Scottish National Surfing Championships 2011

Thurso East was once again the location of choice for the Scottish Surf Federation National Championships, held over the weekend of 19th & 20th March in prime conditions.


Not only was the prestigious title of Scottish Champion at stake but also a wildcard entry to compete against the Worlds elite at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic, also to be held at Thurso during April.

Surfers from across Scotland competed in five divisions – Under 18, Ladies, Senior, Longboard and the Open.

Saturday’s smaller - but no less intimidating conditions – proved ideal to run the Under 18, Ladies and Longboard finals. All three of the Under 18 finalists found themselves paddling into Thurso’s world class for their very first time, and it was Daniel Mowat whose nerve held to take the title back to the Broch.

Some of the biggest tides of the decade saw the water rapidly draining off the reef, but failing to deter the Ladies who took to the water in conditions that many would think twice about surfing in, Dee Ripoll taking the crown.

Thurso East’s steep walls can be tricky to ride on a longboard (9 ft+), nonetheless the final was fiercely contested, with local surfer Mark Boyd edging out Sam Christopherson who was looking to take the title for his third year in a row.

Seniors ran through the semi-finals before the extremely low tide forced a postponement in proceedings until Sunday.

Dawn on Sunday vindicated the decision of the contest director as first light brought with it well over-head sets of world-class waves, light off-shore winds, and even some sunshine!

A tightly executed schedule saw the Open division take to the water with both competitors and spectators frothing over the conditions. Surfers showed exceptional commitment, pulling into the long barrelling waves on offer and risking snapped boards pulling off some huge floaters and heavy hacks on the flawless walls.

Standouts in early rounds of the Open were reigning champion Mark 'Scratch' Cameron, Chris Noble – who made history in 2010 as the first Scottish surfer to progress beyond the opening round of the Cold Water Classic, Mark Boyd throwing buckets of spray and Scott Main with perhaps the best barrel of the event. These four surfers would ultimately make up the final of the open with Chris Noble taking the title and Mark Cameron, Boydie and Scott Main taking 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.

The final was too tight to call for the spectators on the reef, but the judges called the result in favour of Chris Noble who had generated unparalleled speed on the clean face of the wave allowing him to make a number of critical manoeuvres, which coupled with his ability to exit the seemingly unmakeable tube proved too good to deny.

Three of the Open finalists stayed in the water for the Senior event, but it was the fresh arms of Russell Cruickshank who came out victorious after a double interference was called on both Chris Noble and Mark Cameron in debatable circumstances as Chris Noble opted to go left on the World famous right hand reef break.

The event as a whole was a credit to Scottish surfing, and the SSF would like to thank William Watson, Mark Boyd and Chris Noble for organising a tightly run contest, Patrick Murphy, Andy Bain, Neil and Elliot Dudley for judging and Santa Cruz for providing the epic prizes.

RESULTS:

OPEN

1.Chris Noble (Thurso (formerly of Fraserburgh)
2.Mark Cameron (Fraserburgh)
3.Mark Boyd (Thurso) (formerly of Portsoy)
4.Scott Main (Thurso) (formerly of Fraserburgh)

LONGBOARD

1.Mark Boyd
2.Sam Christopherson (Dunbar)

WOMEN

1.Dee Ripoll (Aberdeen)
2.Sheila Findlayson (Thurso)

JUNIORS

1.Daniel Mowat (Fraserburgh)

Full list of results to follow…

More images from the event can be viewed at www.surftalk.co.uk