On May Bank holiday Watergate Bay played host to the English Surfing Federation’s National Surfing Championships, in association with Quiksilver and Roxy, who through their support of the event had competitors of all ages from the U12s to the over 45 year old veterans and promised for the first time equal prize money to both the male and female surfers in the Open and Longboard Categories.
The event started off on a beautifully sunny day, gradually getting busier and busier as it progressed. At 7:30 in the morning a solid queue began to develop as check in for the junior events started, and by 7:45 the queue was snaking its way back towards the Watergate Bay Hotel.
The south westerly winds created a nice surf for the juniors in the morning, with some nice lines rolling through for the groms to show the judges exactly what they can do on a wave. Credit has to be given to the juniors for their constant enthusiasm and passion, surfing their way through declining surf conditions. In the evening of the first day, the organisers and the judges made the decision to postpone the finals until the next day due to the surf, but this didn’t dampen the atmosphere at all. With the beach full of families, dog walkers and surfers from both the competition and those who had come down on a sunny bank holiday to give surfing a crack. The DJ made sure that the soundtrack for the first day of the competition was perfect, playing everything from Prince to Basement Jaxx. The voice of the commentator booming over the tannoy not only kept everyone up to date with the competition, but also keeping everyone laughing with his ramblings on anything that he felt was necessary to share with the beach.
Typical English bank holiday weather met those who made it down to the beach on the Sunday, with the competition surrounded with a constant drizzle. The wind howled around the beach making sure that everyone that had been looking forward to the extra day of their weekend was thoroughly drenched whilst watching the surfing. Alongside the Junior finals the first few heats of the men’s and women’s open, longboarding events and the under 18 events progressed in small but competitive conditions, those who had made it out to watch the action were met with a array of talent from various categories. The presentation for the junior events was in the evening, and whilst the families of the competitors crowded around the award tent, the children stood relaxed, boards under arm, waiting to hear which one of them had won.
Waking up on the final morning the competitors were met with a grey sky that promised rain. Arriving at the beach, the conditions looked sizeable and heavy, the surf forecasters had promised it would gain in size as they day progressed, a promise they didn’t break. As we worked our way through the events of the day, the surfing conditions slowly started to pick up. The veterans, masters and seniors were the first of the finals, followed by the Under 18 events. As the Under 18 girls got into the water the waves began to get a bit heavier and they faced a brutal paddle out back for their final. The longboarding, men’s and women’s final followed on from the Under 18 events and as the conditions picked up it encouraged the surfers to show the judges why they should be going home with the prize money. The Men’s final didn’t disappoint with Alan Stokes pulling off an awesome floater and Reubyn Ash stomping a massive backside air reverse. The weather slowly turned round to beaming sun again, with the miserable Sunday being sandwiched with two days that finished off with warm sun and smiling faces.
The presentation began for the winners of each event with Reubyn Ash from Bude winning the Men’s Open, Ellie Turner from Bude winning the Women’s Open, Ben Skinner from St Agnes winning the Men’s Longboard and Emily Curry from Bude winning the Women’s Longboard. Ellie Turner deserves a special mention for her absolute dominance in the tournament, winning the Under 16s, Under 18s and Women’s Open, not a bad weekend for Ellie as a whole, in fact not a bad weekend end for Bude. As the final day drew to an end, the scenes were perfectly fitting for a surfing competition; sunny, full of family and friends laughing and joking and contestable surf conditions with some extremely talented surfers showcasing their skills to all those watching.
Photos by Louis Supple.
The Final event listings
Under 12 Boys
1st – Sam Hearn
2nd – Bertie Norman
3rd – Thomas Reeves
4th – Ollie Keast
Under 14 Boys
1st – Stanley Norman
2nd – Noah Capps
3rd – Woody New
4th – Sam Hearn
Under 16 Boys
1st – Kit Innes
2nd – Stanley Norman
3rd – Fynlee Millar
4th – Barnaby Cox
Junior Longboard
1st – Jack Unsworth
2nd – Joe Hornbuckle
3rd – Max Hudson
4th – Beth Leighfield
Boardmasters has today announced its world famous international surf competition will this year be included as part of the World Surf League qualifying series. Featuring as a QS1000 event, Boardmasters will host the Boardmasters Men’s Open, the Boardmasters Women’s Open and the Boardmasters Men’s and Women’s Longboard contests. This cements Boardmasters as the most high-profile event in the UK’s surf calendar.
Boardmasterswill feature as stop #29 on the WSL international qualifying series tour, giving surfing professionals the opportunity to come to Cornwall to be in with the chance of gaining valuable points in their quest to reach the elite platform of professional surfing, the Championship Tour (CT).
Fistral Beach, the UK’s premier surfing destination, will again host Boardmasters, with professional surfers travelling from around the globe we will get to see who will become this years Boardmasterschampion. The highly anticipated Boardmasters QS1000 will then run from Wednesday 10th until Sunday 14th August 2016 and the action will kick off with the Boardmasters Men’s Open. Boardmasters will offer Britain’s best professional surfers, such as Ben Skinner, Luke Dillon, Jobe Harris and Lucy Campbell the chance to compete at an international level whilst in home waters.
Boardmasters promises to deliver five days of exhilarating surf action at one of Cornwall’s must stunning beach settings. Fans and festival goers alike are expected to descend on the UK’s surf capital to check out and support both the British pro surfers and the travelling international surfing professionals. We cannot wait to see who will lift the coveted Boardmasters title this year and their portion of the $30,500 prize purse.
Andrew Topham, Boardmasters Festival Director said, “We are so stoked to see the return of World Surf League (WSL) sanctioning across all disciplines of our event (Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s Longboard and Women’s Longboard). This really drives the level of surfing within the UK and will inspire the next generation of British surfers towards competing at the highest level. Since 1981, Boardmasters has always been the pinnacle of British surfing and this once again takes us to another level. We are really excited to see another huge crowd on the beach cheering some of the best surfing that will be witnessed on Cornish shores this year.”
Rob Gunning WSL Europe Tour Manager commented, “WSL is very pleased to be returning once again to the Boardmasters and it is great to see our involvement grow with the addition of a men’s and women’s Qualifying Series event. As we expand across Europe the Boardmasters is for us a key event as it is one of our longest running and most high profile events. The on-site activities, crowds plus the music festival make the Boardmasters very special. It will be great for not only International and visiting European surfers but also for the local Brits who will get a chance to compete on the international stage. The women’s QS event will be a first for the Boardmasters and it is fantastic to see women’s professional surfing included in the schedule.”
Hugo Tagholm, Chief Executive at Surfers Against Sewage said, “Surfers Against Sewage is proud to have been Boardmasters nominated charity for over a decade. We look forward to continuing to work together to promote the protection of waves, oceans and beaches well into the future. We’re stoked to see the WSL sanctioning of the Boardmasters surf competition this year. It’s a fantastic reflection of the amazing contest and to new heights that UK surfing is reaching. The UK has world-class surfers and waves, and we’re stoked to be at the forefront of protecting the surf environments they rely on!”
Boardmasters International Surf Competition 2015 Champions:
Men’s Open Hodei Collazo (ESP)
Women’s Open Peony Knight (GBR)
Men’s Longboard Edouard Delpero (FRA)
Women’s Longboard Alice Lemoigne (REU)
Whipper Snappers Stanley Norman (GBR)
Entry registration for the WSL Open and Longboard events is via the WSL website
Click this link for information on the Boardmasters International Surf Competition
It doesn’t stop there, as the festival continues at Watergate Bay for a weekend of the biggest and best names in live music performing from Friday 12 – Sunday 14 August 2016. Confirmed headline acts so far include Chase & Status,James Bay and Deadmau5, with other performances across the weekend from Catfish and the Bottlemen,Craig David, Primal Scream, Kano,Lianne La Havas, Kaiser Chiefs, Sigma, Wolf Alice, Example, Eats Everything and more, with further acts still to be announced.
Boardmasters 2016 will take place along the glorious Cornish coastline from Wednesday 10 August to Sunday 14August. Tickets are available NOW from the website.
Plenty of wave sliding action to keep you entertained this weekend with two big wave events and the World Longboard champs n’all.
The call is Sunday for the La Vaca XXL in Spain, featuring a strong home contingent with Cotty, Buttsy, Lowey and Ollie O’Fla taking on the Santander beast with a field of Europe’s finest. Once the the sun sets over the north coast of Spain we should roll straight in to the Pe’ahi challenge which is also brewing for Sunday. The WSL logs kicks off tomorrow for a week with guys and girls deciding the king and queen of the nine footer. Ben Skinner and Bearman are flying the flag for Blighty there which this year for the first time should feature a webcast so we’ll be able to cheer the crew on from here.
The Eddie invite list is here! Laid out below. Any chance of squeezing a European in there, even as an alternate, next season? There’s kind of a decent big wave scene happening this side of the pond now…
Quiksilver and Hawaii’s Aikau Family are pleased to announce the official Invitees and Alternates for the 31st Annual Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay, on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. The official Opening celebration with the Aikau Family and this year’s invited contestants will be held on Thursday, December 3rd, 3pm, at Waimea Bay.
The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is a one-day big wave riding event with strict wave height requirements; it will only take place when waves meet or exceed the Hawaiian 20-foot minimum (wave face heights of approximately 40 feet). This was the threshold at which Eddie enjoyed to ride the Bay. The event has a three-month holding period that will begin December 1, 2015, and run through February 29, 2016.
“The Eddie” is the original big wave riding event and stands as the measure for every big wave event that exists in the world today. It honors Hawaiian hero Eddie Aikau, whose respect of the ocean, concern for the safety of all who entered it on his watch as lifeguard of Waimea Bay, and the way with which he rode Waimea Bay on its most giant and memorable days.
On the occasion of this year’s Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, the exhibition “The Big Wave Riders of Hawaii” will make a stop in Honolulu on December 2nd, 2015 6pm-9pm, at the Quiksilver Boardriders Club, 2330 Kalakaua Avenue. Dedicated to the intriguing parallels that connect the histories of surfing and photography, the exhibition will showcase a handpicked selection of collodion plate portraits by Bernard Testemale. More information on: www.quiksilver.com
As part of its ongoing commitment to perpetuating safety at the Eddie – a hallmark of Aikau’s life, Quiksilver is delighted to announce that for the first time ever, itsnew Inflatable Ocean Safety (IOS) vest will be made available to all contestants in the 2016 edition. Developed in collaboration with Aqua Lung, a global leader in personal aquatic equipment for professional and recreational use, the QUIKSILVER X AQUA LUNG IOS vest is the culmination of two year’s development and represents the cutting edge of big wave surfing safety technology. Worn over the top of any type of surf equipment (wetsuit or lycra etc.), the IOS is a reinforced neoprene inflatable vest designed to rapidly and safely bring the wearer to the surface in a heavy hold-down situation.
The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau has only been held a total of 8 times, most recently on December 9, 2009, won by California’s Greg Long.
When the contest happens, it can be viewed via a live webcast on the event’s official website.
The 2015/2016 Invitees are: (listed by first name alphabetical order)
Aaron Gold
Albee Layer
Bruce Irons
Clyde Aikau
Dave Wassel
Garrett McNamara
Grant Baker
Greg Long
Ian Walsh
Jamie Mitchell
Jamie O’Brien
Jeremy Flores
John John Florence
Kala Alexander
Kelly Slater
Kohl Christensen
Makua Rothman
Mark Healey
Nathan Fletcher
Noah Johnson
Peter Mel
Ramon Navarro
Reef McIntosh
Ross Clarke-Jones
Shane Dorian
Sunny Garcia
Takayuki Wakita
Tom Carroll
Official Alternates (in seeding order):
Mason Ho (Aikau Pick)
Danilo Couto
Mark Matthews
Koa Rothman
Ben Wilkinson
Jamie Sterling
Billy Kemper
Shawn Dollar
Carlos Burle
Kealii Mamala
Gabriel Villaran
Michael Ho
Kai Lenny
Kahea Hart
Nathan Florence
Damien Hobgood
Kalani Chapman
Ryan Hipwood
Danny Fuller
Nic Lamb
Anthony Tashnick
Rusty Long
Derek Dunfee
Brock Little
Event past winners:
1984/1985: Denton Miyamura (Haw)
1986/1987: Clyde Aikau (Haw)
1989/1990: Keone Downing (Haw)
1998/1999: Noah Johnson (Haw)
2000/2001: Ross Clarke-Jones (Aus)
2004/2005: Bruce Irons (Haw)
2001/2002: Kelly Slater (USA)
2009/2010: Greg Long (USA)
29 – 31 October 2015 saw three days of pumping waves for the Thurso Surf Festival. Fierce conditions in part and tricky weather but certainly more entertaining than 18 inch NW beachy windslop.
Film and Edit – mrbproductions.co.uk
3 Days, 3 Locations, 6 Divisions.
Thanks to – UKPST, Scotish Surfing Federation, SSE, Sharps Brewery, YNOT Rocks, The Highland Council, Dritek, Adams Surfboards, Fistral Beach Newquay. AND all the competitors!
Supertubos awakens on Day 4 of the event’s waiting period. Image: WSL / Poullenot
SUPERTUBOS, Peniche/Portugal (Friday, October 23, 2015): Stop No.10 of 11 on the 2015 Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal has been called ON this morning.
Round 1 has kicked off in building three-to-four foot surf at the iconic beach break of Supertubos.
“Waves have improved substantially since this morning, so we’re underway with round 1,” said WSL Deputy Commissioner, Travis Logie. “Round 2 is definitely on Standby, we’re going to monitor the conditions throughout the day, the winds should be light and variable so hopefully it holds and we can get round 2 underway too.”
Filipe Toledo of Brasil winning his Round 1 heat to advance into Round 3 of the Moche Ripcurl Pro Portugal. IMAGE: WSL / Poullenot Gabriel Medina of Brasil winning his Round 1 heat to advance into Round 3 of the Moche Ripcurl Pro Portugal. IMAGE: WSL / Poullenot
Surfline, official forecaster for the WSL, are calling for:
Strong low pressure that moved into the North Atlantic earlier in the week sets up WNW swell for Friday that eases some on Saturday. A developing storm over the North Atlantic today and tomorrow will set up a reinforcing pulse of WNW swell Sunday and into Monday. Solid swell expected for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week but onshore winds look likely. NW/WNW swell continues for the back half of next week and into next Saturday but local winds remain dicey.
The Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal will be webcast LIVE on worldsurfleague.com and via the WSL app.
Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Jadson Andre (BRA), Tomas Hermes (BRA)
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Mason Ho (HAW)
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS), Keanu Asing (HAW), Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Heat 4: Owen Wright (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF), Vasco Ribeiro (PRT)
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Kolohe Andino (USA), Frederico Morais (PRT)
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Aritz Aranburu (ESP)
Heat 8: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 9: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Ricardo Christie (NZL)
Heat 10: Nat Young (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), Glenn Hall (IRL)
Heat 11: Bede Durbidge (AUS), John John Florence (HAW), C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 12: Josh Kerr (AUS), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Adam Melling (AUS)
Keanu Asing of Hawaii winning his Round 1 heat to advance into Round 3 of the Moche Ripcurl Pro Portugal. IMAGE: WSL / Poullenot
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