The Scottish Surfing Federation has announced the appointment of Paul Stark as the first Chief Executive Officer for the sport after an extensive recruitment process, led by the Chair of the organisation, William Watson.
Paul is currently the Managing Director of Sustainable Sport Ltd, a sports consultancy business established to assist sports organisations to achieve their long-term aspirations whilst minimising their impact on the environment. He was recently part of the leadership team that delivered the world’s largest global cycling event in history, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland. Paul is also a director of Snowsport Scotland and the Chair of a Scottish charitable organisation that provides grant funding to support young people’s inclusion in sport.
With over 20 years’ experience across the sports sector, Paul joins the Scottish surfing team at a pivotal time for the sport with the opening of the Lost Shore resort scheduled for late 2024. The Lost Shore resort, currently under construction on the outskirts of Edinburgh, will provide the largest inland wave pool within northern Europe and, at an estimated build cost of £56 million, will see the largest capital investment of any sporting complex in Scotland over the last ten years since the construction of the Emirates Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.
Incoming Scottish Surfing Federation Chief Executive, Paul Stark, said:
“This is an unprecedented time of opportunity for the sport of surfing and all its disciplines in Scotland and I am delighted that the Scottish Surfing Federation Board has shown confidence in me to support the Scottish surfing community build on its fantastic history and grow the sport sustainably as we look to excel on a world stage.”
William Watson, Chair of the Scottish Surfing Federation, said:
“We are delighted to have appointed Paul as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish Surfing Federation. Paul comes with an exceptional background in sport that I believe will be instrumental for us going forward as we look to maximise the significant investment in our sport, strengthen the Scottish surfing community and positively impact the lives of Scots through the sport of surfing.”
Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said:
“We are delighted that the Scottish Surfing Federation has appointed the sport’s first Chief Executive in Scotland. With the considerable investment in infrastructure and the confirmation of surfing’s inclusion in the next three Olympic cycles, this is a really exciting time for the sport. This appointment marks a real commitment to the Scottish Surfing Federation’s aspiration of ensuring that more people participate, progress and achieve in the sport. We look forward to working with Paul and the team to support the development of the sport.”
German Big Wave Surfer Sebastian Steudtner surfed possibly the biggest wave ever during the XXL swell at premier big-wave destination Nazaré, Portugal, this 2024 season. Steudtner surfed a monster wave that was measured at 28.57m (93.73ft) leveraging state-of-the-art drone technology.
The current world record, also held by Steudtner, is 26.21m (86.4ft), which was achieved at Nazaré in 2020. During the XXL swell, the drone prototype was used for quick and precise wave measurement for the first time. Helping to surf the biggest waves possible, Steudtner developed a new surfboard technology with his partners to significantly optimize his surfboard over the past three years. Using the latest simulation methods and wind tunnel validations, the water and air resistances were successfully reduced. As a result, with the new board, Steudtner can now reach speeds of up to 100 km/h, compared to the previous 80 km/h, which now enabled Steudtner to ride the potential next record wave.
Action and presentation photos attached from Andy Holter
Surf predictions for the 16th Jesus Longboard Classic were quite difficult this weekend just gone, so after much discussion, communication with stakeholders, Surfline, the CSUK team, and a few extra prayers, contest director, Phil Williams, decided to tweak the contest so that the whole event was held on one longer day on Saturday, as opposed to the planned two. Predictions for Sunday were going to be very small and strongly onshore with a north-westerly wind, and not really contestable.
So after communicating this decision to all involved, around 60+ long boarders checked in to the Tubestation at 8 am on Saturday morning for what was going to be a real fun and community-based day.
The event, which is held at Polzeath Beach in conjunction with the Tubestation and organisers Christian Surfers UK, is traditionally one of the last longboard events of the season. However, as in 2023 it was brought forward to the month of April, which on this occasion definitely paid off.
The event covers six categories and is always sold out on most of them, although this year there were a few noticeable no-shows as a number of the English and Welsh regulars was still travelling back from the ISA World longboard Championships.
The Christian Surfers crew gathered on Friday night to set up the venue and were back on site at 7am on Saturday morning ready to go with the hot drinks and breakfast which were free to competitors and well received.
Contest director Phil was quite relieved after an early morning surf check confirmed there was indeed swell, and he was pretty confident that once the tide dropped back off the high tide mark, it would clean up and there would be good contestable waves all day.
Huge thanks to all the competitors who got their on time, and in fact the first heat started slightly early, which meant that after all twenty-eight heats were run it was still only 5.15pm in the afternoon.
The contest kicked off with the first round of the men’s open, and in order to fit everything in the first and second rounds were scheduled for 15 minutes, but with a solid swell coming through everybody got a good share of waves and no issues from anybody.
The contest ran smoothly with a very high calibre of surfing, but with a really friendly atmosphere, and it was great to see a number of new competitors specially in the women’s division which was fantastic, and let’s hope they continue to compete in the other longboard events.
With regards to the weather, it’s fair to say that the beach-based officials had their work cut out with some spells of strong rain, but the good news was that the wind was offshore all day, and the swell cleaned up nicely, and once the tide turned there was some excellent longboard waves pushing through right the way up to the final heat.
There was great surfing in all divisions, and when it came to the finals all the heats were pretty stacked. In the over 60s event a great performance by Colin Bright saw him take the victory ahead of fellow Llantwit surfer and brother Gwyn, with Backwell’s Ben Keay in 3rd, and south coasts Steve Broad taking 4th.
Moving through the age categories in the over 50’s St Agnes surfer Matt Thomas retained his title with a commanding display throughout. Chris Webb pushing him all the way in second, with Rob Davin and Damien Hooker taking 3rd and 4th spot respectively.
The over 35’s division is always one of the most popular divisions, this year there was a new name on the trophy, Appledore’s Greg Norman, taking the victory with strong performances right the way through the competition, but chased all the way by Braunton’s Ashley Braunton in a very tight final. Taunton’s Rob Davin followed up his 3rd in the over 50s with another 3rd in this division with Newquay’s Adrian Napper taking 4th place.
The under 18’s (mixed event) always showcases the future of the longboard sport in the UK, and on form St Agnes surfer Arthur Randell retained the trophy in a five-person final, for the third year running, ahead of Sennen surfer Rowan Curbishley. Penzance Reggie Roynon, took 3rd ahead of Mali Harbour, and Syd Randell took 5th.
There was a new name on the trophy for the women’s title as well with Polzeath’s Mali Harbour taking the win, and Beth Leighfield taking 2nd in a very close final. Newquay’s Sophie Williamson did a great job in 3rd, and Jen Pendlebury in yet another final in 4th.
In a fantastic final final, Braunton’s Ashley Braunton came through to take his first victory of the open division in this event, and gave a lovely winning speech at the presentation, explaining that his first ever contest on a longboard was at the Jesus Surf classic in Croyde when he was aged 15 (Over 20 years ago) and that inspired him to start competing, what a great story. Arthur Randell who had been surfing so well all weekend took second place ahead of Falmouth’s Nathanial Keating, local boy Kourosh Zahedi in 4th and in a five-person final Chris Weston took the final position.
The award ceremony took place in a packed Tubestation just after 5 pm, and the presentation started with a few moments of silence, and a prayer remembering three special people who sadly in the last year passed away, local Polzeath resident, and Tubestation stalwart Libby Taylor, North Devons great longboarder and friend to many Shaun Marlow, and much loved CS member who had judged and competed at the event last year Sabina Edwards. A reminder we never know what is round the corner so always make the most of every day.
Each of the winners received a stunning trophy designed by CS member Chris Clark and great prizes supplied by Christian surfers and other key sponsors.
A massive thanks for all involved in putting on this really successful event and in particular for all of the surfers who competed, the beach-based CS volunteers, and of course everybody involved with running the event and the hospitality back at Tubestation. Era also did a great job with the water safety.
Without sponsors this event could not happen so a huge thank you for those that have been involved in previous years, Finisterre, Georges Surf School, 10Oversurf shop, Kosin and Ocean Frog, and a big welcome to new sponsors Surfs Up, Wave hunters and Waveland. It was also great to have Julie from ear plug provider Wave Ear plugs, offering free surfers ear checks and moulds, a great service which many of the surfers and volunteers took up.
Also a big thanks to British Longboard Union, and Hotdoggers for ongoing support, and Jamie at Surfline, for great up to date Surf Forecasts. Action and presentation photos attached from Andy Holter, and the video edit will follow from Will Reddaway.
Even though the contest had finished on Saturday, Christian Surfers held the surfers blessing as planned at 9 am on Sunday with a number of the competitors as well as the volunteers attending, having a great time of fellowship and sharing stories from the day before with the Tubestation regular church crew.
A time of reflection to start the day off, and for those wishing a blessing of sea water.
The event forms the first part of the Jesus surf series with the second part taking place in Croyde over the weekend of September 21st and 22nd September with the 32nd Jesus Surf Classic.
If anybody would like any more information on Christian surfer’s, log onto www.christiansurfers.co.uk or the Facebook Pages Christian Surfers UK or Jesus Surf Series CSUK
Released on Carve as a cover mounted DVD this day in 2009, Fergal Smith, Tom Lowe and Mickey Smith are on a charge chasing slabs through the Irish winter… It’s still a classic!
Win your summer supply of Quiksilver Boardshorts worth over £450!
Trends change. History doesn’t. These are the Original Boardshorts, from the Original Boardshort Company.
Since 1969, Quiksilver’s ethos has been fairly simple: Make stuff for surfers to enjoy. These days, Mikey Wright, Andy Nieblas and Riaru Ito have been going hard in this season’s Original Boardshorts. Now it’s your turn!
Prize includes a £450 voucher for online shopping, good for all Quiksilver boardshorts and clothing.
A surf film presented by Drifter Surf, in association with Ross Concept and Salty Swamis.
Two master longboarders, an underground twin fin specialists and an expert shaper/surfer traveled across the Eastern coastline of Sri Lanka to share an experience of surfing, culture and values. A true surfing experiment at its core, this journey encompassed one quiver of boards shared by all in a variety of conditions.
