Ben Gravy is still trying to process what he witnessed on this novelty mission: the biggest, most perfect ferry wave he’s ever seen. The challenge was figuring out how to actually surf the thing, and after a few attempts, he finally cracked it — finding the line, getting deep and threading a barrel. One weird wave, one very good trip. For the dream.
Photos: Jamie Elliott
You’ve been part of the Newquay surf scene for so long, what makes the town such a fitting home for the Single Fin Shoot Out?
Newquay is really the home of British surfing for me. It’s got so much history from the early days when the Aussie lifeguards arrived. They passed their boards onto the first locals, which spawned the birth of Bilbo. From that, surfers like the late Chris Jones and Roger Mansfield started surfing and became the best in the water, and that tradition has continued till this day with the likes of Lucas Skinner.
What was it about Single Fins that struck a chord, and what has kept it going?
I learnt to surf on a single fin, but as I got older, I moved through twin fins, quads, and eventually ended up on a thruster for many years. When I spent a year in Australia, I lived with this guy in Manly, and he used to buy boards from the cash converters and the op shops. He would bring all sorts back to the pad, and we would take them out and have a right laugh, and what stuck me was riding these old boards was so much fun. You didn’t care if you were just going straight or not. When I got back to the UK, I started getting my own stash together and visit them whenever I need to reset my surfing or want a different feeling.
So, you’ve ridden a lot of different boards over the years… What is it about a good single fin that still gets you?
For me, it’s the language of the board. They seem to dictate the speed and tightness of arc and are not particularly forgiving. In truth, they are a challenge to ride well, so when you see the good surfers at the event, you have a deeper understanding of just how good these guys and girls are surfing.
When you pick up an old board, what are you looking at? The outline, the rails, the foil, the fin, the craftsmanship?
For me, the first thing that grabs me is the plane shape. I will then pick it up and feel the balance under the arm whilst examining the foil and rocker. If you watch Freeride and the section where Rabbit is in his room in Hawaii, it’s kinda like that. It’s the sum of all the parts that complement each other, but they have to flow into one another.
Are there particular shapes or shapers that have influenced the event / you guys?
We’ve had a few magic boards over the years. I think for me personally, there have been three boards. I have a Nichols Lightning Bolt I brought back from Hawaii, a 5'8" Ken Bradshaw that my mate Simon sold me, and the latest favourite is another 5'8" Local Knowledge I brought back from Aus on my last trip. The best surfing I have seen was Jay Quinn riding a 6'6" Nirvana, which I think he rode to victory twice or three times. That is owned by a local but spends most of the time between events in my loft.
Do you think riding these older boards teaches you something that can get lost on modern equipment?
Definitely. I touched upon it earlier. Modern equipment is very forgiving, which allows a surfer’s ability to progress very quickly but without a solid foundation. A single fin will humble you and make you re-asses the way you surf. You can’t rush them, and you have to feel the board under your feet.
The Shoot Out is so important to Newquay’s surf culture. Tell us why you think that is?
Thats quite a tricky one. I guess it was born through a passion and the determination to do something different. It’s really developed into a grassroots community event, and people often tell us, "This is how a surf contest should be". Nick (Holden) makes most of the trophies, and we spray paint the gazebos; it’s very back yard, but Nick puts a huge amount of effort into every little detail, and it shows. There’s also beer; it’s gentleman’s rules in the water, and we only run it in waves. Newquay can be quite busy most of the time, and it’s one weekend when we can claim back a part of the coast and all come together.
The Single Fin Shoot Out will take place at Little Fistral, Newquay, 26th/27th September.
Follow the Shoot Out on Instagram @single_fin_shootout for updates.
Along the northern tip of South America , Laura Enever, Macy Jane Callaghan, Willis Droomer, Eithan Osborne and William Aliotti chased swell, crossed the desert and took a journey off the beaten path, putting new gear to the test and proving that the Adventure Division is built for the unexpected moments that define every journey.
In 2010, young adventurer Kepa Acero traveled alone to Western Africa in search of empty waves. In Morocco, he met a 15-year-old kid named Yassine. Though they barely spoke the same language, they shared waves, tajines, and an unspoken connection. Then, Kepa continued south, and they never saw each other again.
Today, Yassine is known as Snoopy Style—a professional surf guide and local legend in Taghazout. Fifteen years later, Kepa and Snoopy will meet again for the first time. But life has changed—just like Morocco. The dusty fishing village has transformed: boutique hotels line the shore, and Anchor Point is packed with digital nomads chasing Wi-Fi and waves.
Together, with filmmaker Ayoub Abouizza, they embark on a journey to find what once was—empty line-ups, pure stoke, and that elusive feeling of freedom. But things don’t go as planned… The dream they’re chasing may not exist anymore…
One thing will never change: hope. Even with all the changes, they still believe that somewhere belong this coast, there is a wave just waiting. Empty and perfect. Undiscovered. Or at least, that the story they keep telling themselves.
Filmed and Directed by Clint Davis.
Regional Report — North East England
Much like the rest of the UK, the North East has been pretty lacklustre this summer. However, we have known worse. If you were keen enough, there were still opportunities to fill up your North Sea cup.
One man who has been on every sniff of brown-water waves is Ed Broadbent. Whenever I've seen him, he's already been in the ocean for hours before you and, no doubt, will be in for hours after. Sucks really, because he'll no doubt be plaguing my IG with tropical line-ups soon enough.
Ed Broadbent, left-hander turn — Photo: @Ed_broadbent
Commitment Award goes to Bethan and Blake Davies, who drove straight back after Bethan had been competing at Boardmasters, arriving home just in time for low tide at a favourite spot. And, of course, a special mention to their parents for doing the actual driving.
The Scarborough Boardriders also repeated history and invaded Scotland, turning up at Lost Shore en masse. We've got to get that tube time somehow or another. They're firing up the grill and selling burgers too, raising money for their grassroots surf club. This will run alongside the East Coast Classic Surf Comp, hosted by Secret Spot, on 26/27th September.
Scarborough Boardriders at Lost Shore — Photo: @scarboroughboardridersclub
In other comp news, Saltburn Surf Shop is running the annual Autumn Open on 3/4th October. Both are brilliant comps that have had some legendary competitors, and winners, over the years.
Emma Tweddle at last year's Saltburn comp — Photo: @twedzypie
"Now the summer holidays are over, normal earning humans can afford a flight or a trip away again."
There's a dream longboard crew of Tom Cross, Evan Rogers and Scotty Malkinson planning a trip, shot through the ever-creative lens of Asfandiyar Khan Durrani. Expect some eye candy from this one.
@scottymadd_barbering — Photo: @fadedbreaks
Respect the fact that some of the UK's finest reefs have surf communities who have endured months of not surfing their home waves. Maybe miss the first swell or two and let them get their fill first. Colder waters, bigger swell, dark nights. Bring it on.
North East England Regional Report — Autumn 2026
You can’t control the ocean. But you can learn to move with it. Patagonia’s new film, Bamb’Amaza, tells the story of Othandwayo, a young surfer living in Cape Town’s Imizamo Yethu. By embracing the ebb and flow of the water, she finds her power, her perseverance, and her people. Even when life gets difficult, she knows that moving with the currents will guide her through almost anything.
Catch the film at the at the Worn Wear Wetsuit Repair Tour Newquay September 19th at PROJECT EIGHTY THREE.
