Words: Steve White Photos: Jon Runnalls
The PuraVida MiPost Welsh National Surfing
Championships – aka The Welsh – takes place this weekend at Freshwater West.
Playing out over Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May, the event will see Wales’ best surfers tear up the Pembrokeshire waves in a bid to carve their name into their nation’s surfing history.
It’s been a rite of passage for Welsh shredders since 1968 when the inaugural comp was won by Huw Morris of Gower Surf Club. A suitably impressive roll call of champions has developed over the years, from pioneers like Linda Sharp and PJ, to modern day pro’s like Pat Langdon-Dark and Emily Williams.
In the interim, The Welsh has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, drawing in surf communities from around Cymru’s stunning coastline. But this Olympic pathway event is about points as much as prestige, with victory opening the door to competitions on the UK and international stage.
Stakes are high, so the pressure’s very much on for current Men’s and Women’s title-holders, Logan Nicol and Josie Hawke.
Below, the reigning champs discuss their achievements to date, preparations ahead of this year’s Welsh, and explain what it means to be a part of a contest steeped in surfing heritage.
First up is Pembrokeshire Surf Club super grom, Josie Hawke, who made a clean sweep at last year’s Welsh with wins at U14, U16, U18 and senior level.
What does it mean to be Welsh champion?
It does mean a huge amount as it’s a route to higher competition in the UK and Europe. Everyone enters The Welsh; it’s a prestigious title to win and the biggest names in Welsh surfing have competed in it. It’s great to be a part of that group of names who have won, especially these days when you’re surfing alongside people like Pat or Logan who are also Welsh champions. It’s amazing to be part of this surfing community in Wales.
When did winning The Welsh come up on your radar as a grom?
The first competition I entered was the Grom Search in Cornwall, and that was before my first Welsh Nationals which came at Fresh West a few years ago. It felt more like a local comp and I just entered for the experience – there was an U16 category and I was ten years old and I wanted to see what competing was like, and to just get a feel for surf contests. I grew to love competing through that first year and it’s something I can hopefully do for the rest of my life.
How’s your training gone through the last 12 months and leading up to this year’s Nationals?
I’ve been doing quite a lot of training in and out of the water, both in terms of fitness and conditioning, as well as surfing. It’s hard during the winter obviously, because it’s the whole hat, boots and gloves thing, but we’ve also been on training camps in the Algarve with Welsh junior coaches, Emily Williams and Phil Sadler, and that’s been a good boost because it’s great to surf bigger, more powerful waves.
I’ve also been trying out a new board from Luke Hart, and that’s definitely pushed my surfing on. It’s amazing, you know, when you get a new board and you’re like “Wow, I love this board!” It’s boosted my performance and my confidence, too.
The Portugal trips have been amazing, obviously you get a lot of beatings and wipeouts, but then you come back home and you’re more confident in waves that were maybe a bit scary before.
Who else is pushing for silverware this year?
Honestly, all the girls are improving, but for me personally when I compete, I try not to think about how everyone else is performing. I just try to stay in the zone and focus on my own surfing for that 20 minutes and just do the best I can.
Who’s inspiring you at the moment?
I really look up to some of the girls like Alys Barton. Also, my coach, Emily. Also, other surfers from England like Lauren Sandland and Charlotte Mulley.
In terms of Welsh champions, it’s the boys like Logan and Pat – it’s great to see them at The Welsh and watch them absolutely destroy the waves. I also really enjoy surfing with Callum, and Lloyd Cole; they’re just top surfers and set a really good vibe in the water. They support me a lot too, which is lovely.
Who’s currently sponsoring you?
Mystic Boarding are supporting me; they provide me with great kit every year, lovely clothes and good suits as well. It’s not sponsorship but I’m riding the Luke Hart board at the moment, which I’m really enjoying. I’m also getting some funding from the Twr y Felin hotel in Pembrokeshire which is really going to help me in the competitive season. BCRS Business Loans has also given me some funding which is really kind of them.
How’s 2025 looking for you in terms of training, targets and competitions?
We’re hoping to get away to France, so it’ll be good to get some barrel experience on French beach breaks. In terms of competing I just want to keep striving for high-level competition and hopefully surf against some of the best girls in Britain and Europe. I’m inspired to keep pushing myself and just try to focus on getting high heats marks – around the 13 to 15 range. My main goal is to keep scoring consistently high, even in tricky conditions.
Logan Nicol is regularly seen dismantling waves around Wales and the UK with trademark flare. After wins at The Welsh in 2021, ’22 and ‘24, the Channel Coast Surf Club legend is aiming for his fourth Welsh crown this weekend.
What does winning The Welsh mean to you?
Winning the Welsh is a really big thing for me and always was growing up. It’s obviously something I always aspired to make happen, and having achieved that three times is something I only could have dreamed of as a kid. As I’ve got older and pushed on and competed in international events my goals and dreams have grown too, but coming back to The Welsh each year is super important. I love competing and pushing myself against the best in my country and I’m stoked to be competing again this year. Hopefully, I retain the title.
How has your preparation for The Welsh 2025 been so far?
Yeah, I’ve just been surfing as much as I can, working on a few different aspects of my game, trying a few more airs and other things. I’ve been at home pretty much all winter and had a trip to Portugal. We also had a crazy run of swell early this year. I’ve been in the gym a lot, working on fitness, conditioning and the physical side of preparation – just staying surf fit. I’ve been steadily improving my surfing and working on my equipment too. So, it’s been about maintaining an all-round approach, staying sharp and making sure I’m ready for when the comps kick in.
Who else will put down a challenge for the title this year?
Yeah, there’s definitely some hot contenders. Obviously, can’t go past my best mate Pat. He is the best basically, also in the UK, you know. He’s pushing for a Challenger Series qualification at the minute. Just to be competing against him and others of his level is, really special and important to me. Obviously, there’s rivalry there but he is my best friend, so I always want to beat him in in a comp.
And then we’ve got guys like Elliot Barton, Eli Perrins-Davies, Ollie Tom Evans, to name just a few of the guys that are really ripping at the minute. Everyone is hot on everyone else’s heels. On top of that you’ve got the older guard too, people like Vaughny, Craig Bright, Harry Cromwell – again to name just a few. They’re always up there and in really good contention. So yeah, there’s a really solid foundation of Welsh surfers alongside the juniors. It’s no joke – definitely top competition.
Who are Welsh champs of the past that you looked up to, and other surfers who inspired you when you were a grom?
I think in more recent times, it was like, probably Jay Quinn, obviously Pat as well, but Jay, when he came over and won his titles – maybe two or three times – it was just another level. And that’s the level that I aspired to, and continue to aspire to – just to be as good as him. Pat as well, like I said, he’s at the pointy end of European competition and he’s a real inspiration. When I was a kid, obviously, just those, like those past Welsh champions like Rhino (James Thomas); I looked up to him loads in Porthcawl, my dad used to speak about his surfing loads. And then it’s the classic guys like Greg Owen, Vaughny, James Jones – I looked up to those guys a great deal when I was small.
Whose sponsoring you at the moment?
At the minute, I’m really lucky to have some really solid support from some great companies. I’m currently sponsored clothing-wise, by animal UK for apparel. My wetsuits I’m getting from C-Skins are honestly the best suits I’ve ever worn. They’re a UK-based and founded company as well, so that’s really special to me. My fitness programs are provided by Mike Collins at Atlantic coaching – it’s just an amazing programme. I get sessions programmed in every week by Mike and they are tailored to my surfing performance. They’ve honestly had the biggest impacts on my surf ability – all that training I’ve been doing on land with him.
Luke Hart, for surfboards; equipment is so important in surfing as everyone knows, and he’s providing me with the best kit. He takes on board the feedback that I give him and he edits my boards and we’re just getting constant improvements each time. It’s a magic little relationship and I’m super lucky to have him alongside. I get my accessories, like deck pads and stuff, from Obsessive Disorder, another Welsh company, and fins from FCS. I’m very lucky for all the support I get and I really appreciate it.
How’s the year ahead looking for you in terms of training targets and competitions?
Yeah so, obviously we’ve got the Welsh coming up and I’m also looking forward to Boardmasters this summer. It’s the only UK-based QS comp, so I definitely want to put in a good showing down there in Cornwall. I’ve just seen the European Championships has just been announced for July, so I’m booking the time off work for that and hopefully I’ll be able to compete in that representing Wales. I love that comp and love going to Portugal to surf.
Pushing later into 2025, I’m not sure what’s going on with the World Games, but there could definitely be a conversation about attending there. Whenever the GB Cup takes place too, I’m really keen to surf in that, and potentially in a QS. I’m gutted I missed the Morocco QS this year. I’d had other commitments at the time, but it’s an event I’d like to surf in; the waves looked amazing last year, and I think that event would really suit my surfing. I’d love to score out there. That’s pretty much it – the main goal is to tackle those comps and just keep doing my best.
