Source: British Surfing Association - www.britsurf.co.uk

Billabong, VW, Hunter, British Schools in association with Calypso 2009

Challenging conditions awaited contestants at the British Schools contest at Woolacombe in North Devon. Over 200 School children had entered the British Schools Surfing Championships, from across the South West, England Wales and the Channel Islands.

Saturday had challenging conditions with a good five foot swell and very strong cross winds, Under 16 and Under18 boys surfed to the ¼ finals and the girls completed one round. Most of the British team were in attendance and surfed well throughout the day. Thanks must go to VW for supplying a hospitality suite keeping tabulators dry. Sunday had 2 foot swell and clean conditions with sunny skies.

Standouts were Matt Chapman making two finals, in the Longboard and Under 16 Divisions, Max Tucker qualified for the finals in the Under 16 and Under 18 Divisions, Karma Worthington, Girls final and Longboard Final. Stephen Hall also showed impressive manoeuvres in the Under 16 & Under 18  Bodyboard finals.

Results

Under18
1. Stuart Campbell
2. Max Tucker
3. Toby Donachie
4. Leon Mansfield

Under 16
1. Matt Chapman
2. Beau Bromham
3. Max Tucker
4. Tom Good

Under 14
1. Miles Lee Hargreaves
2. Will Bailey
3. Dale Foster
4. Patrick Daniel

Girls
1. Karma Worthington
2. Gwen Spurlock
3. Tassy Swallow
4. Lucy Campbell

Longboard
1. Matt Chapman
2. Huw Bentley
3. Karma Worthington
4. Andrew Wheeler

Under 16 Bodyboard
1. Stephen Hall
2. Jack Hughes
3. Lewis Annear
4. Jacob Shape
5. Connor Spark

Under 18 Bodyboard
1. Stephen Hall
2. Nat McCabe
3. Liam Benney
4. Tom Hammett
5. Casey Burgess
6. Lewis Annear

Girls Bodyboard
1. Flora Lawton
2. Tabitha Fox
3. Ainsley Richards
4. Harriet Knight
5. Chantelle Cootes


Skinner and O'Donnell Win 2009 ASP LQS 1-Star Goanna Pro Tapia
TAPIA DE CASARIEGO, Spain (Saturday, April 11, 2009) - The first and crucial event of the ASP European Longboard Tour came to an end today, British surfers Ben Skinner (GBR) and Candice O’Donnell (GBR) dominating the LQS 1-Star Goanna Pro Tapia in consistent wind-blown five foot waves. Both event winners and runner-ups have secured their Oxbow World Longboard Tour (WLT) tickets and will represent Europe on the Elite Longboard Tour along with Europe’s leaders Antoine Delpero (FRA) and Romain Maurin (FRA).

Ben Skinner (GBR), longtime top European longboarder, defeated Frenchman Alexis Deniel (FRA) in the final confirming his standout status through the event posting both highest wave score and heat result in the 30-minute decider. The British surfer finished the 2009 edition with an unstoppable 18.37 point tally (out of a possible 20). Skinner, who decided to make the trip to Tapia less than a week before the event started, leaves Northern Spain with the precious ticket for the Oxbow WLT, his main goal in the Goanna Pro Tapia.

"It is just perfect to end up the event with a win," Skinner said. "I came here with a big result in mind and to win and get that qualification for the WLT is what I wanted most. I was feeling great with that new board and surfed as good as I could every day. I am going to celebrate that great event."

The women’s division saw other British Candice O’Donnell (GBR) take the best over Netherlands’ Renate Moerman (NDL), both competitors getting their qualification into the Roxy Women’s World Longboard Championships (WWLC).

O’Donnell, who was surfing for the first time in a couple of years in an ASP sanctioned event, went through the trials’ heat then bested favourite Estitxu Estremo (EUK) before making the most out of the conditions during the final.

About the International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since. The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Mike Gerard (USA) and Karin Sierralta (Peru).

BACK TO HOME