22/05/13 | 'Eclectic' contests

Just after the Slyder Cup (incidentally there's an excellent write-up of the event here on An Tor Orth An Mor) I saw the news that the annual Newquay Boardmasters event would no-longer be hosting an ASP contest. I don't usually pay much attention to the WCT / WQS, but I think this is a shame as it was really inspiring to see what top surfers could on our local waves, especially as the contest was usually held in typical summer slop, and it meant we had a presence on the international circuit.

The other thing that struck me was the statement regarding the change of contest from the Boardmasters festival director, which included the following: 'We intend to introduce an eclectic range of competitive categories that everyone from pro riders to groms can be part of providing less of a showcase spectacle and instead supplying an excellent platform for an ever evolving UK market... ’ The contest categories for this year will include:

Men’s Open
Women’s Open
Men’s Longboard (we've lost the women's category I see)
Pro Junior (Under 20’s)
Under 16’s mixed
Air Show

Hmm, hardly eclectic. The day before I read that I'd been in an expression session with a man riding a tea tray he'd bought at Pool Market for £1, now that's eclectic!

Photo: Chris Brunt