower 7/Wblivesurf Scholarship recipients for the 2010-2011 academic year (November).

As part of the annual Cucalorus Film Festival, the films, “Stoked and Broke” and “Surfing Through Barriers” are screened at Kefi (November 10) and “Dolphin Glide” is shown at Thalian Hall (November 13).

The film, "Innersection," is shown at UNCW's Lumina Theater (November 26).

The Sixth Annual Hope from Helen Surf Silent Auction is held at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort in Wrightsville Beach (December 3).

2011

The film "Who is J.O.B.?" is shown at UNCW's Lumina Theatre (March 23).

Nick Rupp, from Ocean Isle, NC, wins the DNA Energy Pro Junior. The ASP 1-Star event is held in New Smyrna Beach, FL (March 31 - April 3).

The UNCW Surf Club team wins the 2011 NSSA East Coast Championships in New Smyrna Beach, FL (April 7-10).

The team from Sweetwater Surf Shop wins the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge in Kitty Hawk, NC, and is crowned the Mid-Atlantic Regional Champion. The team is composed of Ben Bourgeois, Ben Powell, Michael Powell, and Nick Rupp (April 14).

Permanent Vacation Skate and Surf opens in Wilmington, NC (April 30).

The 2011 Carolina Cup Stand Up Paddleboard Race is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (April 29 - May 1).

Surfing America, the National Governing Body for surfing in the USA, announces that the Atlantic Surfing Federation (ASF) has been accepted as a Member Organization of Surfing America on the East Coast (May 6).  The newly formed non-profit organization was established to fill a void created by the Eastern Surfing Association's withdrawal from Surfing America in November 2009.

The WBLA announces Alexis Goss and Ryan Skrabal as the recipients for its 2011-2012 scholarship (June).

The 1st annual Panacea Paddle race is held at Carolina Beach, NC (June 4).

The UNCW Surf Club team places 3rd at the 2011 NSSA National Interscholastic Championships at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, CA (June 15-18).

The Onslow Bay Challenge, a 10-mile downwind open ocean paddle race is held at Topsail Island, NC (June 18).

The Hurley Rip My Shred Stick event is held at Wrightsville Beach (June 22).

Tony Silvagni wins the world longboard title at the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games at Playa Venao in Panama (July 3). He is also captain of Team USA at the games.

The film "Sight and Sound" plays at Jengo's Playhouse in Wilmington, NC (July 8).

The 2011 Keep Onslow Beautiful Earth & Surf Fest is held at North Topsail Beach (July 9).

The 7th Annual Reef Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest is held at Wrightsville Beach (July 15-17). It's the first time the contest also features an arts and music festival at Wrightsville Beach Park. The contest is also the third stop on the 2011 Western Atlantic Pro Surf Series, an annual contest series taking place on the U.S. east coast and the Caribbean.

The 12th Annual Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic is held at the Bogue Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle, NC (July 30-31).

The Surf House, a popular eatery in Carolina Beach, opens its second location in Wilmington (August 1).

The film "At Summer's End" is shown at the northeast branch of the New Hanover County Public Library (August 5).

The "Clash of the Carolinas" contest is held in Surf City, NC (August 6-7).

The 15th Annual East Coast Wahine Championships, hosted by Sweetwater Surf Shop, are held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 20-21).

Surfers Healing is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 22).

Life Rolls On hosts a kickoff and fundraiser at Wrightsville Beach Park (August 26 - POSTPONED). The event features the documentary, "Jesse's Story" and live music by Jeremy Norris. The following day, August 27, Life Rolls On / They Will Surf Again hosts a charity event at Wrightsville Beach.  Both events are hosted by Ocean Cure and Clean Energy Events.org. Life Rolls On, a subsidiary of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury and utilizes action sports as a platform to inspire infinite possibilities despite paralysis.

The Quiksilver Pro New York is held on Long Island's Long Beach (September 1-15). The contest, offering a 1-million dollar prize purse, is the 6th stop on the ASP World Tour and is the first-ever ASP World Tour stop on the east coast of the United States.

The film "Year Zero" is shown at Red Dog's in Wrightsville Beach, NC (September 16).

Sweetwater Surf Shop wins the 2011 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge National Championships in Huntington Beach, CA (September 20). The team is composed of Ben Bourgeois, Ben Powell, Michael Powell and Nick Rupp.

Tony Silvagni wins the Monster Energy Longboard Pro while Darsha Pigford places third in the Hannah Women's Pro at the 2011 Foster's Belmar Pro contest in Belmar, NJ. Bradley Rose also places equal seventh in the Longboard Pro division at the contest (September 15-18).

The 44th annual ESA Eastern Surfing Championships are held at Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, NC (September 18-24). The contest was moved from its traditional location at the Cape Hatteras lighthouse following the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

Ben Bourgeois wins the 2011 Outer Banks Pro in Nags Head, NC (September 23-25).

The Hot Wax Challenge is held in Carolina Beach (October 8-9).

Tony Silvagni wins the Malibu Hyuga Pro at Hyuga Oguragahama Beach in Japan (October 8-10). The contest is part of the 2011 ASP Japan Tour.

Paul Cole, Alexis Goss and Michael Holleman are selected as recipients of the Tower 7/Wblivesurf Scholarship for the 2011-2012 academic year (October 14).

Tony Silvagni places second in the Longboard division at the 6th Annual World Skin Cancer Foundation Slater  Brothers Invitational in Cocoa Beach, FL (October 28-31).

Michael Casper, a student at Laney High School, coordinates the "Beat-Yer-Board" surfing contest in Wrightsville Beach in conjunction with his senior project (November 5).

The films "Titan Kids" and "Little Black Wheels" are shown at the Soapbox as part of the 17th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival in Wilmington, NC (November 12).

The North Carolina Surf to Sound Challenge is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (November 19). The event is sanctioned by the World Paddle Association and organized by the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club.

Tony Silvagni places equal third at the ASP World Longboard Tour (WLT) Bear Pro in Andora, Italy (November 20). Silvagni finishes the season ranked sixth in the 2011 ASP WLT rankings.

The film, "Walking on Water," is shown at the Golden Sands in Carolina Beach (November 26).

The film, "Year Zero," is shown at UNCW's Lumina Theatre (November 29).

The film, "Come Hell or High Water," is shown at the Brooklyn Arts Center in Wilmington (December 1).

The Seventh Annual Hope From Helen Silent Surf Auction is held at the Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach (December 2).

2012

The 4th Annual Cold Stroke Classic is held at Wrightsville Beach (January 21).

The Battle of the 26 Mile Island Challenge is held at the Surf City pier in Surf City, NC (February 18).

Aussie Island Surf Shop opens a second location in the building formerly occupied by Wrightsville Beach Supply Company in Wrightsville Beach, NC (March 12).

Epic Food Co. opens in The Forum in Wilmington in the unit occupied by the former NOFO restaurant (March 12)

Michael Powell wins the Steven G. Casanova Pro Men division at the at the 48th Annual Ron Jon Easter Surf Festival in Cocoa Beach, FL (April 6-8). His brother, Ben, places third in the same division while Tony Silvagni also places 3rd in the Ron Jon Pro Longboard division at the contest.

The UNCW Surf Team wins its fourth consecutive NSSA East Coast Championships title  (April 14-15) in New Smyrna Beach, FL. Tony Silvagni places 1st in Longboard while Airlie Pickett takes 3rd in Women’s. Sean Herman, Nick Rupp and Zach Kenny place 2nd, 4th and 5th in the Men’s division.

The Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association hosts the 10th Annual Waterman's Classic in Wrightsville Beach, NC (April 14-15).

The team from Sweetwater Surf Shop places second at the Mid-Atlantic regional competition for the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge in Kitty Hawk, NC (April 19).

The film, "Promised Land," is shown at Northside Baptist Church in Wilmington (April 19).

The 2012 Carolina Cup Stand Up Paddle Race is held in Wrightsville Beach (April 28).

The 17th Street Shred Fest is held in Carolina Beach (April 28-29).

The 2012 Mid-Atlantic Regional Surfing Championships are held in Carolina Beach (May 3-6). The event serves as a qualifier for the ESA Eastern Surfing Championships.

Tony Silvagni wins Men's Open Longboard division at the Cinco De Mayo Longboard Pro/Waveski Invitational at Packery Channel on North Padre Island, Texas (May 5-6). He also places fourth in the Open Shortboard Expression Session at the contest.

The Billabong East Coast Tour featuring Andy Davis, Shane Dorian, Donavon Frankenreiter and Keala Kennelly stops at Red Dogs in Wrightsville Beach (May 24).

Southeastern North Carolina surfers win big at the 9th Annual Steel Pier Classic and Surf Art Expo at the First Street jetty in Virginia Beach, VA (May 26-28). Tony Silvagni wins the Men's Pro Longboard, Kanaka Longoard, Retro Longboard, Noseriding and SUP divisions. Brad Rose wins the Opio Longboard, Open Longboard and James Normile Best Wave Award. Shane Burn wins the Open Shortboard, Conner Lester wins the Opio Shortboard and Samantha Robinson wins the Wahine Longboard division. Drake Courie, Darsha Pigford, Michael Powell, Bo Raynor, Jeremy Robinson,  and Chandler Von Cannon all place in various divisions as well.

The 2nd Annual Panacea SUP race is held in Carolina Beach (June 9).

Artco Summer Surf Show at Deluxe in downtown Wilmington featuring surfboards by Will Allison and artwork by Clark Hipolito (June 15).

The WBLA announces Michael Casper and Misty Wilbanks as the recipients for its 2012-2013 scholarship (June 16).

The UNCW Surf Team places 3rd overall at the 2012 NSSA National Interscholastic Championships at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, CA (June 16). Tony Silvagni, the team's longboarder, wins the national collegiate surfing title in the longboard division at the contest.

The film, "No Agenda," by Quiksilver, if screened in Wrightsville Beach Park (June 18).

The 3rd Annual  Onslow Bay Challenge is held in Surf City, NC (June 30).

National Geographic names Wrightsville Beach as one of the top twenty surf towns in the world (July 3).

The 2012 Earth & Surf Fest is held at North Topsail Beach (July 7).

The Chris Crocker Memorial Summer Surf Fest is held  in Carolina Beach (July 14-15).

The Pipeline to a Cure gala benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is held at the Landfall Country Club in Wilmington (July 15).

The Surfalorus Film Festival is held at the Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar, Jengo's Playhouse and City Stage Theater at Level 5 in the Carolina Beach/Wilmington area (July 19-21).

Michael Powell, from Ocean Isle Beach, places equal third at the 4-star ASP-rated Quiksilver Surf Open Acapulco at Playa Revolcadero in Acapulco, Mexico (July 22).

The Clash of the Carolinas contest, pitting the CNC and SNC districts of the ESA against each other, is held at the County Line Access in Surf City, NC (August 4-5).

Tony Silvagni wins the pro noseriding division at the 12th annual Guy Takayama Pro Noseriding and Pro Open surfing contest and festival hosted by the Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club in Oceanside, CA (August 10-12). He also places 1st in the Men's (20-29) division, 1st in the paddle race and 4th in the stand-up paddleboard division.

The 2012 Surf Gala (August 19) is hosted at the Port Land Grill in Wilmington as a fundraiser for Surfers Healing. The Surfers Healing day camp is held the next day (August 20) at Wrightsville Beach.

Romy Sidelsky is selected as the inaugural recipient of the UNCW Surf Team Scholarship established by Robert and Nina Berke (August 20).

The film, "Dear Suburbia," is shown in the Surf City Surf Shop parking lot (August 25). It was originally schedule to screen the night before but was postponed due to rain.

Tony Silvagni places 3rd in the ASP Pro Longboard division while Daniel Sacchi places 3rd in Senior Men, Conner Lester (4th) in Open Shortboard, Ben Powell (4th) and Owen Moffett (5th-Tie) in the Tautogs Pro division at the 50th Annual East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia Beach, VA (August 20-26).

The 2nd annual Oyster Fest Surf Off, presented by the SNC District of the Eastern Surfing Association and the
Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce, is held at Ocean Isle Beach (September 8-9).

Knox Harris (Ocean Isle, NC) wins the Fins ASP Junior Pro, a 1-star ASP rated event at the Foster's Belmar Pro in Belmar, NJ. Tony Silvagni (Kure Beach, NC) wins the 8eighty Longboard Pro division at the contest (September 8-16).

The ESA Eastern Surfing Championships are held at Jenette's Pier in Nags Head, NC (September 16-22).

Ben Bourgeois places third at the WRV Outer Banks Pro presented by Hurley. Michael Powell places eighth and Ben Powell places equal tenth. The contest is held at Jenette's Pier in Nags Head, NC (September 28-30).

The film, "That First Glide," is shown at the Brooklyn Arts Center in Wilmington, NC (October 4).

The Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association (WBLA) sends a team to compete in the Windansea Surf Club Invitational Contest held at La Shores in San Diego, CA (October 6-7). The team finishes thirteenth in the competition.

Tony Silvagni places first in the Mens (18-34) division at the Swami's Invitational Coalition Surf Contest presented by the Swami's Surfing Association and held at Cardiff Reef, CA (October 20-21).

Tony Silvagni places second in the Pro Longboard division at the 2012 Slater Brothers Invitational in Cocoa Beach, FL (October 26-28).

The Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association (WBLA) hosts "Herb's Low Country Boil" at Surf City Surf Shop (November 3).

The film, "Bones Brigade: An Autobiography," is shown at UNCW's Lumina Theater (November 4).

Through advocacy efforts by the Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, among others, residents of Wrightsville Beach vote to ban smoking on the town's beaches. The Town of Wrightsville Beach becomes the first beach in North Carolina to ban smoking on its beach (November 6).

The films "Bootleg," "Indo Jax Artic Ocean," "Raw" and "Stacked" are screened at the 18th annual Cucalorus Film Festival in Wilmington (November 8-11).

Tony Silvagni places equal fifth at the 2012 CITIC PACIFIC ShenZhou Peninsula Pro hosted by Wanning at Hainan Island, China. The one event championship for the ASP World Longboard Title is won by California's Taylor Jensen (November 27-29).

2013

The 5th Annual Cold Stroke Classic is held at Wrightsville Beach (January 19).

The film, "A Deeper Shade of Blue," is shown in a one night only screening at Mayfaire 16 Cinemas in Wilmington (March 28).

Annex Surf Supply opens in Wrightsville Beach (March 30).

Tony Silvagni places second in the Longboard Pro-Am and SUP divisions at the 49th Annual Easter Surfing Festival in Cocoa Beach, FL (March 29-31).

The film, "Groundswell," is shown at the Satellite Bar & Lounge in Wilmington (April 4).

The UNCW Surf Team wins its fifth consecutive NSSA East Coast Championships at Ponce Inlet in New smyrna Beach, FL (April 4-7). Knox Harris, from Ocean Isle Beach, wins the Open Mens division and places 3rd in the Explore Mens and 2nd in the Explorer Juniors divisions. Bo Raynor places 2nd in the Menehune Explorer division and Owen Moss places 5th in the Explorer Super Grom division. Darsha Pigford wins the Explorer Womens division while Daniel Sacchi places 2nd in Explorer Seniors and 5th in Explorer Masters. Kat Neff places 3rd in Explorer Womens Longboard. Shane Burn, in addition to winning the college mens division, places 3rd in the airshow division.

The team from Sweetwater Surf Shop wins the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge in Kitty Hawk, NC, and is crowned the Mid-Atlantic Regional Champion. The team is composed of Michael Casper, Knox Harris, Conner Lester and Michael Powell (April 12-13).

The 2nd Annual Shred Fest, sponsored by 17th St. Surf Shop, is held in Carolina Beach (April 16-17).

The Carolina Cup SUP race is held in Wrightsville Beach (April 25-28). Danny Ching (CA), Eric Terrien (FRA), and Jamie Mitchell (AUS) win the top three spots in the Graveyard Elite Mens division while Annabel Anderson (NZ), Jenny Kalmbach (HAW), and Brandi Baksic (CA) win the top three spots in the Graveyard Womens division.

Tanner Knoll and Darsha Pigford are selected as recipients of the 2013-2014 David L. Nash Scholarship by the Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association (May).

The film, "Anything Sing," is shown at Charley Brownz in downtown Wilmington (May 3).

Local surfers, and members of the film crew for "A Perfect Summer," save two individuals struggling in a rip current in Carolina Beach (May 8).

The Board of Aldermen at Wrightsville Beach approve a new surfing ordinance that allows surfing within 350 feet of piers. Swimming is also permitted within 250 feet of piers (May 9).

The WBLA hosts the 2013 Waterman Classic Pro-Am surfing contest in Wrightsville Beach (May 18-19).

Sweetwater Surf Shop places fourth in Oakley Surf Shop Challenge championships held in Bali, Indonesia (June).

The UNCW Surf Team places fifth overall at the 2013 NSSA National Interscholastic Championships at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, CA (June 17). Nick Rupp, the team's captain, wins the national collegiate surfing title in the men's division at the contest while Alek Rockrise places fifth in the longboard division.

The Oneill / Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest is held at Wrightsville Beach (July 12-14).

The Pipeline to a Cure fundraiser for cystic fibrosis is held at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington (July 13).

The 2nd annual Surfalorus Film Festival is held at various locations in Carolina Beach, Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach (July 18-20).

The film, "My Name Uncle," is shown at the Satellite Bar & Lounge in Wilmington (July 27).

The Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic is held at Bogue Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle (July 27-28).

Alexis Goss is selected as the recipient of the 2013-2014 UNCW Surf Team Scholarship.

The Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic is held (August 17-18).

Surfers Healing is held at Wrightsville Beach (August 19).

Alexis Goss and Misty Wilbanks are selected as recipients of the 2013 Marsh Scholarship by the Eastern Surfing Association (August 19).

The 2nd Annual Whomporama Body Surf and Handplane Festival is held at Carolina Beach (August 24).

Tony Silvagni places second in the Pro Longboard division while Daniel Sacchi wins first place in the Senior Men's division at the 51st Annual East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia Beach, VA (August 19-25).

The Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association (WBLA) team places 17th overall at the MSA Classic Invitational sponsored by the Malibu Surfing Association at Surfrider Beach in Malibu, CA (September 6-8). Surfing for the Virginia Longboard Federation (VLF), Brad Rose and Tony Silvagni place 2nd and 4th, respectively, in the Mens 20-29 age group. The VLF places 7th overall in the competition.

Ben Bourgeois wins Foster's Mens Pro division at the Foster's Belmar Pro while Tony Silvagni places 2nd in the ASP Longboard Pro division in Belmar, NJ (September 12-15).

The 46th annual Eastern Surfing Championships are held at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, NC (September 15-21).

Michael Casper, Chandler Hatch, Tristen Harbowy, Darsha Pigford, and Misty Wilbanks are selected as recipients of the Tower 7/WBlivesurf Scholarships for 2013-2014 (September 27).

The Cape Fear Surf Challenge is held at Wrightsville Beach as an opportunity for local high school surfers to compete and represent their schools (September 28).

Brunswick Surf & Skate opens in Leland, NC (November).

The North Carolina Surf to Sound Challenge, an SUP-related contest, is held at Wrightsville Beach (November 16-17).

The film, "Bound by Sea," is shown at Thalian Hall in Wilmington (November 16).

Tony Silvagni places 3rd in the longboard division and wins the noseriding competition at the Taiwan Open of Surfing, a 1-star ASP/6-star ASC event (November 13-17).

The ninth annual Hope from Helen Silent Auction is held at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort in Wrightsville Beach (December 6).

2014

The 6th Annual Cold Stroke Classic is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (January 18). The SUP race takes place with 34 degree air temperatures with 10-20 mph winds.

The film, "El Mar, Mi Alma," is shown at Lumina Theater at UNC Wilmington (February 18).

Tony Silvagni wins the Men's Longboard division at the 5th Annual Punta Sayulita Longboard & SUP Classic in Sayulita, Mexico (March 7-9).

Drift Coffee is opened by the brothers, Ben and Michael Powell, in Ocean Isle Beach, NC (March 19).

Hosted by the Blockade Runner Resort, the 5th annual Wrightsville Beach Biathlon is held at Wrightsville Beach (March 22).

Presented by the UNCW Surf Club, the Cape Fear Surf Fest is held on the north end of Carolina Beach, NC (March 22).

The UNCW Surf Team wins its sixth consecutive NSSA East Coast Championships at Ponce Inlet in New smyrna Beach, FL (April 5-6). Nick Rupp, the team's captain, wins the College Men's division at the contest.

Sweetwater Surf Shop wins the Mid-Atlantic regional contest in Kitty Hawk, NC, earning a spot in the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge national championships. The team is composed of Ben Bourgeois, Michael Casper, Dylan Kowalski, and Spencer Lem (April 11-12).

Tony Silvagni places third in the Ron Jon Longboard Pro and third in the Paddle Board House Stand Up Paddle Board divisions at the 50th annual Eastern Surf Fest in Cocoa Beach, FL (April 18-20).

Presented by the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club, the 2014 Carolina Cup Standup Paddle Race is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (April 23-27).

Michael Casper is selected as the recipient of the 2014-2015 UNCW Surf Team Scholarship (May 1).

The Wrightsville Beach Waterman's Ocean Festival is held (April 29-May 3). The multi-day event includes the inaugural inductions of the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History's Waterman's Hall of Fame. Inductees included Richard Bradley III, Tony Butler, Bill Curry, Eddy Haneman, Jo Pickett and Josh Vach for their various contributions to Wrightsville Beach’s surfing, fishing and sailing heritage. Also included is the WBLA's Longboard Classic and SUP Surfing Pro-Am contest and the Surfalorus Film Festival. A replica of the 1963 Hobie surfboard ridden by Robert August in "The Endless Summer" is raffled to benefit the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History. Andie Cuiffo and Tristen Harbowy are selected as the WBLA David L. Nash Scholarship recipients for the 2013-2014 year.

Tony Silvagni wins the Pro Longboard and Pro Noseriding divisions at the 2014 Steel Pier Classic & Surf Art Expo in Virginia Beach, VA (May 24-26). Kat Neff wins the Junior Women and Wahine Shortboard Open divisions, and places third in the Junior Women Longboard division; Julia Eckel places third in the Wahine Shortboard Open division and places fourth with Karson Lewis in the Amateur Tandem division; Shane Burn places first in the Kanaka Shortboard division; and Brad Rose places third in both the Open Longboard and Kanaka Shortboard divisions.

The 2nd Annual Brunswick WaterFest is held at the USS North Carolina Battleship Park. The event is split into two dates: June 7 and September 27.

Tony Silvagni wins the Walk Da Plank Longboard Pro contest presented by the Ocean City Surf Club in Ocean City, MD (June 8). Brad Rose places second and Steven Mangiacapre places third in the contest.

The 8th annual Earth & Surf Fest is held at North Topsail Beach, NC (July 5). The even includes a surfing competition, SUP race, yoga, 5K run, and live music from Selah Dubb and The Carvers.

The 9th annual O'Neill Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest is held at Wrightsville Beach (July 11-13). Local surfing hero, Ben Bourgeois, wins the event for the first time in his career. The event is the second largest surfing contest on the east coast.

The 14th annual Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic is held at the at the Oceanana Pier in Atlantic Beach, NC (July 26-27). Tony Silvagni and Brad Rose place first and third in the Open Pro while Steven Mangiacapre wins the Master's division. Rose also wins the Men's division while Misty Mangiacapre and Jo Pickett place third and fourth in the Women's division.

The 3rd annual Surfing to Stop MS Contest is held at Onslow Beach Access #2 on Topsail Island (August 9).

The Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic is held at Wrightsville Beach (August 16-17).

Surfers Healing is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 18).

The exhibit, Russell Crotty: Surf Works, is held at the Cultural Arts Building at UNCW featuring the art of Russell Crotty (September 3 - October 3).

The WBLA sends a team (John Sideris, Misty Mangiacapre, Steve Mangiacapre and Drake Courie) to participate in the MSA Classic Invitational at first point in Malibu, CA (September 5-7). Competing for the Virginia Longboard Federation, Jo Pickett places sixth in the Women (Age 50+) division at the contest.

The film, "Strange Rumblings," is shown at Bourgie Nights, an event space associated with Manna Restaurant, in downtown Wilmington (September 9). The film is preceded by a show at Annex Surf Supply featuring behind-the-scenes photography of the film by DJ Struntz.

Tony Silvagni wins the Longboard Pro division at the Belmar Pro, an ASP 1-Star event sponsored by Cerveza Pacifico. Ben Bourgeois wins the Master's Pro division at the contest (September 11-14).

Josh Albert, Cody Beitel, Michael Casper, Cobi Christiansen, Tristen Harbowy, Misty Mangiacapre, Airlie Pickett, Alek Rockrise, Nick Rupp, and Emily-Rose Szejk are selected as recipients of the Tower 7 / WBlivesurf Scholarship for the 2014-2015 year at UNC Wilmington (September 17).

UNCW's Randall Library hosts, "Shooting the Curl," an exhibit highlighting fifty years of surfing in southeastern North Carolina through the experiences of UNCW students, employees and alumni (September - December).

The film, "Thundercloud," is shown at UNCW's Cameron Hall Auditorium (October 4).

Sweetwater Surf Shop places second in the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge National Championships in Playa Colorado, Nicaragua. Sunrise Surf Shop wins the event with Surf Ride and T&C Surf Designs in third and fourth, respectively (October 20).

The film, "Bella Vita," is shown at Carmike 16 in Wilmington (October 23).

The Hot Wax Challenge is held at the north end of Carolina Beach (November 2-3).

The film, "Creative Distractions," is shown at the Blue Surf Cafe (November 6).

Knox Harris places second in the Men's division at the 26th Edition APSPR Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit at Middles, Isabela, Puerto Rico (November 21-23).

The tenth annual Hope from Helen Silent Auction is held at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort in Wrightsville Beach (December 5).

Tony Silvagni finishes the 2014 ASP season ranked equal 9th in the world among the top 36 professional longboard surfers after finishing 9th at the GoPro World Longboard Championships presented by Wanning on Hainan Island, China (December 5-12).

2015

The UNCW Surf Team places second at the NSSA East Coast Regional Championships at Ponce Inlet in New Smyrna Beach, FL (April 11-12).

The SUP Surfing Pro-Am presented by Hobie and Salt Life is held at Wrightsville Beach as a fundraiser for the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History (April 17-19).

Recognized as one of the world’s five major stand up paddleboard races for 2015 by Australia’s SUPracer.com, The Carolina Cup, celebrating its fifth year, is held in Wrightsville Beach (April 22-26).

The Tony Silvagni Foam Board Fest is held in Carolina Beach with all proceeds benefitting the Pleasure Island Lifeguard Association (April 25).

Presented by Front Porch Surf Shop, the Dockshred Surf Contest is held in Holden Beach (April 25).

Shane Burn is selected as the recipient of the 2015-2016 UNCW Surf Team Scholarship (May).

The 13th annual WBLA Longboard Pro-Am is held at the L-shaped lot in Wrightsville Beach (May 2). Contestants and spectators are treated to some of the best waves in years for a contest for the event.

Tony Silvangi place first in the Pro Longboard and 2nd in the Pro Noseriding division; Julia Eckel places first in the Junior Wahine Longboard and 2nd in the Wahine Shortboard; Leigh Powell places 3rd in the Wahine Longboard; Brad Rose places first in the Kanaka Longboard and first in the Open Longboard; and Shane Burn places 3rd in the Pro Shortboard at the Steel Pier Classic and Surf Art Expo sponsored by Coastal Edge and the Viginia Longboard Federation in Virginia Beach, VA (May 23-25).

The 3rd annual Shred Fest, sponsored by 17th St. Surf Shop, is held at the north end in Carolina Beach (June 6-7).

Bo Raynor, from Wilmington (NC), wins the Explorer Boys division (ages 14 & under) at the NSSA National Championships held in Huntington Beach (CA) while Sean Brennan, from Wrightsville Beach (NC) places 5th in the Explorer Longboard division (all ages). Stevie Pittman (Newport, NC) places 2nd in the Open Juniors (ages 15 & under) and Explorer Boys (ages 14 & under) at the competition (June 26-July 3).

The 2016 Keep Onslow Beautiful Earth & Surf Fest is held at North Topsail Beach, NC (July 4).

Sponsored by Salty at Heart magazine, Cucalorus, and Tidal Creek Co-op, the 2015 Surfalorus Board & Beach Expo is held in Wilmington, NC, at Tidal Creek Co-op and features the film, "Beyond the Surface" (July 11).

Presented by REEF, the film, "EXIT," is shown at Red Dogs in Wrightsville Beach, NC (July 15).

The 10th annual O'Neill / Sweetwater Pro-Am and Music Fest is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (July 17-19).

Gabe Morvil places first in the Junior Men's division, Tony Silvagni places first in the Longboard Pro and Conner Lester places 4th in the Pro Open Shortboard at the 53rd Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships presented by VANS in Virginia Beach, VA (August 16-23).

Surfers Healing is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 17).

Governor Pat McCrory proclaims September 2015 as "Surfing Month" in North Carolina (August 31).

Shane Burn, Michael Casper, Tristen Harbowy, Anita Harrington, Misty Mangiacapre, Darren Meyer, Cameron Paul, Airlie Pickett, Nick Rupp, and Zach Valenti are selected as recipients of the Tower 7/WBlivesurf Scholarship for the 2015-2016 academic year at UNCW (August 31).

Ben Bourgeois wins the "Just Bones" Masters Pro and Tony Silvagni wins the "World Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram" Longboard Pro at the 2015 Pacifico Belmar Pro presented by Eastern Lines in Belmar, NJ (September 10-13).

The Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association (WBLA) team places 9th overall at the MSA Classic Invitational sponsored by the Malibu Surfing Association at Surfrider Beach in Malibu, CA (September 11-13). The team is composed of Bill Curry, Karson Lewis, Cameron Paul, Mike Perry, Brennan Plotner, Alek Rockrise, and Colin Shovlin. Bill Curry places 2nd in the Men 60-69 division, Alek Rockrise places 6th in the Men 20-29, Colin Shovlin places 4th in the Boys 13 & Under division.

The State of North Carolina places a historical highway marker commemorating early 20th century surfing in Wrightsville Beach (October 18). The marker is placed near the corern of Waynick Boulevard and Bridgers Street.

Will Allison, Dave Baker, Ben Bourgeois, Cissie Brooks, Dr. Joseph James, Joseph "Skipper" Funderburg, and Mike Merritt are inducted into the Wrightsville Beach Waterman Hall of Fame (October 18).

The UNCW Frothers Surf Club wins the inaugural Red Bull Bracket Reel Surf competitition. Winning out through three rounds against seven other universities in a bracket-style surf video contest, UNCW gains the most viewer-based votes (i.e. Facebook "Likes") to win an all-expenses paid "Red Bull North Shore" experience in Hawaii. The team is composed of Shane Burn, Evan Barton, Michael Casper, Dylan Domnick, Jacob Laham (film and edit), Justin Parr, and Zach Valenti (October 30).

Presented by the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club, the 5th annual North Carolina Surf to Sound Challenge is held at Wrightsville Beach (November 6-8).

Tony Silvagni places 2nd behind Taylor Jensen at the World Surf League (WSL) North America Longboard Championships in Huntington Beach, CA (November 7-8).

The Carolina Beach Longboard Club is formed (mid-November).

Presented by On Shore Surf Shop, the "Get Your Glide On Pro-Am" contest is held in Surf City, NC (November 21).

The first surf film shot in 4K, "View From A Blue Moon," is shown at UNCW's Theater (November 23).

Tony Silvagni wins the Men's LQS division at the World Surf League (WSL) - sponsored Taiwan Open of Surfing, hosted by the Taitung County Government, in Taitung, Taiwan (November 25-29).

The eleventh annual Hope from Helen Silent Auction is held at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort in Wrightsville Beach (December 4).

Tony Silvagni places 5th at the Jeep World Longboard Championship in Riyuewan, Hainan Island, China (December 5-12), being eliminated in the contest's quarterfinals by Taylor Jensen (California). The contest is won by Piccolo Clemente (Peru) who defeated Jensen in the contest's final. Silvagni completes the 2015 WSL longboard tour season ranked equal 5th among the world's top 36 professional longboard surfers.

2016

Dr. Peter Maguire's, the "History of Surfing" (HST 280) and Dr. Dylan McNamara's the "Physics of Surfing" (PHY 292) are offered at UNCW (Spring semester).

The 8th annual Cold Stroke Classic is held at Wrightsville Beach (January 23).

Kyle Sumner wins the Men's (age 20-39) Longboard division at the 52nd Annual Easter Surfing Festival held at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach, FL (March 25-27).

Sponsored by On Shore Surf Shop, the 3rd annual King of the Peak contest is held at the pier in Surf City, NC (March 26). Originally scheduled for March 12, the contest is postponed due to unfavorable surf conditions.

The UNCW Surf Team places 2nd in the College Team division at the 2016 NSSA East Coast Championships in New Smyrna Beach, FL. Individually, Justin Parr, Shane Burn and Evan Barton place 3rd, 4th and 6th, respectively, in the College Mens division. Shane Burn also places 2nd in the College Longboard division. Outside of the college divisions, Gabe Morvil places 4th in the Open Mens, 1st in the Explorer Mens, and 6th in Explorer Juniors, Bo Raynor places 2nd in the Open Juniors and 2nd in the Air Show; and Owen Moss places 1st in Explorer Menehunes (March 31-April 3).

The Hot Wax Challenge is held at the north end pier in Carolina Beach, NC (April 2-3).

The 14th annual WBLA Longboard Pro-Am presented by Jerry Allen's Sports Bar & Grill is held at the Birmingham Street access in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Darren Meyer and Jim Rigney are selected as recipients of the WBLA Scholarship (April 9).

With a score of 28.53, Sweetwater Surf Shop wins the Mid-Atlantic regional contest at Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head, NC, earning a spot to compete in the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge national championships. The Sweetwater team is composed of Michael Casper, Dylan Kowalksi, Owen Moss, and Justin Parr. Surf City Surf Shop places second with 27.09 points (April 11).

The 2nd annual SUP Surf Pro-Am, presented by Hobie and Salt Life, is held at the Oceanic Pier in Wrightsville Beach, NC, benefitting the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History (April 16-17).

The 6th annual West Marine Carolina Cup, presented by SurfTech, is held in Wrightsville Beach, NC. The contest is the first major stop on the 2016 world SUP race circuit (April 19-24).

The Carolina Beach Longboard Club's 1st annual Surf Contest is held at Carolina Beach, NC (April 23).

The Dockshred Surf Fest, presented by Front Porch Surf Shop, is held in Holden Beach, NC (April 23-24).

The Eastern Surfing Association's Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships are held at the north end pier in Carolina Beach, NC (April 28 - May 1).

Among the best colleges for surfing, UNCW is ranked #13 out of 21 colleges and universities by StartClass.com, an educational research website for comparing colleges, graduate schools and careers (May 17).

Sponsored by Sean’s Private Surf Instruction, the 'Sliding into Summer' Finless Surfing Contest is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (June 11).

Gabe Morvil places first in the Explorer Men's (all ages) division and Leah Thompson places fourth in the Open Girls (14 and under) division at the 2016 NSSA National Championships presented by Body Glove in Huntington Beach, CA (June 26-July 3).

Governor Pat McCrory proclaims September 2016 as "Surfing Month" in North Carolina (June 29).

11th Annual O’Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest, Music & Art Fest at Wrightsville Beach (July 15-17).

Michael Casper is selected as the recipient of the 2016-2017 UNCW Surf Team Scholarship (August).

Surfing and skateboarding are officially recognized as gold medal sports by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (August 3).

Tony Silvagni wins the noseriding division and places second in the pro open at the Guy Takayama Pro Noseriding Contest and the GT Pro Open Contest in Oceanside, CA. Held conjunction with the Takayama contests, Colbie Crombie places third and Kevin Penn places 6th in the Menehune Boys division, and Tony Silvagni places first in Men's (20-29) division at the 32nd Annual Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club Contest (August 12-14).

The 5th Annual Whomporama Intergalactic Bodysurfing Championships are held at the Hamlet Avenue beach access in Carolina Beach, NC (August 20).

The Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic is held at Wrightsville Beach (August 20-21).

Surfers Healing is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 22).

Evan Barton, Shane Burn, Michael Casper, Tristen Harbowy, Anita Harrington, Christine Johnson, Conner Lester, Darren Meyer, Katy Nickel, and Justin Parr are selected as recipients for the Tower 7/Wblivesurf Scholarship for the 2016-2017 academic year at UNCW (September).

Kevin Walker (Diving-Local Hero), Robbie Wolfe (Fishing/Boating), Martin Willard (Sailing-Pioneer/Champion), Mike Barden (Surfing-Local Hero), Tony Silvagni (Surfing-Champion/Local Hero), and Tracy Skrabal (Woman of the Year - Local Hero/Beach Culture) are inducted into the Wrightsville Beach Waterman Hall of Fame in a ceremony held at the Blockade Runner Resort (September 25).

The Carolina Surf Film Festival is held at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington (September 30 - October 1).

Dylan Wishart is selected as the WBLA's 2016 recipient for the William "Paco" Strickland Scholarship (October).

Sweetwater Surf Shop competes in the 2016  Oakley Surf Shop Challenge National Championship held at Lower Trestles (October 6-7).

Tony Silvagni wins the Trump Hyuga Pro Longboard competition at Okuragahama Beach in Hyuga, Japan, event #8 on the WSL Men's Longboard Tour (October 7-10).

Tony Silvagni wins the USA Longboard Pro National Championships in Oceanside, CA (November 4-5).

Presented by the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club, the Surf to Sound Challenge is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (November 4-6).

The film, "Forbidden Trim," George Trimm, is shown at Jengo's Playhouse as part of the 22nd annual Cucalorus Film Festival in Wilmington, NC. The short film, "Pipe Dreams," by Steven Tiralongo is also shown (November 11).

Tony Silvagni places second in the Men's Longboard division at the Taiwan Open of Surfing at Jinzun Harbor, Taitung, Taiwan. The event is #9 on the WSL Men's Longboard Tour (November 23-27).

Recon Surf opens on Wrightsville Avenue in Wilmington (December).

The 12th annual Hope from Helen Surf Silent Auction is held at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort in Wrightsville Beach, NC (December 2).

2017

The Ogden Skatepark opens in Wilmington (February 25).

Tony Silvagni finishes equal 9th at the Kumul PNG World Longboard Championships, event #3 on the Men's Longboard, in Tupira, Papua New Guinea (March 18-25).

The UNCW Surf Team places 2nd at the NSSA East Coast Championships in New Smyrna Beach, FL. Shane Burn wins the College Longboard division and places 2nd in the College Men's division followed by Conner Lester in third place. Airlie Pickett places 5th in the College Women's division (March 30-April 2).  The following surfers also place at the competition: Bo Raynor (3rd, Open Mens, 1st Airshow); Gabe Morvil; (1st, Open Mens, 1st Explorer Juniors); Owen Moss (3rd, Open Juniors, 1st Open Boys); Owen Carter (6th, Explorer Menehunes); and Leah Thompson (6th, Explorer Womens).

Sean Ruttkay's photography is selected as the official artwork for the 2017 North Carolina Azalea Festival (April 5-9).

Hosted by the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History and Carolina Paddleboard Company, the 3rd Annual Hobie-Salt Life Wrightsville Beach SUP Surf Pro-Am is held at Wrightsville Beach (April 15-17).

Organized by the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club and sanctioned by the World Paddle Association, the West Marine Carolina Cup is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (April 19-23). The competition is added to the World Paddle Association’s World SUP Tour in 2017. The Carolina Cup is the second competition in a new international series of 11-races across five nations.

The Carolina Beach Longboard Club hosts its second annual longboard contest (April 22).

Sponsored by Sean’s Private Surf Instruction, the 2nd annual "Sliding into Summer" Surf-Off contest is held at Wrightsville Beach (June 3).

Sponsored by 17th Street Surf Shop, the Shred Fest is held at the Poo Pipe in Carolina Beach, NC (June 17-18).

The UNCW Surf Team ties for fifth overall at the 2017 NSSA National Interscholastic Championships at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, CA (June 19). John Holloway places fifth in the College Longboard division.

John Holloway is selected as the recipient of the 2017-2018 UNCW Surf Team Scholarship (June).

The Earth & Surf Fest, sponsored by Keep Onslow Beautiful, is held at North Topsail Beach, NC (July 8).

Madison Bowen, Swain Curtin, Gabriel Dickens, Shea Grady, Cole Gruninger, Sarah Hill, Tiffani Koenig, Conner Lester, Katy Nickel, Erik Paulson, Benjamin Slay, and Arisa Yoon are selected as recipients for the Tower 7/Wblivesurf Scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year at UNCW (July 19).

"They Will Surf Again," an adaptive surfing event for people with disabilities, is hosted by Life Rolls On, is held at Carolina Beach, NC (August 5).

Tony Silvagni wins the Pro-Am Open division and places second in the Noseriding division at the 17th Annual Guy Takayama Pro-AM, held in conjunction with the 33rd OLSC Annual Longboard Surf contest, at the Oceanside Pier in Oceanside, CA (August 11-13).

The Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 12-13).

The UNCW Surfrider Chapter and Carolina Surf Brand host screenings of the films Taylor Steele’s “Proximity,"Keith Malloy/Patagonia’s “Fish People”, 2 Eyes Films' “Freezing”, Lauren Hill’s “Pear Shaped” and “Here I Am” and “Influent” by Ryan Burch & Erik Derman at Kenan Auditorium, UNCW (August 18).

12th Annual O’Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest is held at Wrightsville Beach (August 18-20).

Surfers Healing is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 21).

Better known as "Whomporama," the 6th Annual “Intergalactic” Body Surfing Competition is held in Carolina Beach as a fundraiser for the Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation (August 26).

The 14th annual Oak Island Labor Day Surf Off is held at Ocean Crest Pier in Oak Island, NC (September 2).

Tony Silvagni wins the Longboard division at the 2017 Monster Energy Belmar Pro Invitational in Belmar, NJ (September 8-10).

Surfers along the North Carolina coast enjoy consistent surf throughout the month of September due to tropical storm events (Irma, Jose, Maria).

The 2017 Hot Wax Challenge is held at the north end of Carolina Beach, NC (September 30-October 1).

Hosted by Christian Surfers, the 2nd Annual Fall Foamy Classic is held in Surf City, NC (October 7).

Tony Silvagni places equal 3rd in the Men's Longboard Division at the Surf Relik Longboard Invitational at First Point, Malibu (October 8-9).

The 2017 Carolina Surf Film Festival is held at Waterman's Brewing Co. in Wilmington, NC (October 13-14).

The 15th Annual WBLA Jerry Allen's Longboard Pro-Am is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (October 14).

The class of 2017 is inducted to the Wrightsville Beach Museum’s Waterman Hall of Fame. Inductees include Nancy Fahey (Local Hero), Ryan McInnis (Diving), Reggie Barnes (Beach Culture), Roy Turner (Surfing - Special Recognition), Sammy Corbett (Fishing) and (Murray Siedel – Sailing). The induction ceremony is held at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort in Wrightsville Beach, NC (October 15).

Tony Silvagni places equal fifth at the Turtle Bay Resort Pro on Oahu, Hawaii. The contest is event #9 on the WSL's Men's Longboard Tour (October 14-20).

The Sweetwater Surf Shop team, comprised of Dylan Kowalski, Justin Parr, Owen Moss, and Tim Martin, wins the Mid-Atlantic event of Oakley Surf Shop Challenge at Jeanette's Pier in Nags Head, NC (August 16-17). The win enables the team to compete in the 2017 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge National Championship at Playa Colorado in Rivas province, Nicaragua (October 23-27).

Eastern Surf Magazine (ESM), the east coast's longest running publication focused exclusively on east coast surfing, and considered the authority on the sport in the regions, ceases publishing its print edition and focuses exclusively on online content (late October).

The Surf to Sound Challenge is held at Wrightsville Beach. The WPA-sanctioned event is presented by the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club and hosted by Blockade Runner Beach Resort (November 2-5).

Tony Silvagni places third at the Trump Onjuku Logger Pro in Onjuku Beach, Chiba, Japan. The contest is event #11 on the WSL's Men's Longboard Tour (November 11-12).

Tony Silvagni places ninth at the Taiwan Open World Longboard Championships at Jinzun Harbor, Taiwan. The contest is event #12 on the WSL's Men's Longboard Tour (November 23 - December 3). Silvagni finishes the WSL season ranked equal ninth among the top longboard surfers in the world.

The 13th annual Hope from Helen Surf Silent Auction is held at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort in Wrightsville Beach, NC (December 1).

"Staimps: The Movie," a film by Chase Younts and Brandon Mitchell, makes its east coast premiere at Annex Surf Supply in Wrightsville Beach, NC (December 9).

2018

The South End Surf Shop Rail Jam is held in memory of Tom Moorefield (January 6).

The 10th annual Cold Stroke Classic, an SUP race presented by Coastal Urge, is held at Wrightsville Beach (January 20).

Tony Silvagni competes as part of Team USA at the 2018 ISA World Longboard Surfing Championship is held at the renowned point break of Riyue Bay in Wanning, China. Team USA wins the gold while Silvagni individually wins bronze in the competition (January 19-25).

Ben Bourgeois is inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall Of Fame at the semiannual Surf Expo held in Orlando, FL (January 25-27).

The Town of Carolina Beach honors Tony Silvagni with a key to the city and parade for his accomplishments with Team USA at the 2018 ISA World Longboard Surfing Championship (March 24).

The UNCW Surf Team's A-Team and B-Team place 3rd and 7th, respectively, at the NSSA East Coast Championships in New Smyrna Beach, FL (April 5-8). Conner Lester wins the College Men's division while Alicya Simmons and Willow Rea place 2nd and 5th, respectively, in the College Women's division. Kat Neff, surfing for the University of North Florida, wins the College Women's division. The following local surfers also place at the competition: Mack Landry (4th-Open Mini Grom's, 2nd-Open Longboard, 3rd-Explorer Super Grom's, 5th-Explorer Longboard); Leah Thompson (4th-Open Women's); Owen Moss (3rd-Explorer Boys); and Evan Oblinger (6th-Explorer Super Grom's).

Sponsored by the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club, the 2018 Quiksilver Waterman Carolina Cup presented by SurfTech is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (April 18-22).

Tony Silvagni wins the Pro Men's Longboard division and places 3rd in the Open Shortboard division at the La Primavera Pro-Longboard Surfing Competition & Earth Day Festival in Rincón, Puerto Rico (April 21-22).

Sponsored by Sean’s Private Surf Instruction, the 3rd annual "Sliding into Summer" Surf-Off contest is held at Wrightsville Beach (June 2).

Sponsored by 17th Street Surf Shop, the 7th annual Shred Fest is held at the north end of Carolina Beach, NC (June 2-3).

The Carolina Beach Longboard Club places second in the "Anything Goes Team Challenge" while Tony Silvagni wins the Walk Da Plank Pro surfing contest in Ocean City, MD. Both events are part of the OC Surf Fest sponsored by the Ocean City Surf Club (June 8-10).

The UNCW Surf Team ties for equal 10th overall at the 2018 NSSA National Interscholastic Championships at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, CA (June 18). Conner Lester places sixth in the College Men's division and John Holloway places fifth in the College Longboard division.

Tony Silvagni places equal 5th in the Relik 2018 Modern + Classic World Tour competition at First Point, Malibu (June 24-25).

Britton Deets is selected as the recipient of the 2018-2019 UNCW Surf Team Scholarship (June).

Mack Landry (Carolina Beach, NC) wins the Open Longboard division and the Explorer Longboard division at the 2018 NSSA National Championships in Huntington Beach, CA (June 26-July 3).

The Wahine Classic surfing competition is held at the south end of Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 11-12).

The 13th annual O'Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 17-19).

Surfers Healing is held at Wrightsville Beach, NC (August 20-21).