West Coast Surf Shop
North Wales Open Surfing Contest

KIERAN EVANS WINS IT!

Kieran Evans - Photo by Turtle

This years contest was held at Porth Neigwl where a crowd gathered in the sunshine to watch some great surfing. Competitors came from as far away as Cornwall and spanned an age gap from 14 to (just) over 50. The start was delayed to allow the tide to fill and the waves to increase. By 12 o'clock the heats were drawn up and the first 4 surfers entered the water. The waves continued to build through the heats and some very bashable 2 - 3 foot peaks gave the entrants every opportunity to show off their skills. After the surfing heats were finished we ran the Bodyboard contest. The slow nature of the waves at Porth Neigwl were not as good for the Bodyboarders. Ben Dean was, however, a clear winner with local girl Penny Hancox second and veteran Dave Booth third.
As the tide backed off, and the waves continued to improve, the open quarter finals got under way. There was some well matched surfing where all competitors made the most of the crumbly waves and occasionally thrilled the crowds with hard vertical lip bashing, long floaters and 360's. As the judges squinted into the late afternoon sun, the 6 man final started. European surfing superstar - Grishka Roberts, Bret Davies and Kieran Evans all opened with long and fast rides, Grishka going left and linking an endless stream of 'off the lips'. Kieran was consistent, again taking the waves almost to the beach but not quite finding one to be really radical on. 10 minutes into the 25 minute final and Phil Woods paddled into a beauty. It was the highest scoring wave of the final, but wasn't enough. In the closing minutes both Kieran and Grishka rode 3 great waves and ripped the tops off them. Kieran just beat Grishka and Phil Woods came third. Kieran, from Bangor here in Gwynedd, North Wales, has been living in Newquay Cornwall for the last two summers and spends his winters in Indonesia and his surfing has matured with him.
A party was held at The Harbour Hotel in Abersoch where 400 people watched local band 'Snatch' play and nearly £1000 was raised for the local playing field/skate park and marine conservation charities.

Many thanks to all who attended, helped and sponsors O'Shea Surfwear.

Photo by Turtle

For more info on local band Snatch - check out their website....

For photos of last years contest - click here...