The All-Star Program began over 30 years ago and since then, every year an elite group of athletes who are nominated and inducted based on their surfing results, as well as their actions outside of the waves, being good role models to rest of the members, make up the ESA All-Star Team. Former ESA Team members include likes Kelly Slater, Shea Lopez, Cory Lopez or Eric Taylor to name a few.
“Not only does one need to be a strong competitor to make the team, but must also set a good example with regard to sportsmanship and dedication to the organization.”
On Sunday January 11, the All-Star Team met at Ponce Inlet, Florida with former All-Star and ASP Pro Tour vet Shea Lopez for a day of team building. Lopez, owner of LopezS Boards, will continue to work with the organization to help align influential members of the surfing community with the talented athletes of the ESA All-Star Team.
“Growing up competing in the ESA led my brother Cory and me to a career surfing contests around the world,” Lopez says. “Now we have returned home to raise our own families around the same beach lifestyle we grew up with. It was a pleasure to have Cory and a number of former ESA stars turned professional surfers join the 2015 ESA All-Star Team for a surf and pizza party near our home in Daytona Beach.”
The All-Star Team is also very excited to welcome Rip Curl as an “Official Team Sponsor” for 2015. “Rip Curl supports some of the best surfers in the world and we are thrilled to have them support our All-Star Team,” says Sommers.
Dylan Slater, Rip Curl’s Vice President of Marketing says, “"Rip Curl is excited and honored to support the next generation of the East Coast's top talent. The ESA All-Stars have a prestigious legacy, and Rip Curl is happy to be a part of it."
The entire team will be traveling over a three-week period to the North Shore of Oahu in February and March for professional training with several elite surf coaches. Photos and videos of this trip will be posted online, so be sure to check us out.
The 2015 All-Star Members are:
Maria Barend, Jared Bono, Spencer Bridges, Trip Chandler, Georgia Cook, Grey Copenhaver, Braiden Cunningham, Shealyn Cunningham, Charlie Current, Hartley DePass, Olivia Dilling, Noah Dovin, Julia Eckel, Cooper Fortney, Nohea Futrell, Lars Hamilton, Simon Hetrick, Thomas Horner, Cory Jackson, Kallie Leonik, Patrick McCarron, Evan Micele, Selena Moberly, Jordan Montgomery, Gabe Morvil, Kat Neff, Kai Nichols, Parker Sawyer, Kyle Tester, Douglas Wendell III, Lily Whatley
Also new to the2015 All-Star Team are regional adult mentors, who will be working closely with the team members in their respective areas of the East Coast and during travel. The new mentors include:
