UK Pro Surf Association's First Ever Inland Surf Contest

UK Pro Surf Association's First Ever Inland Surf Contest

After Red Bulls first ever example of the future of surfing, the competition jerseys returned to Surf Snowdonia this week. The UK Pro Surf tour held its first ever event away from the coast, with the action unfolding at the inland wave lagoon near Conwy, Wales.

UK’s best surfers head inland for world-first pro surf event

More than 2,000 surf fans and curious onlookers made their way to the heart of the Conwy Valley yesterday to watch the UK’s best surfers take part in an unprecedented inland surf competition.

  

UK Surf Shop / TVSC

 

Major event at Surf Snowdonia brings more than 2,000 surf fans to heart of Conwy Valley

 Against a backdrop of the Conwy Valley’s forests and mountains, the UK’s top male, female and junior surfers came together to take on Surf Snowdonia’s world-first mechanical wave. Forty elite UK surf athletes competed in all, some of whom will almost certainly figure in the GB squad when surfing makes its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

After a series of fast-paced knockout rounds, Bude-based surfer Jobe Harriss triumphed in the Men’s division, with 16-year old Kit Innes taking the top prize for the U18s. First prize in the Women’s division went to Jo Dennison, a four-times Welsh Champion and former British Champion and the head of the Surf Snowdonia Surf Academy.

The Surf Snowdonia Pro Tour Challenge competition was part of the UK Pro Surf Tour for 2016. The event was sponsored by Conwy County Borough Council who supported free entry for spectators and a substantial cash prize for the winner of each category.
Andy Ainscough, managing director at Surf Snowdonia said:

“The Surf Snowdonia Pro Tour Challenge was a fantastic flagship event for Conwy and North Wales. Being asked to feature on the UK Pro Surf Tour was both a fantastic privilege for us and a great milestone for the sport of surfing. We’re delighted to have brought so many surf fans to what is a small landlocked village in North Wales and we look forward to hosting similar events in the future.”

Dave Reed, director of UK Pro Surf Tour said:

“This has been a fantastic event opening the eyes of many surfers to the potential of Surf Snowdonia and the opportunities this venue will give to develop the sport of surfing. Congratulations to the winners and many thanks to all the sponsors who supported what was a unique event.”


Results

Men:

1st:  Jobe Harriss Bude

2nd: Jayce Robinson St Ives

Women:

1st: Joe Dennison Surf Snowdonia

2nd: Emily Currie Bude

Juniors:

1st: Kit Innes Bude

2nd: Liam Murray Strout Port Issac


About Surf Snowdonia:

Surf Snowdonia is a revolutionary inland surf lagoon which opened on 1st August 2015 on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales, 7 miles from the sea.

The £15m unique facility is the first ever publicly accessible Wavegarden® surf lagoon which uses unique engineering and technology to produce the longest man-made surfable waves on the planet.

The consistently powerful waves interact with the contours on the bed of the lagoon to provide different wave profiles at different points in the lagoon (an over-head advanced wave, an intermediate waist-high wave and beginner white water waves which are knee-high). The advanced wave peels for up to 150 metres, the equivalent of a 20-second ride.

Surf Snowdonia also features a Crash & Splash over-water activity lagoon, retail, restaurant and café areas as well as a 50-metre glass-fronted viewing gallery and on-site B&B Glamping pod accommodation from £25 pppn. Parking and entrance to the ‘dry’ facilities in the park is free.

 

Back to blog