Champions crowned at UKPST Awards

The esteemed UK Pro Surf Awards ceremony took place at The Carnmarth Hotel, Newquay Sunday 26 November. 2017 UKPST Champions were crowned and awards given.

A familiar cast of courtly-dressed surfers celebrated a successful year on the UK’s Professional surfing tour with the Surf industry leaders for an evening of food, music and most importantly the award presentations.

The awards encompass all divisions from our Junior competitors to the Men’s and Women’s Open divisions including some additional awards representative of all corners of the UK scene alongside charitable organisations such as The Wave Project, Christian Surfers & Groundswell.

This year Fistral Beach gave £5,000 Reubyn Ash, the winner of the Open division, to help him compete internationally through the next competitive season. The largest sum UKPSA has passed onto a UK Professional surfer. The aim now is to provide incentive in other divisions on the tour.

Lucy Campbell took the Womens divisions, Patrick Langdon Dark led a great charge by the Welsh and took the under 18 mens, and Mischa Maguire the under 18 girls. Stephen Hudson was posthumously awarded UKPSA Services to the Sport of Surfing.

The UKPST took on even greater significance this year with the decision not to run the British Nationals.

Surf Awards

Rookie of the Year 2017
Patrick Langdon-Dark

Liteworx Most Improved Surfer 2017
Winner: Sam Hearn

Korev Surfers Choice Award 2016
Winner: Reubyn Ash

Freerider Surf Ambassador
Anthony Butler

UKPSA Best Surf Judge 2017
Kerry Powell

Christian Surfers Most Inspirational Surfer Award 2017
Mike Durkin

UKPSA Services to the Sport of Surfing 2017
Steve Hudson

Surfing Sumo Best Surf School
Tynemouth Surf School

UKPSA Champions

Under 12 Open Champion 2017
Winner: Eli Perrins-Davies

Under 14 Girls Champion 2017
Winner: Alys Barton

Under 14 Boys Champion 2017
Winner: Sam Hearn

Under 16 Girls Champion 2017
Winner: Alys Barton

Under 16 Boys Champion 2017
Winner: Noah Capps

Under 18 Girls Champion 2017
Winner Mischa Maguire

Fistral Beach Under 18 Boys 2017
Winner: Patrick Langdon Dark

Women’s Champion 2017
Lucy Campbell

Open Champion 2017
Reubyn Ash

Wave Project Awards

Young Volunteer of the Year: Seb Harrington

Volunteer of the Year: Brian Young

Surf School of the Year: iSURF

Disabled Surfer of the Year: Maisie Robins

The Wave Project Courage Award: Tamara Cormack

Photos: Andy Holter / UKPSA

Boardmasters first headliner for 2018

CRAIG DAVID, ANNIE MAC, THE HORRORS,

THE AMAZONS AND MORE ANNOUNCED TODAY FOR

CORNWALL’S OWN SURF AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

Fistral Beach / Watergate Bay, Cornwall | Wednesday 8 - Sunday 12 August 2018

As the sun rose at Watergate Bay this morning, Boardmasters announced the first wave of acts set to take to the stage in 2018, including the first Main Stage headline act. Cornwall’s very own surf and music festival will play host to legendary dance music duo The Chemical Brothers alongside some of the most exciting and diverse acts in the world right now including Craig David, Annie Mac, The Horrors and The Amazons. After 2017’s bigger-than-ever, sell-out success, Boardmasters returns to the sun-drenched Cornish coastline for another year, with the hottest surf and music action in the UK. Boardmasters runs from Wednesday 8 – Sunday 12 August 2018 across Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay, tickets are on sale NOW via the website.

Get ready to dance with The Chemical Brothers. With no less than six UK number 1 albums to their name, electronic pioneers Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands have been thrilling crowds for over two decades. Known for their electrifying sets and hits such as ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’, ‘Galvanize’ and ‘Go’, The Chemical Brothers will bring the biggest party of the summer to Watergate Bay as they headline the main stage on Saturday 11 August.

Boardmasters is also stoked to announce 12 more acts for 2018. Taking to the Unleashed stage for two huge headline sets are comeback king Craig David, who will present TS5, his unique hybrid set which sees him DJ, MC, and sing accompanied by a live band, as well as BBC Radio 1 tastemaker DJ Annie Mac. Also announced is prolific Brit band The Horrors riding the wave of their latest chart success, Top 10 album ‘V’. Crowds can also expect unforgettable sets from critically acclaimed rock quartet The Amazons, New Zealand’s premier fusion band Fat Freddy’s Drop, hotly-tipped Declan McKenna, vocal powerhouse Tom Walker, and indie rock star Sam Fender, who will be returning to the stage after two dazzling Boardmasters sets in 2017. Festivalgoers can also expect world class DJ sets from Phonox’s resident DJ HAAi, and electronic duo Bicep, who will join The Chemical Brothers for a weekend of unforgettable life-affirming performances from the biggest names in music, in the most stunning festival setting the UK has to offer.

In addition to the incredible musical offerings, punters will also be able to enjoy classic pub banter during The Keg & Pasty stand-up comedy hour, and, for those looking to fully immerse themselves in Cornish life, language workshops will be returning, teaching local dialect to inquisitive minds.

This year, Boardmasters welcomed 50,000 festivalgoers to enjoy world-class music from headliners Two Door Cinema Club, Jamiroquai, Alt-J and more atop the picture-perfect Watergate Bay. While the UK’s surf mecca Fistral Beach drew surf lovers in droves with record numbers watching the international surf competition over five days. NME described Boardmasters as “a perfect weekend mix of sun, surf and music in Cornwall” while The Financial Times said Boardmasters is “fast becoming one of the UK’s most enticing summer music festivals”. The Cornish Guardian commented that Boardmasters 2017 was “a resounding success” and the Western Morning News called it “one of Cornwall’s coolest events.”

Inspired by the freedom, adventure and creativity of surfing and music, Boardmasters was born in 1981. Expect parties that run late into the night and a beautiful beach to recuperate on during the day. The 5-day event is situated across two stunning locations in Cornwall - the surfing mecca of the UK, Fistral Beach, where world class International Surf Competitions take place, and arguably the most stunning location in the country to watch live music, Watergate Bay. Last year the grassroots surf and music festival welcomed over 150,000 festival goers to sunny Cornwall. Book your tickets here.

See you at the beach!

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Dram time

A ten day road trip north of the board with James Parry in the Dramland – Scotland – from this Autumn.

Dark Corners and Fancy Hats

Living and surfing in Portugal comes with many benefits. Luca Guichard, who grew up in the Algarve, is well known for his style and passion in surfing. Together with some local friends on a field trip, this video is about scoring in some great surf spots in the South of Portugal, the “little dark corners” and some decent sized barrels in Coxos, the “fancy hats”.

Gift Inspiration for Surfers

Not sure what to get your surfing sibling or friend and lacking in inspiration? Don’t worry we have hand picked our favourite Christmas gifts for surfers, there is something for every budget. Whether you want to go big with a high tech watch which can track their surfs, to the ultimate Christmas stocking designed with surfers in mind, we have got a little something for everyone. Check out our inspiring gifts for surfers:

Rip Curl Search GPS Watch - Black

In at number one, we have come in with a big guns with the Rip Curl Search GPS Watch! A watch for those who live for The Search. A big gift we know but this is the ultimate surfers watch, need we say more! With GPS tracking, sharing capabilities and 1,360 tide locations, you will put a big smile on any surfers face with this gift.

Quiksilver Miss Dollar - Black Leather Wallet

A simple, easy but very handy gift to give. Everyone needs a wallet and this 100% leather wallet from Quiksilver is bound to be well received on Christmas morning.

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Sex Wax Christmas stocking

The ultimate Christmas stocking for any surfer. A big favourite of ours here at Carve, packed full of everything a surfer needs:

2 x Bars of Sexwax
1 x Sexwax Air Freshener
1 x Sexwax Pot and Wax Comb
1 x Solarez Mini Travel Kit
1 x Creatures of Leisure Leash String
1 x C-Skins Sticker

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Surf Ears 2.0

Practical presents don’t have to be dull and boring. These Surf Ears 2.0 will not only help prevent the dreaded surfers ear but they have been designed by surfers for surfers. They keep the water out, without compromising hearing.

Stance Surfing Legends - Occy

Now we know socks and pants are a pretty cliche gift at Christmas but if you’re going to buy any socks this year make sure they are the Stance Surfing Legends series. Super comfy, cozy and the perfect thing to chuck on after a surf.

Koalition Fins - Blue Gradient Fin 8"

This solid figure glass fin with colour inlay will give any longboard extra drive. A versatile fin, that can be used as a single or a 2+1 fin on longboards. Add a pop of colour to a longboard with Koalition fins.

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Rip Curl - Surf Series Welded Backpack

The perfect addition to any surf adventure. Waterproof with a 25 litre capacity, it has been made with surfing in mind. This backpack will either keep you kit dry and protected or any water from you wet wetsuit contained. With a roll-top closure and fully welded seams, this is an awesome bit of kit for any surfer.

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CARVE Burgundy
Beanie

A post winter surf must have for any surfer, it has to be the beanie. So why not make it an exclusive Carve Magazine beanie. A simple design, no fuss, no fills just a comfy hat to keep any surfers head warm after shredding their local break. Also a complete bargain, this hat won’t break the bank.

Billabong - Vaper Camo Changing Robe

Changing robes make surfers lives so much easier when getting changed in a beach car park, making slipping in and out of you wetsuit hassle free. Super cozy and soft, doubling as a towel and changing robe, this robe is guaranteed to make any surfer happy on a cold winters day.