Plans to make TraffordCity home to the North West’s first surfing lagoon have been submitted to Trafford Council by Belfast-based property developer, McKinney Group.
The multi-million-pound plans would see the former container-base site transformed into a world-class surfing facility for Greater Manchester, within a well-designed and safe cove environment that is accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
Alongside the surf lake will be space for a café/restaurant terrace, pop-up beach bars, surf shop, and changing facilities all within an interactive environment with everything from pump track and fitness zone to a halfpipe/boarding area, and exercise, bouldering and balancing zones.
Powered by Wavegarden, the world leader in man-made, wave-generating technologies, the proposed surfing complex will create consistent waves, perfect for beginners, learners and professionals alike to test their skills.
Billy McKinney, Managing Director at McKinney Group said:
“We are really excited to have submitted our plans to Trafford Council, off the back of months of discussions with the local community, stakeholders and planning officers and, of course, our online consultation at the start of the year.
“We want to thank everyone who got involved with our consultation and let us know what they thought of our plans to deliver the North West’s first inland surfing facility, and we are delighted that over 85% of all feedback received expressed support for our proposals.
“TraffordCity already has a huge and growing leisure offer and we are looking forward to bringing something new to the area that is thrilling, interactive and accessible to be enjoyed by surfers of all abilities
“We await our application coming before Trafford Council and look forward to getting people on the waves by 2023.”
The site in TraffordCity, owned and managed by Peel L&P, is regarded as the UK’s foremost retail, leisure and commercial destination encompassing The Trafford Centre and its surrounding 3.5 million square feet of retail, leisure and office space.
James Whittaker, Executive Development Director at Peel L&P said:
“It’s fantastic to see the plans for this unique and world-class facility move forwards, following the public consultation period. At Peel L&P, we’re committed to investing and developing TraffordCity for the benefit of the local community and economy. Our partnerships with developers and leisure businesses, such as McKinney Group, continue to enable us to make the TraffordCity one of the most experiential retail and leisure destinations in the UK.”
Paul Shuker, Director at Lambert Smith Hampton said:
“We are delighted to be supporting these proposals and believe that this development will complement the existing leisure offer and regenerate one of its last remaining brownfield sites in TraffordCity, helping to complete the area.
“We predict that this development will bring a huge boost to the local tourism sector, with over 350,000 extra visitors to TraffordCity, generating over £18 million a year.
“As well a boost to tourism, the development is also estimated to create up to 240 permanent jobs once open, both directly and indirectly, with a further 60 jobs created during construction.”
“McKinney Group’s plans will enable those living across Greater Manchester and the North West to access an Olympic Sport that is growing in popularity, will help to promote an active lifestyle more generally, and will put Greater Manchester on the surfing circuit for local, national and international competitions.”
The £60 million scheme will be located on Peel L&P’s brownfield site off Barton Dock Road in Trafford Park. It will be the first inland surfing facility to open in the North West and is earmarked to be open by 2023.
“Joe G and I have been working on Dark Hollow for the past few years. It’s grown and evolved over time, but it has always taken its core inspiration from my home state of Tasmania. The film is our vision of how the world could be if we looked after it, and features appearances from some of my best friends, including Craig Anderson and Chippa Wilson.” – Dion Agius
Luke Dillon went into the Worlds as Britains highest ranking surfer on the QS, with a solid style much appreciated by the judges and commentators alike Luke posted some great wave scores but eventually went down in a close heat when the ocean didn’t play ball. It was shame, and he is gutted. Two heats on and he may have been an Olympic qualifier. Luke almost beat Italo Ferreira in round three finishing 0.11 behind him. He finished 25th, equal with Italo, and just behind a slew of WT pros including Leo, Bourez, Julian Wilson.
Stan Norman was really unlucky. In his round four repecharge heat he went out holding the highest scoring wave the heat. Try as he might the just couldn’t get a back up. Stan beat the eventual World Champion Joan Duru in round two and didn’t look out of place. Stan finished 37th.
Gearoid Mc Daid also went out in repecharge 4. G Man beat Australias Ryan Callinan in round two, and although amongst it, just couldn’t find the heat winners in his final round. He finished in 46th ahead of Felipe Toledo
Harry Cromwell did really well to make the team given his family and fishing commitments, but unfortunately went out in in repe 1. Hopefully he repped in the bar with a 101 finish. Good work Harry!
Irelands Rory Tuohy (91) and Oisin Campbell (no position shown) both went out in repe 1.
In the womens Ellie Turner 25th and Lucy Campbell 33 both started alitklt slow the posted good heat wins and good finishes.Lucy went out in repecharge round 4 losing by 2 points. Ellie in a really close repecharge round 5 heat.
Emily Curry went out in repechage round 3 finished 57th.
Ayesha Garvey 97 Grace Doyle 113
Great Britain finished in 14th.
Ireland finished in 36th.
All up solid results but as far as the British team are concerned one that could have been better if the surfers had been given full support and proper processes been in place…
Team France was crowned the Team Gold Medalist of the 2021 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games on Sunday at the break of La Bocana.
Lead by an individual Gold Medal from Joan Duru (below) and a Bronze Medal from Jeremy Flores, Team France surpassed the Silver Medal Team Japan in the final heat of the day to emerge victorious among the 51-nation field. It is France’s first Gold since they won and hosted the 2017 edition in Biarritz, France.
“I am so stoked I can’t believe it yet,” said Duru. “I did not expect to do this well at all. I’ve been at home for over a year. I lost sponsors. Then this contest came up so I just got back into training four weeks ago. I can’t believe I won.”
Team Japan on the rise
Team Japan followed France with a Silver Medal – the third consecutive edition of the event that they have placed on the Team podium, a testament to the huge growth of Japanese surfing ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Japan earned their first Team Gold at the 2018 edition, Bronze in 2019, and now Silver in 2021.
Portugal earned the Team Bronze and Peru the Copper.
Fitzgibbons becomes first surfer with three individual World Surfing Games Gold Medals
Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons made history by becoming the first athlete to ever earn individual Gold three times in the World Surfing Games. Fitzgibbons first accomplished the feat in 2008 before earning her second Gold in 2018. 2021 marks her third Gold, which puts her in a category of her own and gives her a boost of momentum ahead of her Olympic debut.
“This event has been an unreal platform to test our mental strength,” said Fitzgibbons. “It’s surreal to be wearing the Gold Medal at the end of the week.
“This is a great runway heading into Tokyo 2020. Just competing and seeing all the Olympians get their spots is great. Being on the World Tour we don’t get to surf against a lot of the other Olympians. It’s good practice to go against them and spend time bonding with the rest of the Aussie team.
“Surfing has finally arrived as a global sport. It’s got the recognition now. We are going to the Olympics. It’s cool to have that as a milestone in my career. I want to go as long as I can in the sport because I love it.”
Ohhara (above) takes final Olympic slot
Going into the final day of competition 39 of the 40 total Olympic slots had been determined, leaving just one spot left to be earned at the 2021 World Surfing Games. The final slot would be decided in the Men’s Repechage Final between two teammates, Japan’s Hiroto Ohhara and Shun Murakami.
Ohhara stepped up to the occasion and marked two waves in the excellent range including a 9-point ride. Ohhara moved onto the Grand Final to secure his slot and contest a medal, while Murakami didn’t get the necessary scores to advance.
See the full list of Olympic qualifiers below.
Women’s Grand Final features four Olympians
To crown the first medalists of the day, the Women’s Grand Final took to the water featuring 4 surfers who had all already confirmed their slots in Tokyo 2020.
Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons (above and below), who qualified via the 2019 WSL Championship Tour, squared off against three surfers who had earned their qualification on Saturday through the 2021 World Surfing Games: Portugal’s Yolanda Sequeira, Portugal’s Teresa Bonvalot, and Peru’s Daniella Rosas.
Fitzgibbons’ experience proved valuable against three surfers who had never earned a World Surfing Games medal before. Her heat total of 14.10 led her to the Gold ahead of Silver Medal Sequeira, Bronze Medal Bonvalot, and Copper Medal Rosas.
Japanese and French duos battle in Men’s Grand Final
The Men’s Grand Final featured some of surfing’s top talent and provided a preview for the surfing to come at Tokyo 2020.
France’s Duru and Flores faced Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi and Ohhara in a heat that would determine not only the Men’s Medalists, but also the overall team ranking.
Duru utilized a strategy of patience, only catching three waves in the entire Final. However, those three waves were all he needed to post a 14.94 heat total and take a lead that he would not relinquish.
Japan’s Igarashi gave Duru a run for his money with high performance maneuvers, but it proved not enough, earning him the Silver Medal to match his 2018 World Surfing Games result.
Flores’ Bronze Medal finish and Duru’s Gold Medal were enough to push Team France to the overall team Gold, while Ohhara earned the Copper.
Germany’s Leon Glatzer (above) lets loose to earn highest heat total of entire event
After learning that he had earned his slot for Tokyo 2020 on Saturday, Germany’s Leon Glatzer surfed like an Olympian and posted the highest heat total of the event. Glatzer’s signature aerials earned a near-perfect 18.46 heat total, higher than any other total in the event between the men or women.
While Glatzer didn’t advance through to the Final at the end of the day, he spoke about the experience of becoming an Olympian.
“Yesterday was one of the biggest days in my life,” said Glatzer. “There was so much work put into it for the last three years. It’s been an emotional roller coaster waking up every day and feeling the Olympics at my doorstep.
“I don’t know what happened to me, but last night I woke up in pain and vomiting. I decided to surf today anyway. I wanted to have fun and I had one of the most fun heats of my life, just being free and surfing.”
ISA recognizes Olympians at Closing Ceremony
At the Closing Ceremony, the ISA brought all Olympians in attendance to the stage to recognise their historic achievements in becoming part of the first wave of Olympic surfers.
ISA President Fernando Aguerre presented each qualifier with a commemorative trophy featuring a unique Tokyo 2020 surfboard fin to honor their achievements.
Additionally, Aguerre recognized the strong commitment and support of the government of El Salvador to host this historic edition of the event by providing Tourism Minister Morena Valdez with a plaque of recognition and the ‘Sands of the World’ from the Opening Ceremony, so the event’s legacy remains in El Salvador.
That’s a wrap for Surfing’s Olympic Qualification
The 2021 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games marked the end of the Qualification System for Surfing in Tokyo 2020.
All 40 athletes have been qualified through the four qualifying events: 2019 WSL CT, 2021 World Surfing Games, 2019 World Surfing Games, and 2019 Pan American Games.
The 40 total qualifiers hail from 17 different countries, representative of the global reach and appeal of surfing.
Now Surfing’s set its sight on Tokyo 2020, the debut of the sport on the Olympic stage.
“It has truly been a historic week for Surfing here in El Salvador, and I don’t say that lightly.
ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:
“It has truly been a historic week for Surfing here in El Salvador, and I don’t say that lightly. We managed to create a safe and secure environment to gather 51 surfing nations from around the world in peace for the first time since the start of the pandemic. That alone was a feat in itself, but then we also successfully completed Surfing’s Olympic Qualification and confirmed the Olympic dreams of 40 surfers from all around the world. This is a moment that will live on in surfing history for decades, or centuries to come – the day we officially announced the first Olympic surfers.
“El Salvador has provided us with the perfect venue to run this global event. The waves did not stop all week, allowing the world’s best National Surfing Teams to put their surfing on display. I would like to give a special thanks to the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, for believing in the power of surfing and believing in our mission to make the world a better place through surfing. We hope to be back soon!”
“It took me 22 years of paddling to catch the Olympic Wave. That has been done. And we now have our first 40 Olympians. The Olympic wave belongs to each of us.”
As part of the ceremony, Aguerre unveiled the recently created and recorded ISA Song, “A Better World Through Surfing”. Aguerre said: “Written by multiple Grammy winner Sr Flavio Cianciarulo from Argentina, the song celebrates our love for the oceans and our belief in a better world through surfing.
Final Results:
Open Men:
Gold – Joan Duru (FRA) Silver – Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) Bronze – Jeremy Flores (FRA) Copper – Hiroto Ohhara (JPN)
Anat Lelior (ISR) Bianca Buitendag (RSA) Ella Williams (NZL) Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
2019 Pan Am Games
Dominic Barona (ECU)
Men:
2019 WSL Championship Tour:
Gabriel Medina (BRA) Italo Ferreira (BRA) Kolohe Andino (USA) John John Florence (USA) Owen Wright (AUS) Julian Wilson (AUS) Jeremy Flores (FRA) Michel Bourez (FRA) Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) Jordy Smith (RSA)
2021 World Surfing Games
Leon Glatzer (GER) Miguel Tudela (PER) Lucca Mesinas (PER) Manuel Selman (CHI) Hiroto Ohhara (JPN)
2019 World Surfing Games
Rio Waida (INA) Frederico Morais (POR) Billy Stairmand (NZL) Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
Luke Dillon though to repecharge round 6 with convincing win.
Stan Norman out in repecharge round 5 despite scoring highest wave the heat. Couldn’t get a back up.
G Man goes out out in repe 4.
Ellie Turner goes out in a close heat in repecharge 5.
Lucy Campbell goes out in repecharge 4.
Harry Cromwall appointed Carve Cultural Ambassador leadership role at the bar for the rest of the comp. No pressure… Or budget from us..
Day 5 of competition narrowed down the field of Olympic hopefuls and Gold Medal contenders at the 2021 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games.
Through five days of competition the world’s top National Surfing Teams have been vying for the final 12 spots for Tokyo 2020 – 5 for men and 7 for women.
Many surfers remaining are looking to become the first of their country to earn an Olympic spot. These include surfers from Indonesia, Panama, Germany, Spain, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, Canada, Great Britain and Argentina.
Meanwhile, other countries are looking to bolster their Olympic squads and reach the maximum of 2 men and 2 women. This includes countries still with athlete spots to fill such as France, Japan, Costa Rica, Israel, Peru, New Zealand, Portugal, and South Africa.
Team Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons and Owen Wright, both of whom have already secured Olympic slots via the 2019 WSL Championship Tour, put on standout performances in the Repechage Rounds of Thursday. Fitzgibbon’s heat total 17.5 and Wright’s total of 16.26 were the highest of the day among the women and men, respectively.
El Salvador’s Bryan Perez remains the final Olympic hope for the host nation. Perez advanced through two Repechage Rounds to keep the dreams of his entire nation alive.
Argentina’s Lucia Indurain put on a memorable performance in Main Event Round 4, winning the heat to send Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore down to the Repechage Rounds.
Isauro Elizondo looks to become Panama’s first Olympic surfer
Panama’s Isauro Elizondo continued his strong surfing to remain unbeaten in the Main Event. Elizondo dreams to become the first Panamanian surfer qualified for Tokyo 2020.
“It feels amazing to move into the next round,” said Elizondo. “There are a lot of emotions and tension. I’m so happy but still there is the pressure thinking about if I don’t pass heats. Those emotions will always be there between heats and in the water.
“I expected to get this far at least in the event. I’ve been training hard, waiting for this moment. I don’t have a coach, but I have my dad and my mom in my corners. That’s all I need to move forward.
“The feeling of coming back here to the ISA and competing with all these countries is amazing. It brings me a lot of joy to see everybody united once again. It’s great to see that we can make it through this pandemic, and we can make a better world through surfing.”
Provisionally-qualified Olympians surf to secure slots
Aside from the Olympic hopefuls, the fifth day of competition featured strong performances from surfers who had provisionally qualified via the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games and Lima 2019 Pan American Games.
Morocco’s Ramzi Boukhiam, Peru’s Lucca Mesinas and Daniella Rosas, and Japan’s Shun Murakami are all looking to add ISA individual Gold to their list of accomplishments.
“My first goal is to qualify in the World Surfing Games — get one of the 7 slots,” said Peru’s Rosas. “I am really happy to make my heat and be in round five. I am happy with how it’s going.
“This is my first competition since the start of the pandemic, so I am a little nervous. At the beginning the thought of returning to competition in an Olympic Qualifier was causing anxiety. Then I talked to all my teammates and they calmed me down. They helped me focus on my surfing and make heats.”
Japan’s Shino Matsuda, who earned a provisional continental qualification slot at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games, bowed out of the event in the Repechage Rounds. That now puts her in a position where her two teammates, Amuro Tsuzuki and Mahina Maeda, could potentially qualify in the 2021 World Surfing Games and take precedence over her provisional slot.
Olympic dreams come to an end – for now
Among the top names to drop out of the men’s competition on Thursday were 2017 ISA World Surfing Games Gold Medalist Jhony Corzo (MEX) and 2014 and 2016 World Surfing Games Gold Medalist Leandro Usuna (ARG).
Argentina’s Usuna finds himself in an unusual situation where his qualification potential lies in the hands of two Peruvians. If Peruvians Alonso Correa and Miguel Tudela could qualify in the event, then that would take precedence over Mesina’s slot earned with Gold at the Pan Ams in 2019, therefore opening up a slot for the Pan Am Silver Medalist Usuna.
The race for Team Gold Surfing World Champion
After five days of competition just three teams remain with 5 surfers remaining in the event: France, Japan and Peru. Each team has surfers hungry for Olympic qualification and will make for a tight race for the overall Team Gold.
Teams USA and Brazil took a big hit in the team rankings as several of their athletes decided to leave the event. The surfers that qualified for the Olympic Games, from the 2019 World Surf League Championship Tour, had an obligation to surf for their National Teams, which they fulfilled. Some chose to leave the competition, despite the disadvantage their departure gave to their team in the overall ranking.
Coastal communities in Cornwall, Devon and West Wales are dying. It is a sad but under reported fact that most small villages, and even towns are now unaffordable for the locals and those that have lived and breathed the very life into areas that as a result have become coveted in the second home property frenzy.
In most small Cornish towns these are the people that keep the coast clean, lifeguard, fish, and work in the area. Their community values and vigilance even keep crime rates lower than cities, keeping an eye on empty second homes out of season.
In 2021 these communities and families are being split, values eroded and local unrest is now almost palpable, especially in Cornwall. Even local businesses reliant on tourism are finding it really hard to employ staff because they can’t find accommodation. The rental market can’t cope with depleted supply and ever increasing rents.
A new petition has been launched to lobby for action in Cornwall caring for a tax on second homes to invest into local housing, and rent caps for locals to protect the precious communities.
“Cap local rents, raise the tax on second homes and save Cornwall’s precious coastal communities. Cornwall is dangerously on the brink of a homelessness crisis and Cornwall Council has to act NOW. We’ve had enough of second home ownership outpricing locals, leaving local homes empty and stripping communities of their heart and soul.
“The latest second homes property frenzy in the county is the last straw.
“It has seen an unprecedented 15% increase in local house prices since April last year, which as well as placing them well beyond the reach of local buyers, is now starting to severely affect the private rental market, leaving local families with simply nowhere to go.”
“Cornwall currently has more than 10,290 active Airbnb listings, yet in comparison, the housing website Rightmove had only 62 properties available to rent privately across the whole county on Friday evening (The Guardian, 30th May 2021).
“This is a homelessness crisis waiting to happen…”
The petition also claims;
“To add insult to injury, approximately £133m of Cornwall’s Covid Aid has now been given out to second home/holiday let owners since the first lockdown with around a half of the people who have received this money registered with addresses outside of Cornwall. This is wholly unacceptable.”
“We demand that Linda Taylor and the newly formed Conservative Cornwall Council show their renewed commitment to the Cornish people by making quick and decisive moves to:
Levy a higher, more stringent tax on second homes which recognises the threat they pose to local communities.
Close the loophole which allows them to be classed as ‘businesses’ allowing them to tap into locally allocated funds and in some cases avoid paying council tax altogether.
Work quickly towards outlining firm strategies to cap local rents in keeping with local incomes so that local families are not left homeless.
Use the funds accrued from taxing second homes properly into building FIRST and ONLY affordable homes for local families.
