Contest Reports - the bits we couldn't fit into ThreeSixty Issue 68!

What: World Surfing Games 2006
Where: Huntington Beach, California
When: October 06
Who: Manuel Centeno, Kirra Llewellyn

The Freespirit British team realised their target of beating the tenth place result achieved in Ecuador in 2004. With excellent performances from Longboarder Ben Skinner (who placed 2nd), Open surfers Sam Lamiroy and Alan Stokes and Women’s bodyboarder Gemma Harris the team finished ninth, the highest placing ever. They beat teams from Tahiti, Mexico, New Zealand and Spain. The contest had the highest entry ever with 33 countries battling it out in the mixed beach break conditions of Huntington Beach. For two days of the event the conditions were epic with four foot barrelling conditions. The super competent Aussies took the team title with Brazil a close second.

With big names like Andrew Lester and European champ Manuel Centeno in the event, from the first heats onwards the Brit’s had their work cut out. Both Bjorn Storey and Damian Prisk were knocked in to the repercharche round after placing third in their first heats, they then each progressed two heats before being knocked out of the event. Prisky but in a stella effort including a sick air reverse but was just pipped to the post. Both finished in 33rd place. Martin Kelly from Ireland was really unlucky to pick up an interference in the dying seconds of his heat and also place 33rd. Ireland’s Shane Meehan ARS’d his way to 25th with some great combinations. In the women’s division Gemma Harris did her country proud to surf to a very credible 11th place after some excellent spins and rolls and great tactical awareness.

When the dust settled Portugal took first and second in the mens division after some incredible Tamega inspired contest surfing. Kirra Llewellyn, seemingly the only girl in the world that can boost back flips showed that she is still top of the pack by taking her second World Surfing Games title in as many events.

Results
1. Manuel Centeno
2. Hugo Pinheiro
3. Andrew Lester
4. Alvaron Padron

Women
1. Kirra Llewellyn
2. Neymara Carvalho
3. Natasha Sagardia
4. Heloise Bourroux

What: Interceltic Games
Where: Porthtowan/Gwithian
When: End of July
Who: Perez took victory but Damo served notice.

Cornwall hosted this years event and was served up 3-4ft onshore but contestable waves through out the event. The final of the open division was of high enough calibre to grace any event world wide. David Perez proved that he is still one of the top small wave competitors in the world, but Prisky held his own with the multinational contingent. Kirstin surfed well to take third in the DK division with some great snaps and cuttie reverses.

1. DAVID PEREZ EUSKADI
2. ANTONIO ORTIZ EUSKADI
3. DAMIAN PRISK CORNWALL
4. LARRINGA ARTIZ EUSKADI

9. CHEECH FLECK CORNWALL

DROP
KNEE 1. NACHO GARCIA
2. ANTONIO ORTIZ EUSKADI
3. KIRSTIN PRISK CORNWALL
4. FREDERIC HABASQUE BRITTANY

JUNIOR
1. ALEX UANGA EUSKADI
2. ELOUSA BENAULT EUSKADI
3. PEDRO MONTERO GALICIA
4. ALEJANDRO RICO GALICIA

7. BEN SOWTER CORNWALL

LADIES
1.EUNATE AQUIRRE EUSKADI
2. PAULA PAZOS GALICIA
3. TAZ SHEPPARD CORNWALL
4. CLAIRE GOURLAY

What: SAS/Aloha Cornish and Open 06
Where: Porthtowan
When: August
Who: Damo’ took the title

The greenest contest on the calendar, this three day event had a festival feel to it with bands, fashion shows, environmental talks, litter picks and 100% organic contest tee’s. The waves weren’t up to much unfortunately, 2-3 foot with an annoying onshore wind. The final was sewn up after 12 minutes as Damian put his local knowledge (he works there day in day out as a lifeguard) to good use and picked off the longer highest scoring rides.
Results
1. Damian Prisk
2. Mark ‘Splinter’ Griffiths
3. Danny Catten
4. Gemma Harris

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Braunton School retain grip on Lost/ Body Glove British Schools Championships

Where: Woolacombe
Who: Joe Hone
Braunton School continued their domination of the annual Lost/ Body Glove British Schools Championships to seal their third victory in a row at Woolacombe Bay. The competition took place in small clean surf but the weather was kind and their was a great atmosphere at the beach with over 150 school surfers representing 26 schools from all over the Great Britain.
 
Results:                        
Under 18                                
1. Joe Hone (Devonport)
Under 18 Girls                        
1. Grace Davies (De La Salle)
Under 16                                
1. Phil le Nevue (De La Salle)
2. David Speller  (De La Salle)
3. Bertie Thompson (St Ives)
4. Tom Hammett (Ysgol Gyfun)

Drop-Knee Open 2006

Clint Loake fought off tough competition from visiting French bodyboarder Olivier Brosson to win the 2006 Drop-Knee Open in two- to three-foot onshore surf at the Barge Aground. The final saw some great action with Brosson, from the Normandy Bodyboard Club, opening a good lead, performing a critical backhand snap on one of the bigger set waves. Loake then brought himself back into contention with a backhand wave with two snaps of his own. Brosson found a second high scoring wave to open up a strong lead again. However Loake fought back again, this time with what turned out to be the winning wave, making two fast reverse 360 spins. A nice off the lip forward 360 helped McPhee into third place, ahead of Speller in fourth.

Results
1. Clint Loake
2. Olivier Brosson
3. Steve McPhee
4. David Speller

P7023 Challenge, Constantine Bay
Report by Jonny Roberts

On Saturday 15 April the bodyboarding community came together for the P7023 Challenge, held at Constantine Bay, North Cornwall. Despite the dropping swell, competitors entertained with their acrobatics and technical manoeuvres, risking their skin by surfing the hollow and powerful waves breaking onto the reef at the southern end of the bay.
In the Open event Alex Winkworth led the charge with smooth spinning combinations to rolls on the very dry end section. Mark Griffiths from Wales was also impressive with newcomer Chris Ribalido from South Africa and Olly Medland from Plymouth bringing up the rear.
With all the riders switching their tactics from drop-knee to prone and back hoping to find that killer score, there was a lot for the judges to do (taking into account the different scoring criteria for drop-knee and prone). As the day rolled on those at the front were the ones who managed to keep scoring modestly, just doing enough to keep a grip on the lead. Alex Winkworth from Porthtowan finally claimed the win, beating Griffiths into second and Ribalido into third.
The Under 18s category saw a challenge fronted by keen youngsters Joe Hone and Ben Chandler who attempted to stop seasoned contestant Eddy Reed from claiming another victory. However, Reed managed to further solidify his reputation as one of the best youngsters around, taking the win from Hone and leaving Chandler third. Chandler also received an award for his improvement and contribution to the scene in the last year.
All the heats saw riders venture into some very shallow water to try and find the waves with the best scoring potential - one contestant (Dan Atkinson) ran out of water completely on one wave, shredding his new wetsuit and gouging a lump of flesh out of himself for good measure.
The presentation took place under sunny skies on the beach where organiser Alex Allen made a speech, presented the prizes (Winkworth collected a brand new NMD bodyboard) and thanked sponsors Prone, NMD Bodyboards, ThreeSixty, Rob Barber's Bodyboarding School, The Pit surf shop, Rocky Point and Constantine Bay Surf Stores.

Results

Open
1. Alex Winkworth
2. Mark Griffiths
3. Chris Ribalido

Under 18
1. Eddy Reed
2. Joe Hone
3. Ben Chandler
4. Olly Medland
5. Dan Atkinson
6. Joe Rosser
7. Sam Perry
8. Phil Milson