To participate in ESA/CNC contests, you must become a member of the Eastern Surfing Association. There are individual ($75), family ($150), and supporting ($35) memberships. Memberships must be renewed yearly during the month joined. Other membership benefits include a year’s subscription to Surfer Magazine for a rate of $5 for an annual subscription (allow 6-8 weeks for first delivery), discounts at local surf shops, eligibility to upper level competitions & educational scholarships. This is the link to sign up online.

Our district, Central North Carolina (CNC), usually has six contests each year. You may sign up for contests online using a credit card on the CNC Surfsignup website. The fee for the contest sign up is $20 for each division in which you are competing. The deadline for signing up for the contest is 5:00 PM the Wednesday before the contest. Contest dates are dependent on weather and waves. The best way to access the notices is on our group Facebook page. Location sites for contests unless otherwise announced are:

• Bogue Inlet Pier
  • 100 Bogue Inlet Drive, Emerald Isle, NC 28594
• Oceanna Pier
  • 700 E Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
• Double Tree by Hilton
  • 2717 W Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
• North Topsail Beach Access #4
  • New River Inlet Road, North Topsail Beach, NC Directions: Take Hwy 24 to Jacksonville. Get on the 17 South Bypass heading toward Wilmington. Turn left onto Hwy 210 at Dixon High School and the Shell station. Take Hwy 210 to the beach. After you cross over the high rise bridge, make a left turn onto New River Inlet Rd., just past the N. Topsail Beach town hall. (Failure to turn left will have you heading toward Surf City.) Go down that road approximately 0.8 miles. Access #4 has beach side parking and another lot across the street.)

If you accrue enough contest points throughout the season, you may be invited to surf in the Regional Surf Competition and/or the Eastern Surf Competitions. There are separate fees for these events.