VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The world’s longest running surf competition, the East Coast Surfing Championship (ECSC) held in Virginia Beach, hosts its 59th annual competition in August. Several hundred amateur and professional surfers travel here from all over to compete for prizes, surfing titles and bragging rights.

The ECSC is sponsored locally by Coastal Edge Surf Shop but has a national reputation that draws competitors and their families to our oceanfront for more than just surfing. The week-long event also includes beach volleyball, a 5K boardwalk run, street skateboarding and skate ramp competitions, a Miss ECSC competition, food and drink concessions, live music and more.

Virginia Beach native turned professional surfer Rachel Wilson, 18 years old, made history in the ECSC last year as the first teen female to make the pro finals. Wilson has surfed for nine years and grew up competing in the ECSC. After just a few years, her drive and determination helped her attain her goal of a professional surf career and earned her reputable sponsors: O’Neill, Oakley, Whalebone Surf Shop, Pro-Lite, Future Fins and Sharp Eye Surfboards.

Wison’s father and older brother, Jay, were her first surfing mentors. They taught her the basics when she was younger, and although she is the only family member that surfs competitively, they enjoy spending time together with a sport they all love. Wilson also encourages her friends to surf with her as much as possible. “I love that anyone can participate. It is not a sport for just one group of people. It is all inclusive and anyone can learn,” she said.

To allow more time to focus on surfing, Wilson was homeschooled and earned her high school diploma last year. During the school year, she complimented the physical demands of surfing with activities, such as soccer, basketball, Irish step dancing and gym workouts. She continues to strive to improve her strength and agility out of the water so she can competitively surf at the highest level possible.

Throughout her competitive years, Wilson developed a strict regimen to prepare herself for competitions. She arrives at the beach an hour and a half prior to her scheduled heat to begin. She waxes her board and sets out to “free surf” for 15 minutes. Once comfortable in the water, Wilson comes back ashore to watch other competitors and the water conditions to cultivate a strategy. She then stretches, listens to her favorite song, “Mount Everest” by Labrinth and prays. By the time her heat rolls around, Wilson is ready to dive into the water to catch winning waves.

Wilson also often recites a favorite scripture verse to fuel her strength and determination — Isaiah 43:2, “When you go through deep water, I will be with you.” She finds she can apply these words to most aspects of life, and they help her to keep a positive mindset through life’s difficulties.

Last season, during the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) Easterns competition held in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Wilson summoned the scripture verse to overcome a rocky start and finish strong. She received two low scores on her first two waves, but had faith in her path to the winners podium. In the final six minutes, Wilson earned high scores on two more waves. Before she knew it, she was named the winner of the ESA Easterns® and recognized as the best 18 and under surfer in the competition. Keeping a positive and determined attitude in all of her endeavors motivates Wilson to keep striving for that next trophy-winning wave.

The next winning wave may just be in this year’s ECSC as Wilson once again competes in her hometown. However, first she will paddle out in the Pacific Ocean for the North American Qualifying Series for the World Surf League, held in California. While she is very excited to meet and compete against some of the best surfers in the world, she is eager to return home to surf among the people she knows and loves.

Visit the 59th Annual Coast Edge ECSC to see Wilson and other surfers compete, August 22-29. Visit www.surfecsc.com for more information.

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