Night Surf Goes Off
The Fat
Face Night Surf finished in spectacular style on Saturday with Nick
White from New Zealand clinching pole position to the applause of thousands
of spectators at Lusty Glaze Beach in Newquay. It was an awesome display of surfing in Cornwall .
It was a truly international podium for the second stop of the UKPSA
Tour, with Reuben Pearce from South Africa taking second place, local
lad and two times winner, Alan Stokes, taking third and Australian born
but UK based, Matt Capel beating 150 other competitors to claim fourth
place.
After a grey drizzly start to the contest on Friday, the competitors
were greeted to sunshine AND waves and a phenomenal day of surfing on
Saturday.
Nicole Morgan from Ireland stole the show for the women to claim first
place, followed by Natasha Basterie from South Africa in second, Jo
Dennison from Wales in third and Jenny Horbas in fourth, flying the
flag for Bournemouth.
Local
surfer, Ben Skinner scored the highest point of the contest with a straight
10 and became the runaway winner of the Longboard division. Ben, ranked
second longboarder in the world performed a rarely seen aerial manoeuvre,
wowing the judges instantly. Second place was awarded to past European
Champion Sennen’s Sam Bleakley, third place went to Dan Harris from
Wales and local talent, James Parry claimed fourth place.
There was a stark contrast to last year where small conditions made
it a slog for the competitors to catch a good wave. Nick White dominated
this year’s Men’s Open with an early right hander leading to a score
of 9.17, forcing all the other surfers to catch up. Rueben Pearce also
had a good early start with a left hander, scoring 7.67 followed by
Alan Stokes with 7.70 – for their first scoring waves.
Matt Capel failed to catch a wave that would open up so he could perform
the big turns. As the heat progressed Nick racked up another 8.0 scoring
wave which eventually clinched the heat and contest.
A mad dash up the beach followed for the Prize Giving where Fat Face
thanked the assembled crowds for their awesome support and everyone
involved in the event. The surfers then got their podium crowns, the
big cheques and obligatory champagne to soak themselves and everyone
within spraying distance! The fireworks then illuminated the packed
beach!
Winner of
the Fat Face Night Surf 2008, Nick White commented: “It was such an
awesome event; great atmosphere; great ambience; I’m really stoked to
win! It’s the first time I’ve really been surfing at night and certainly
the first time during a competition”
Rueben Pearce explained: “It’s a 2 star rated event which has more
points and more prize money. It’s the best stop on the tour. I’m very
pleased with how the final went. I got some good, good turns in early
on in the heat.
“It also helped that I had a late heat last night as part of the qualification
so I was familiar with the conditions. However, not being able to see
the waves adds another dimension to the competition which other events
don’t. You need to hone your balance and also a bit of luck helps along
the way!”
Third place, Alan Stokes, who is used to the Fat Face Night Surf podium
explained: “It’s a really cool event with a great atmosphere. Generally
all the surfers surf better in the evening. When I’m training and free
surfing I’ll go out twice a day and it’s always the later sessions that
are the more satisfying sessions. This is only stop on the tour that
fits in with that.”
Everyone involved in the event felt that this was one of the best,
if not the best Fat Face Night Surf yet, with everything coming together
to produce the ultimate platform for the surfing talent to shine. Will
Blair, marketing manager, Fat Face, comments: “We definitely had the
best conditions for eight years, which has lead to a truly memorable
event. There was phenomenal surfing and an awesome atmosphere.
“Thanks to Lusty Glaze, the UKPSA, the competitors, spectators and
followers of this fantastic event, which we’re very proud of.”
Dave Reed, contest director for the Fat Face Night Surf and tour commented:
“This is by far the most spectacular night surf event we’ve held. The
surfing quality has been amazing and the waves have been great, allowing
us to watch surfing at the highest level”. Adding: “This also is the
first stop on the UKPSA Summer Series, a run of three events held during
the summer segment of the UK Pro Surf Tour.”
Jeremy Griffiths, owner of Lusty Glaze Beach commented: “It was fantastic
to see so many people on the beach, enjoying themselves and taking advantageous
of everything to do at the Adventure Centre. It was a hive of activity
with the best UK and international surfing talent on full display. An
epic Fat Face Night Surf!”
A delighted Longboard winner, Ben Skinner, commented: “It’s been an
amazing couple of days with a wicked turn out and a great event; a really
good day for family and kids. Everyone is really supportive of the contest
and it’s great to introduce longboarding to so many new people. I really
enjoyed it.”
Nicole Morgan, who now takes the third title of winner of the Women’s
Open explained: “I’m delighted! I had a very good heat that took me
through to the final. I got a couple of really good waves early on which
meant I could then wait for really good waves to secure my position
so it worked out well.”
The Relentless Money Move was won by former World Junior Champion Jye
Gofton from Australia for his radical floating manoeuvre under the lights
during the first day of competition.
* For more information on surfing lessons and surf schools in Cornwall see the surfing page.