Competitors were greeted with pumping four-to-six-foot surf for day 2 of the 2025 ISA World Para Surfing Championship (WPSC). The north side of the Oceanside pier delivered a perfect peak in glassy conditions, allowing the world’s best para surfers to showcase their full repertoire and deliver multiple excellent scores. Round 1 was completed for six classifications across men’s and women’s divisions.
The men’s Kneel division kicked off the day with huge performances from many returning medalists, including Llywelyn ‘Sponge’ Williams (WAL), who is the three-time defending champion. Williams was the first surfer to break into the excellent range today with an 8.40, but not the last, as both Dariel Melendez Davila (CRC) and Dijackson Santos(BRA) posted huge scores. It was Melendez who earned the best of the division with a 17.50 heat total. The Costa Rican drove through two critical open face carves before an end section hit to earn his high score of a 9.33.
“The score came out and I was really impressed about it,” Melendez said. “So happy to get a good score. Right now, we’ve got some glassy conditions, four-to-six-foot, pretty solid. I hope everyone enjoys the comp and pura vida.”
High scores continued into men’s Prone 2, where defending champion Freddy Marimon(COL) posted a near-perfect 9.90 on his very first wave of the event. The now 20-year-old, who first claimed gold at the age of 13, was extremely stoked to be able to unleash his power on a long left that offered him section after section all the way to the shore.
“That wave was unexpected, it came out suddenly, but we’re prepared from the start for anything,” Marimon said. “We came to give everything, and with that wave, I felt a strong connection. When Mimo told me, ‘Hey, get ready for the wave,’ I said, ‘Okay, I’ll do what I have to do.’ And it was the connection, the flow, giving me back the section, and down below Andrés was saying, ‘Come on, let’s do it,’ and well, it was epic.”
Marimon’s 16.50 heat total topped the division’s leaderboard, with two-time World Champion Jesse Billauer (USA), Cliff Gralton (AUS), and Tomoki Fujiwara (JPN) also posting solid heat totals.
Another defending champion, Pierrot Gagliano (FRA) in men’s Visual Impairment (VI) 2, returned straight to the top of the leaderboard ahead of two-time World Champion Roy Calderon (CRC) and Jack Jackson (AUS).
Melissa Reid (ENG) and Alelí Medina (PUR) Track Toward Another Title Showdown
One of the highest numbers of the day for the women went to Melissa Reid (ENG) in women’s VI 2. In challenging low-tide conditions, the three-time World Champion found an open face and drove down the line before dropping a powerful layback for a 7.17.
“It was quite nice to get something with a little bit of shape to it,” Reid said. “Super, super hard out there, especially positioning as a VI athlete. Like, normally you’ve got a little bit of leeway, but if your takeoff’s wrong, you’re just going to be making out with the sand, which I did a few times. But yeah, I was super happy to actually get a wave under my feet.”
Reid won her three consecutive titles prior to the rise of Alelí Medina (PUR) in 2022, finishing runner-up to the Puerto Rican in both 2022 and 2023. In 2025, the pair appear headed toward another tight battle for gold, with Medina posting the higher heat total over Reid’s top single wave score.
Para Surfing’s Most Successful Athletes, Victoria Feige (CAN) and Bruno Hansen (DEN), Return
Since Bruno Hansen (DEN) last competed, the six-time World Champion’s classification, Prone 1, has seen a takeover by the Australian duo of Joel Taylor (AUS) and Kai Colless(AUS), the respective 2023 and 2024 gold medalists. Hansen’s form remained solid in his first ISA event since 2021, but Colless and Taylor were able to hold firm atop the leaderboard, with the Danish champion in third.
Returning to ISA competition after a year away, the winningest woman in para surfing, Victoria Feige (CAN), re-established herself at the top. Utilizing both sides of the peak, the five-time World Champion posted scores of 7.40 and 6.83 for a 14.23 two-wave total. The 40-year-old continues to dedicate her life to surfing, sharing her knowledge through Jamie O’Brien’s surf school in Hawaii while also receiving coaching from former WSL World Title runner-up Megan Abubo. Feige was happy to start strong against her largest field of competitors yet.
“It was a little dicey, some of those late drops I did not make and it’s always fun having a little ride under the waves, but I finally pulled out a few decent turns and got a decent score together,” Feige said. “Everyone’s charging and there’s more girls in the Kneel division than ever and I love to see it. No one really understands that you can have a disability and you can still rip in the water like the competitors here. In every division you can see it.”
Mr Smith is renowned for his clean, powerful, and stylish surf style that blends raw athleticism with effortless grace. One of the most technically gifted and aesthetically pleasing surfers to watch. Jordy’s surfing is characterised by his explosive turns, fluid rail work, and a seamless combination of power and finesse that make even the most difficult manoeuvres look easy, sit back and watch the big man dig in at home.
True innovation often comes from the simplest ideas. What board would you take if you could only take one?
Shaper Simon Jones had met a fellow surfer who had been riding a bike across Australia with a surfboard in tow. With room for only one board, the choice had to be made — what would suffice for small north coast point breaks, a variety of beach breaks, reefs, and large surf? Working with this simple idea, Simon, together with surfer Torren Martyn, ventured into a space not previously seen in surfboard innovation. The mid-length channel bottom keel twin was born — the simple idea of a one-board quiver coming together with the latest innovations the pair had been developing in high-performance twins. Recently, on a brief visit to a friend’s house, Torren unearthed the original 7’9” channel bottom twin, tucked beneath a house for several years. Rediscovering this old friend, she was soon cleaned up, slipped into a board bag, and headed south to meet a Southern Ocean swell making its way toward the Victorian coast.
The last time this board had been given a real run was in perfect Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, many years ago — an experience that inspired numerous iterations and evolutions of its original form. Not retrospective in any manner, but instead existing within a new space in surfboard history that had not previously been witnessed. True to its original intention, the 7’9” came alive quickly in the Victorian swell and again proved to be one of the most enjoyable experiences — allowing early entry, long drawn-out lines, and hyper speed and flow, the kind where you just lay back and enjoy the canvas reeling off in front of you. In the upper echelon of competitive surfing, innovation often comes in micro-adjustments over time. However, for the majority of us, innovation can happen at any point. Simply taking the idea of your own needs and working with a shaper to produce something designed for your journey can result in new elements, new experiences, and new spaces. That’s what’s exciting about design — a simple idea can lead you on a whole new ride.
Under moody autumn skies, Fistral Beach hosted the 2025 Caravan and Motorhome Club English National Surfing Championships, where the country’s leading surfers delivered two days of high-performance shortboard action. The event featured the Open Men’s and Women’s divisions, alongside the U18 and U16 Boys’ and Girls’ categories, showcasing the depth of talent across English surfing.
Originally planned as a three-day event, the Championships were condensed into two action-packed days due to an extreme surf and weather system forecast to move in on Thursday afternoon. The call was made to maximise competition opportunities safely — and what followed was an intense, high-energy showcase of English surfing talent at the iconic Fistral Beach.
Day 1 – Wednesday 29th October: Double Peaks and Determination
With solid swell on tap, Day 1 saw competition run across double peaks to ensure all divisions could progress. Despite the challenging weather, the energy on the beach and in the water was electric, as surfers charged, and battled through to the semi-finals.
Day 2 – Thursday 30th October: Finals Day Fireworks
Thursday dawned with focused anticipation for jam-packed finals. Finals day ran on a single peak with priority judging. The finals judging format was further enhanced with a five-judge panel lead by talented UK head judge Arron Evans. This setup allows for a broader range of perspectives from the judging tower, ensuring extra precision from some of the most experienced surf judges in the country — a true reflection of high-performance surfing and contest at the national level.
Every heat brought drama, style, and standout performances — a fitting close to an unforgettable Championships.
Finals Highlights – Top competitors of the Championships
U16 Girls Final:
Lila Skinner – 10.84 (Winner)
Willow Smith – 10.17 (2nd)
U16 Boys Final:
Asbjorn Gwenin – 12.10 (Winner)
Max Harbour – 7.23 (2nd)
U18 Girls Final:
Ocearna Peres – 7.50 (Winner)
Sophia Strevens – 4.94 (2nd)
U18 Boys Final:
Lukas Skinner – 13.93 (Winner)
Fynn Gillespie – 11.43 (2nd)
Women’s Open Final:
The Women’s Open final showcased some of the finest surfing in the country. Lucy Campbell, with vast experience in competition, made a welcome return to the English Nationals this year, demonstrating her skill, power, and wave selection to claim the title with an impressive 11.00 heat total. Belle Betteridge, a Team England squad member, impressed with her signature powerful manoeuvres, pushing hard throughout the final to earn 9.90 for second place.
Lila Skinner, part of the dryrobe Team England Junior Squad, and Tegan Blackford also delivered high-level performances, showing technical skill and composure in a highly competitive field. The depth of talent in this final highlighted the strength of England’s women’s surfing and promises exciting prospects for the years ahead.
Men’s Open Final:
The Men’s Open final was always going to be a tough heat — there was no clear winner going into the contest. The lineup brought together a remarkable mix of experience and rising talent. Jayce Robinson, returning to competition after several years, drew on his extensive contest experience to deliver precise, high-scoring surfing, finishing with a 12.30 total to claim the national title. Luke Dillon, GB Surfing Coach, also returned to competitive surfing with composure, narrowly missing out with a 12.00 total.
Heath Gillespie and Lukas Skinner, both part of dryrobe Team England Junior Squad, showcased skill and fearless commitment. Lukas Skinner, one of the top surfing talents in his age group (2024 and 2025 WSL Boardmasters Junior and Men’s Open champion), fought until the buzzer but couldn’t find the scoring waves he needed. Heath finished third with a 9.30 total, rounding out a highly competitive final.
FULL RESULTS
Men’s Open
Jayce Robinson
Luke Dillon
Heath Gillespie
Lukas Skinner
Women’s Open
Lucy Campbell
Belle Betteridge
Lila Skinner
Tegan Blackford
U18 Boys
Lukas Skinner
Fynn Gillespie
Reen Bowden-Inoue
Ziggy Bon Robinson
U18 Girls
Ocearna Peres
Sophia Strevens
Boe Howell
Imogen Nute
U16 Boys
Asbjorn Gwenin
Max Harbour
Isaac Friend
Joel Nicholson
U16 Girls
Lila Skinner
Willow Smith
Sunny Ingram
Coco Arthur
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE
The success of this event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our headline sponsor, Caravan and Motorhome Club for their invaluable contribution.
We’d also like to give a big thanks to the judges, media team and Water safety Era Adventures. A huge thanks to Pauly Jeffery (contest director), Tim Pitt (beach marshal) and Martin Raey (beach commentator) for their unwavering support, professionalism and hard work – not just at this event but right across the Surfing England event calendar. Their incredible experience and dedication make events like these run so smoothly.
LOOKING AHEAD
That’s a wrap for major events of 2025! What a landmark year for Surfing England. We delivered a full calendar of major events – from the thrilling Nationals to epic junior, Para and longboard competitions – showcasing incredible talent at every level. The performances in the water pushed English surfing to new heights. It’s been an amazing celebration of our sport, our coastline and our community.
Here’s to an even bigger 2026!
OUR PARTNERS
This event wouldn’t be possible without the support of our headline sponsor Caravan and Motorhome Club. As well as our fantastic partners The Wave, dryrobe, Clarke Willmott, Moulded Earplugs, Radical Wax, Kukuna, The Hangout and Surfline.
Special thanks to Fistral Beach Hotel for hosting the English National Surfing Championship event, and to Era Adventures for providing Lifeguard Cover.
The Rip Curl GromSearch International Final covered by Sun Bum is ready to take place in Hossegor, France and likely to run on Tuesday, November 4 (Central European Time – CET) You can watch the livestream here
All respective National Winners have now arrived in Hossegor on France’s southwest coast, ready to compete for the coveted International Champion title.
“We’re so excited to bring the world’s best groms to Hossegor for this year’s International Final, a region famous for its world-class beach breaks and consistent swells,” said James Taylor, Rip Curl’s General Manager of Marketing.
“We’ve scoured the globe to find our finalists, and the level of surfing from this next generation is truly mind-blowing. GromSearch has long been a launching pad for World Champions, Olympians, and Championship Tour athletes, and we can’t wait to see who comes out on top this year.”
The event features 16 competitors, eight female and eight male, representing Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Europe, Indonesia, the United States, South Africa, and more. Additionally, one male and one female wildcard are joining the field, selected from the 10-day virtual #GromSearchOnline competition.
Words: Julien Morel, Jersey Evening Post Photos: David Ferguson/Archive
David Grimshaw was not only one of the founding fathers of the Jersey Surfboard Club, serving as the club’s president for many years, but he was the instigator and driving force of the British Surfing Association, being appointed its first president in 1966.
He became secretary general of the International Surfing Association, organising the ISA World Championships for ten years and was a key member of the European Surfing Federation.
The British team of Barry Jenkins, Charlie Williams, Steve Harewood, Gordon Burgis and David Grimshaw in their team blazers on their way to the ISA World Championships in Puerto Rico in 1968.
“Grimmo” began surfing in St Ouen’s Bay in the early-1960s, alongside friends and fellow pioneers such as Dave Beaugeard and Gordon Burgis. They became leading figures in the Jersey Surfboard Club and it built a reputation as a well-organised outfit. Mr Grimshaw became a committed surf administrator, organising Jersey’s first competitions, which boosted the sport’s credibility across the British Isles and internationally. He recognised the need for the sport to be organised under its own governing body and worked with surfers in Cornwall to form the BSA.
By the 1970s, he was Britain’s most experienced surfing official and he travelled the world attending meetings, events and social occasions. In 1975 he was appointed vice-president of the European Surfing Federation and in 1983 he washe was made secretary general of the ISA.
That year, he was also made an honorary life president of the JSC. He played a leading role in bringing the World Championships to Britain in 1986. In recognition of his immense contribution, Grimmo was given his own page and described as ‘“the architect of British surfing” in Roger Mansfield’s landmark history of the sport in Britain, The Surfing Tribe.
Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and all those who knew him.
