Wilmington Dominates East Coast Paddle Surf Championship

For Immediate Release

Wilmington area Athletes Dominate East Coast Paddle Surf Championship

Jarrod Covington, Men's Champ, East Coast Paddle Surf

Wrightsville Beach, N.C. - Following a Canadian sweep of the North Carolina Surf to Sound competition on Saturday, Wilmington area athletes Jarrod Covington and April Zilg won top honors on Sunday in the Men's and Women's divisions of the East Coast Paddle Surf Championship.

"Sun and waves. We couldn't ask for anything better in November," said Covington. "The surf was excellent, about waist to chest high with clean ocean conditions. The wind was light. The sun was shining all day and everyone was sitting on the beach like the middle of summer. Absolutely perfect."

April Zilg, Women's Champ, East Coast Paddle Surf

More than 150 athletes from eight states, the Virgin Islands and Canada gathered in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. for friendly, yet intense paddleboard competitions this weekend.

On Saturday, Canadians Larry Cain and Jessica Rando swept the top honors in the 6.5-mile Elite Surf to Sound Challenge. Cain, Olympic Gold Medalist and member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, captured his third consecutive victory in the Men's Elite division.

Sunday, logistics and judging for the East Coast Paddle Board Championship was provided by the Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association and Jo Pickett, women's coach for the 2014 Eastern Surfing Association All-Star Team.

"I think this was a great event. This is the biggest standup paddleboard surfing event," said Shawn O'Donnell, President of WBLA. "Conditions were unheard of for a contest. We had dream conditions."

East Coast Paddle Surf Championship Winners:

Top 4 Men's Paddle Surf Division

1. Jarrod Covington, Wrightsville Beach, NC

2. Reggie Barnes, Wrightsville Beach, NC

3. Chris Hill, Holly Ridge, NC

4. Jason Andre, Wilmington, NC

Top 4 Women's Paddle Surf Division

1. April Zilg, Wilmington, NC

2. Jacky Fischer, Carolina Beach, NC

3. Hilarey Netsch, UNCW, Wilmington, NC

4. Johanna Kjesbu, Carolina Beach, NC

NC Surf to Sound Challenge results available at: