Well they do say all things come to those who wait, and after dividing the 30th Jesus Surf classic into two parts due to lack of swell on the Sunday of the first weekend, it was fantastic to see some clean-ish swell lines rolling into Croyde Bay on Saturday morning for the start of weekend number two.
The first part of this very popular and busy event saw the under 12’s, and under 14’s both boys and and girls battling it out in some great conditions, and so for this weekend there was scheduled to be six remaining categories to be completed, involving just under 100 surfers, including many of the top surfers in their particular categories.
Organisers Christian Surfers UK had decided to ensure that it was equally as good a celebration as the first-time round, so erected a marquee, fired up the barbecue, baked the cakes and welcomed everybody prompt at 8 am with hot drinks.
All competitors also were gifted 30th anniversary T-shirts and enamel mugs.
It was pre-planned again due to swell forecast that there would be four categories running on the Saturday, and then following up with the final two categories on the Sunday.
That meant a really busy 27 heats were run on Saturday, and the swell continued to roll through and in fact as the winds lightened got cleaner which saw some excellent surfing in all four categories.
Some highlight results from the Saturday included Reen Boudon-Inoue from Newquay winning the Under 18 boys, ahead of Malakai Hagley.
Rob Watson from Saltash winning the very competitive and always popular Over 35’s title, ahead of both the Wells brothers (Danny getting 2nd) and local music legend Charlie Charlesworth.
In the Women’s Open a really dominant set of heats from Lucy Campbell winning the title and cheque of £350 for the first time in a while. It was great to see her back, but also good to see up and comer Belle Betteridge getting second and multiple Welsh champion Emily Williams taking third spot. Bea Howell from the Isle of Wight made the trip worth her while with a good fourth place finish.
The Open Men’s division was very hotly contested with some great surfers and surfing throughout, seeing Wales’s Logan Nicol taking the title ahead of local Beau Betteridge, Barnaby Cox, from Bude and Sam Taylor.
The presentations took place in bright sunshine and with the sun setting it was the end of a great first day, and many retired to Café Croyde Bay who had laid on a great chilli meal for competitors and helpers alike, a big thanks to them.
Contest director Phil Williams was very relieved to see a few swell lines rolling in through the bay on Sunday morning bright and breezy, definitely a colder morning, but with slight south-easterly winds it meant the under 16’s and under 18 girls could get underway.
As a spring tide dropped out conditions became a bit more challenging towards low tide but surfers in both categories did fantastically well to close the event out around 1 pm. In the Under 16’s boys which was hotly contested Lukas Skinner took the win ahead of local ripper Malakai Hagley, with Arthur Randall third and Finn Gillespie from Newquay in fourth.
In the Girls Under 18 it was local Belle Betteridge taking the win ahead of Lila Skinner (Perranporth) with Alexandra Husson from Helston third and local girl Daisy Lambert coming in fourth doing really well in the final.
At the presentations Mike Scott (one of the Christian Surfers Trustees) who was the only person to have attended all 30 of the events was interviewed about his life and his faith and the importance of faith in his life. The surfers, and their support teams were thanked along with so many others who make this event possible. Special mention this weekend to all the volunteers from CS, the local churches, Parkdean, Pentire Clothing, RNLI and local water safety teams, Hotdoggers for the use of their trailer and of course all of the local surfers for sharing their waves for the weekend.
We very much looking forward to seeing everybody in 2023 provisional dates 9th & 10th September but also welcoming the longboard community to the Jesus longboard classic at Polzeath over the weekend 28th 29th of October.
