Frenchman Marc Lacomare won the £10,000 ASP Relentless Boardmasters 5 Star Event in Newquay, Cornwall. Surf fans and sun worshippers sizzled in 23 degree temperatures at the Relentless Boardmasters surfing event in Newquay in Cornwall this weekend.
By contrast with sun-baked Newquay, world renowned surfers' paradise Bondi Beach shivered with a disappointing 17.2°.
Then again, in fairness, Australia is currently in the middle of winter and Bondi's January temperatures do routinely edge into the low forties.
Once a sleepy pilchard-fishing village Newquay has reinvented itself as Britain's premier surf destination.
The British Bondi is Newquay's Fistral beach: surfers speak reverently of its huge hollow waves and impressive swell.
The winner of this weekend's £10,000 first prize was was Frenchman Marc Lacomare, who edged ahead of his New Zealand rival Jay Quinn.
Ripper: Crowds on Fistral beach enjoyed the surfing competition in baking temperatures this weekendNathan Webster the Australian who at 36 is considered one of the grand old men of the sport, came third.
The Boardmasters was Britain's first professional surfing contest. There were sceptical voices when it began in 1983 but it is now a Five Star ASP World Qualifying Series surf event.
Jay Quinn surfs his way into second place at Newquay's increasingly popular Relentless Boardmasters competition British surfers fared less well in the main tournament, but shone in the supporting longboard event, in which surfers use large heavy surfboard which hark back to the kit used by the earliest wave riders.
Ben Howey, 22, a star British longboarder said: 'There's a good longboard tour in Britain . The standard is high and we all travel round together, which is great fun.
Apart from when you're trying to get across London with a longboard on the underground – that can be a challenge.'
Newquay's long sandy beaches are ideal for sunbathing as well as surfing. Surfing has become a multi-million pound industry in the UK. Over 80,000 people attended the event, bringing in millions for the local tourist industry.
The five day competition also featured a music festival with boasting acts such as Leftfield and Futureheads as well as, appropriately, Seasick Steve.
source :dailymail
