Fomer pro captures two titles at surfing competition

BUXTON, N.C.

Jesse Fernandez did it backward.

Let's face it, nobody starts his athletic career as a professional and works his way toward becoming an amateur.

Nobody except Fernandez.

The Kill Devil Hills, N.C., resident spent his first years of competitive surfing as a pro in an old East Coast longboard series. He said he won a handful of events, then bowed out of competition for several years.

Now he's competing in the Eastern Surfing Association, the governing body of amateur surfing for the Great Lakes, the entire East Coast and portions of the Caribbean.

"It took me seven years or so just to figure out all the aspects of competing," said Fernandez, 51. "Then when I figured it out, I guess I was done with it."

After a while, he missed the competition and decided to get back into it as an amateur. It has been a successful move.

On Tuesday, Fernandez won two division titles in the 42nd Easterns - the major championships of the ESA - taking place this week at the old lighthouse site at Buxton on Hatteras Island.

The Easterns feature nearly 600 adult and youth surfers from 26 ESA districts. Many of this week's winners will earn trips to the U.S. Surfing Championships next year in California.

The competition continues today, with opening rounds and finals in three divisions. Youth divisions start Thursday, with finals set for Saturday.

Fernandez won Grandmaster shortboard and Legends longboard titles Tuesday, but he has no aspirations of going back to the pros.

"I guess I do it to keep an eye on the talent and keep an eye on our young riders," he said. "Plus it gives me a good excuse to hang out on the beach all day.

"And it's nice to get the bragging rights."

While his competitive surfing career had an odd start, Fernandez got into the sport in traditional fashion.

He heard the call of the waves as a 13-year-old in Florida - dismissing the other sports most of his buddies competed in.

"I swam for the swim team and did pee-wee football... all the things you do as a kid," said Fernandez, who has lived on the Outer Banks for about 20 years. "I'd work out and practice with the teams all week long.

"But when it came time to compete and there was surf, I'd never make the games."

Fernandez tinkered with making boards, then started doing it for a living. It's pretty much all he's ever done - besides surf.

"No college," he said. "Just the university of hard knocks."

Surfing and making boards go hand-in-hand in ways other than the obvious. As a surfer, Fernandez understands the board and how each functions for its rider.

"I can look at how somebody stands on a board and make them one to fit their needs," he said, waxing up one of his own boards. "We do about 40 percent custom and 60 percent stock. There's a feel for it.

"And the best way to test something new and get a feel is through my feet."

Making a good board is about as rewarding as winning Tuesday.

"Most guys get up in the morning with that droning about having to go to work," he said. "I know I'm going to be in my own little space making surfboards.

"It's like a daily meditation."

Fernandez was the only Virginia or Outer Banks surfer to win an adult final Tuesday. Of the 12 division finals that took place Tuesday, only four featured finalists from the two districts.

Aside from Fernandez in his two finals, Bryce Humphrey of Virginia Beach made the Men's Division final and finished fourth. Bob Holland, also of Virginia Beach, made the Legend's Division final and was third.

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com