Fancy Dressed surfers at the Retro Board Challenge

Last weekend saw yet another hugely successful charity Retro Board Challenge take place in East Wittering, with 50 fancy dressed surfers competing and hundreds of spectators watching on the beach.
The A1Surf.com Retro Board Challenge in association with Wittering Surf Shop was held in small waves and sunshine, with a record turn-out of competitors. Despite the small conditions, the surfers literally threw themselves into the spirit of the event, taking to the water on 9ft swell boards which allowed some new school moves you won’t even see on the ASP Dream Tour, including the ‘Ninja Chop’ , ‘the Cartwheel’ and the ‘Gun Show’.

A weird and wonderful collection of fancy dress costumes were on display during the day, including Bart Simpson, a scarecrow, Pamela Anderson, James Bond and even Laird Hamilton.

The final was hotly competed on the rising tide, with some of the best waves of the day being ridden right to the beach in front of the huge crowd of spectators. The finalists were the Silver Surfer (Olly Smith), the Ninja (Cliff Cox), Elton John (Peter Engelfield) and a Soldier (Matt Reed). In the end it was the Silver Surfer who was triumphant, with the Ninja in second place, Elton John in third and the Soldier taking the fourth spot. A groms comp was also run, with local groms from the Witterings and Brighton competing in fancy dress also, which was won by Kieran Munroe.
The event raised hundreds of pounds which is donated to the RNLI Selsey Lifeboat Station and Surfers Against Sewage.
And this year saw the day rounded off with a ‘retro party’, held at the nearby Shore Inn in a huge marquee. Brighton band Cover Note played an awesome three hour set and a Hawaiian Buffet kept everyone in the party mood. David Somerville from A1Surf.com said: “We were so pleased with this year’s event and stoked to have raised this money for the charities. “Although the surf was small, the guys proved that surf competitions can be a lot of fun. “I would like to thanks everyone who made it such a special day, in particular our sponsors – Lightning Bolt, Xcel Wetsuits, Ocean & Earth, Chilled Turtle, Santa Cruz – and also Shore Surf Club for their fantastic judges, beach marshals and tabulators.” Nick Cheshire from Wittering Surf Shop said: “Each year people are starting to realise that this event isn’t about the waves, but about getting the surfing community together, having fun and having a party.

“This year a lot of the original Witterings surf crew entered the comp and it was the first time they had surfed together since the 70’s.”
For more information about A1Surf.com please contact David Somerville on 01273 837733 or email david@a1surf.com.

The Buntabout contest, powered by Lightning Bolt

When it comes to the purest roots of what surfing is all about, nothing sums it up better than an event that has been held for the last 30 years in St Agnes on Cornwall's west coast. Organised by local board manufacturer Best Ever's Steve Bunt and daughter Nicola, The Buntabout brings together the local surfing community across generations with boys and girls as young as eight up to the grand veterans in their fifties.

This year's event was once again blessed with a beautiful sunny day and highly contestable surf at Chapel Porth for the Ladies, Longboard, Masters and Open divisions. The junior divisions had competed the weekend before at Trevaunance Cove, but Contest Director Minnow Green had made the right call in holding off the Seniors in hope of better conditions. Standouts of the day were under 18 winner Morgan Elston that went on to take 3rd place in the Open with a convincing display of powerful moves, and Paul 'Gib' Dye proved that he's lost none of his flair in winning the Masters. In the Open final European Longboard Champion Ben Skinner went down a few board sizes and showed his versatility with a repertoire of fast fluid surfing, but it was not quite good enough and the judges decision went with last year's winner Robin Kent, surfing the wave he knows inside out.Open Winner Robin Kent
Dritwood Spars Barstaff with their new tees
On Sunday evening the Driftwood Spars Hotel was packed full for the prize giving celebrations, concluding what was once again a most memorable occassion. Not only was it a great event, but once again money was raised for the Precious Lives Appeal.Lightning Bolt is proud to be associated with The Buntabout and supported them in supplying the prizes for the Masters Division. Watch out for Gibby (right side) in his new Polar Fleece Jacket.

Retro Board Challenge returns

The A1Surf.com Retro Challenge in association with Wittering Surf Shop is back for another year on Saturday 10th October at East Wittering.

This legendary charity surf competition will see 50 invited surfers take on each other in a battle to be crowned ‘The Retro Board Challenge Champion’. The two main differences from a usual surf comp is that the surfers have to use retro surfboards (from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s) which are given to them at random before each heat, and they have to wear fancy dress!
As well as bringing together the south coast surfing community for a chilled-out surf competition, the event will also raise money for the local Selsey RNLI Lifeboat Station and Surfers Against Sewage.
And this year’s event will see the fun continue into the evening with a charity ‘Retro Party’ at the nearby Shore Inn. The party will see live bands, dancing and more inside a large marquee. Tickets cost just £5 in advance from Wittering Surf Shop. There will be no tickets on the door.
David Somerville, from A1Surf.com said: “The reaction to last year’s event was amazing so we just had to do it again.
“We’re keen to bring together local surfers in a comp that’s all about fun and also helps raise money for two really worthy charities. We hope people come down to watch the comp then join us to party in the evening. Last year we raised over £500 for charity and we are hoping to do even more this time.”
“Nick Cheshire, from Wittering Surf Shop said: “I’ve been collecting retro surfboards for years now and for too long they have been kept in storage.
“This contest is an excellent excuse to get them out, dust them off and wax them up. It’s great to see people enjoying surfing them…. and in fancy dress too!”.
Lightning Bolt will be there represented by our agent in UK, Brian Hart, and he will offer some gifts for sure.
Don’t miss it
More info, visit the event’s schedule on Facebook.
An image from last year's edition

Miguel Ximenez on Relentless Boardmasters

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star Relentless Boardmasters in association with Vans will kick-off today at Newquay in England, one of the United Kingdom’s most renowned surf cities, for another edition of the prestigious contest that has seen some of the world’s best surfers raise its coveted trophy for over twenty years now.

Scheduled at the start of the month of August and opening a series of five consecutive events that will run through mid-september, the Relentless Boardmasters promises to showcase surfing’s finest World Qualifying Series (WQS) athletes with current ASP WQS ratings’ leader Daniel Ross (AUS) leading the assault.

Our team rider Miguel Ximenez from Portugal will start in the heat 17 of the first round (round of 96). In his heat, it’s only confirmed till now João Guedes (PRT).

Check out http://www.relentlessboardmasters.com/ to watch it live and see all the news, photos and videos.

How to raise money for surf - British version

A few people led by a one legged nutter, including our UK sales rep, the insane Brian Hart, slept over on Bawden Rocks, off St Agnes Head in Cornwall, UK. The rocks are just over 2 miles away from Trevaunance Cove, the nearest beach in St Agnes Village.

The idea is to raise as much money as possible for two noble surf causes: St Agnes Surf Club and Surfers Against Sewage.

There was even a live webcast to testify this original event.
Basically but not easily, they went out to sea, climbed up a huge rock and slept on the top.
If anyone wants to donate please visit their Facebook Group.