Words and lifestyle photos: Sharpy action photo: WSL/Masurel
Behind the scenes with Gran Canaria’s Luis Diaz when he hit Cornwall to compete at Boardmasters.
My routine for the day started super early because I was actually staying in Woolacombe! Which is like two hours away from Newquay. I was staying with my good friend Alex Baudain, who’s also from the Canaries, and our friend Hannah who lives in Woolacombe – that’s why we stayed there really. Every day I’d get up and drive the two and half hours down to Newquay. Go for a morning free surf and then spend the day at the site. As soon as I finished a heat, I tried to get away from the beach and chill.
The contest so was much better than other events. The set up is bigger than other QS 1000 events around the world. I guess it’s because of the festival. There are so many people around, it was crazy busy. But it was really cool because there were so many people watching us surf and asking for autographs and stuff on the beach.
There are so many people around, it was crazy busy. But it was really cool because there were so many people watching us surf and asking for autographs and stuff on the beach.
Apart from surf, I didn’t do much. I was actually super focussed on the event. I didn’t go to the festival or party at all. I was sticking to my goals in the event which was to do really well. I felt really good in the contest. I ended up in fifth place. The waves were pretty tricky with a couple of small days and then some bigger days with some wind. I ended up losing in the quarterfinals. I had one really good wave, but I just didn’t get the opportunity to get that second solid score. I still felt I could have gone further and won the contest. But a fifth place is ok, it’s good to have some good heats and build some confidence and take that on to the next one. Food wise I pretty much just tried to eat simple stuff around the contest. Nothing too crazy, a few pizzas and things but I just don’t like fish and chips like you English folks…
So a lot of money being is about to be pumped into British surfing. But many of you may be asking “What is Britsurf?”, and “How will the money be used? We asked Britsurf spokesman Nick Hounsfield.
So first up what is British Surf and how does it work?
The Home Federations ( England, Scotland, Wales and Channel Islands) came together with the purpose of collaborating on all matters that may involve a “British” team. The federations meet generally as needed and have constant dialogue with UKSport, British Olympic Association and the International Surfing Association.
How long did it take to get the bid together?
Actually, it couldn’t take long as we had only about 10 days between the Aspiration Fund being announced and needing to submit for it. Thankfully we have experienced bid writers amongst us that could turn it around quickly.
You must be really happy given the medal hopes criteria? What is the money for and how will it be used? Obviously given the devolution and separate national governing bodes a lot of people are going to be asking how the money will be split to develop surfing in each area. Do you have any criteria for that?
Any opportunity to receive this kind of funding for the sport is extremely exciting. To be clear, this “Aspiration Fund” is geared towards supporting athletes who have Olympic qualification potential but also we needed to demonstrate how this funding can be utilised to drive clear, demonstrable social impact through Surfing. As these funds are from UKSport, there is very clear guidance on who receives funding and how it is spent to produce the greatest positive impact. It is our role now to show our ability to manage the process, manage the funding and measurement the impact it has. There is a mountain of work ahead and it is all done on a voluntary basis within the federations.
Are you going to be engaging any prominent sports scientists?
There are some really great blueprints out there of how to deliver an athlete performance programme and we do have real expertise within the federations. Support is also available from UKSport and we have access to a whole network of experts and professionals who can help and advise.
The money pumped into things like bob sleigh and rowing made a huge difference. Are you hoping for the same?
We have a great sport and we have great athletes in Britain. For too many years our talent and potential has been unfulfilled due to financial or organisational constraints.
We truly believe that with this funding comes a responsibility to start to build the sport for the future, to be able to create a progressive structure for those who want to compete at the highest level whilst inspiring the future generations to get into this sport and build a healthy surf community. This funding is a great first step towards achieving this.
The Olympics get ever closer and the good news today is UK Sport found some cash down the back of the sofa to help out sports not considered medal chances.
The Guardian reports: “Britain’s surfers, skateboarders and softball players are to receive official funding for the first time to help them qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Surfing will receive £192,500 as part of UK Sport’s new “aspirational fund”, which aims to support sports which do not receive full lottery funding to realise their Olympic and Paralympic ambitions and inspire future generations, with skateboarding getting £162,500 and softball £62,500.”
UK Sports harsh ‘if you ain’t winning we ain’t paying’ system makes sense on one hand but stifles development of sports that aren’t cycling or rowing on the other. So it’s great to see them helping out the not so glam sports with their Aspiration Fund.
As to how the money will be spent we don’t know as yet. If nothing else it should mean the team can afford to travel to qualifying events stress free. More on this as we get it.
Press release from Britsurf
“Today, UK Sport have announced that the sport of surfing will receive up to 192,500 GBP as part of the Aspiration Fund in support of preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
“The Aspiration Fund application submitted on behalf of BSURF (the collaboration of the 4 surfing governing bodies) will be used to support the elite athletes in their qualification for the games and the delivery of a social impact plan to maximize the benefit from the games across Britain.
“In 2016 the member nations of the Olympic Movement voted in favor of the inclusion of the sport of Surfing in the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020. Surfing was one of five new sports to be included and provides a platform for British surfing to excel on the world stage.
“Within the British Islands the governing bodies for the sport of surfing consists of the Scottish Surfing Federation, Surfing England, the Welsh Surfing Federation and the Channel Islands Surfing Federation, each of which manage the sport in their own jurisdiction.
“Over recent years each of the Federations have gone from strength to strength; managing their own programmes and teams at European and World Championship level. With the prospect of Surfing entering the Olympics, an event which requires British Team participation, the Federations representing each jurisdiction formed the British Surfing Union of Recognised Federations (‘BSURF’) collaboration agreement. As well as framing how the governing bodies will come together to select, prepare and manage a British team when required, the BSURF agreement offers each home nation a framework for collaboration and mutual support. In the last two years BSURF have been recognized by the British Olympic Association and the International Surfing Association.
For the sport of surfing, these are very exciting times, and the team now embark on a journey to build an effective strategy and development plan that will prepare British athletes for the world stage in readiness for the Olympic Games 2020.
Got old worn out wetsuits you don’t want throw into landfill? I think we all have. Finisterre are collecting them for their recycling project this weekend at their south west stores: Bristol, Exeter, Falmouth, Hawksfield, St Agnes.
They will take any brand and any sizes.
You’ll also get a £10 voucher to spend on the day.
