Mrs. Phillips explained how much support the surf industry gives the association and especially the championships. Judges at the Easterns are paid professional judges who are also given a housing stipend. Cathy felt the sponsors deserved to have there company names displayed, as much of the money for these judges came from sponsors. Some companies donated as much as twenty-five thousand dollars just for the Easterns. The 2000 Easterns Time for Change Team to travel to other countries for competitions.
Sponsorship money goes into a scholarship fund for graduating high school seniors.
The general tone on the beach was a good one. Everybody was glad to have surf. I interviewed several groups of contestants and asked their opinion of the contest location. Many of the families that have been involved with the championships for years expressed sadness at the lost of tradition of the lighthouse beach. Mike Quinn of Kitty Hawk has two children involved in competition.