Prisk retains British Open title

It was 3rd time lucky for the running of the much anticipated Auto-Sleepers British National bodyboard competition this Sunday. The event had been postponed twice due to a lack of waves, but the combination of a 6ft swell and the low tide banks at Porthtowan produced an exhilarating display from the UK’s best bodyboarders.

The prospect of £2,000 in prize money had ensured that almost without exception the top 20 British riders were putting their skills on parade, in what some are already calling the highest standard British Nationals to date.

The early rounds saw some aerial manoeuvres that would have not have been out of place on the world stage. There were 9.0 and 9.5s awarded for a spectacular ARS (Air Roll Spin) from Porthtowan’s Alex Winkworth, and back-flip from Plymouth’s Danny Wall respectively. The Judges were rewarding those competitors attempting the more adventurous moves, and ‘above-the-lip’ combination manoeuvres were those attracting the big scores.

From the Quarter Finals forward, each heat read like a who’s-who of British bodyboarding. The standard was so high that notable casualties were inevitable. But Bournemouth’s James Blackwell was surfing out of his skin, and secured a semi final berth against the odds edging out former English Champion Remy Geffroy.

The Semi Finals saw undoubtedly the top two waves of the day. In Semi one Damian Prisk combined two super tight spins with finding a rare makeable barrel and finished his ride with a confident looping roll to secure his progression. In Semi two, London’s Darren Halse pulled a clean ARS out of the pocket with a spin on landing; he too finished his wave with a roll to attract the only 10 of the day.

Danny Wall and Alex Winkworth followed Damien and Darren into the final, leaving Mark Griffiths, Bjorn Storey, Dan Skajowski and James Blackwell dreaming of what could have been.

The final saw Damien Prisk race into an early and ultimately unassailable lead, pulling combination ARS’s on two successive waves. This left the 3 remaining competitors playing catch-up, and though each man could have stolen the lead with a single score with a few minutes to go, none was able to secure a wave that would let them repeat their performances from the earlier rounds. So Damien secured back-to-back British titles and a first place prize of £1,000.

Glorious sun for early rounds of bodyboard Nationals

Following a late call on contestability, the junior divisions of the Auto-Sleepers British Bodyboard Nationals went ahead in 2-3ft swell and baking sun over the weekend of the 27-28 September at Porthtowan. The main Open Division was postponed to 1-2 November at the same venue; but the decision was taken to proceed with the other categories as competitors had travelled from all over the British Isles to take part in the record-breaking competition.

Saturday the 27th saw the Under 14s and Under 16s hit the water early to make the most of the low tide Porthtowan banks. The 200 plus spectators and competitors saw the groms throw themselves into both the competition and the waist high barrels as only they can.

The judges were impressed with both the standard in the youngest divisions and the number of scoring rides achieved; with the local lads in close competition with a strong contingent from the south coast in the Under 14s. In the end the diminutive Sam Brabyn found the best waves in the Under 14 final to edge out Harry Smith (2nd) and Lloyd Atherton (3rd) both from Bournemouth, with Ed Sherlock in 4th.

In the Under 16s, hot favourite Luke Brabyn competing for the last time in the 16s found himself up against stiff competition in the form of contest newcomer Stephen Hall. Last year’s Under 14 champion Dan ‘Stalker’ Garton from the Jersey Bodyboard Club was eliminated in the semi finals by Hall and Gwithian rider Callum Morse; to set up a final with Brabyn and Liam Benney. In the end it was Stephen Hall who pipped Luke Brabyn by the narrowest of margins to secure the title with his last 2 rides of the final. Liam Benney finished 3rd with Callum Morse struggling to reproduce his form in the early rounds 4th.

The decision was taken to call an early end to Day1 of the competition and the Blue Bar provided a welcome haven for competitors and spectators alike. The evening’s entertainment comprised a bodyboard DVD Premiere and live band with Corona beer promotion.

Sunday saw a better pulse of swell come through, and the Under 18s were the first to hit the water. The pick of the day’s waves were in the early rounds which saw defending champion Dave Speller throw a nice tweaked invert to impress the judges aid his progression through to the final. He was joined by Nathan Thompson and hot from their success in the 16s, Luke Brabyn and Stephen Hall. Channel Islander Speller again proved why he his a strong bet for a placing in the World Surfing Games by taking the Under 18 crown again, Brabyn this time turned the tables on Hall as they finished 2nd and 3rd respectively with Nathan Thompson edged into 4th place.

The Women’s division was the strongest for some time; the experienced Gemma Brittan from St Agnes clinched 1st place ahead of last year’s victor Clemmie Hardy with some strong spins and rolls. Olivia Smedley and Jasmine O’Shea in their first competitive appearances gained valuable contest experience finishing in 3rd and 4th spots.

The Seniors (over 28) drew a line-up that was a ‘who’s who’ of the British scene over the last decade. Danny Catten, Damien Prisk, Eldred Hawke and Bjorn Storey made the final from a strong early round field. In the end it was reigning Open champion Prisk who clinched the title ahead of Storey, Hawke and Catten. The Masters (over 35) run for the first time in 2008, was an epic contest with the 5-man final comprising of Catten and Hawke, along with Jersey locals Colin Crowther and Simon Watkins and 2006 Senior champion Alasdair Newby. In the end Eldred Hawke’s aerial moves were enough to narrowly clinch his first National title, ahead of Catten, Crowther, Watkins and Newby.

The International division attracted entries from Australia, New Zealand, France, Portugal, South Africa, and the Canaries. In the final Kiwi Aiden Dixon proved too much for Australian Ben Hughes and Portuguese Eduardo Afonso; with the 1, 2, 3 staying that way.

The small swell was perhaps most challenging for the Drop-Knee division, with the consequence that above the lip moves were rare; and the semi final saw Darren Halse (currently second on the world IBA Drop-Knee tour), eliminated. A hotly contested final saw Aiden Salmon clinch his first UK title ahead of Remy Geffroy (2nd). Last year’s champion Porthtowan local Alex Winkworth came in 3rd with Plymouth’s Danny Wall in 4th.

Organisers the BSA and British Bodyboard Club would like to thank generous main sponsors The Auto-Sleepers Group, along with divisional sponsors Alder Wetsuits, Bradfords Building Supplies, SUSO Drinks, Smith & Williamson, Reveller Clothing, The Beach Hotel Porthtowan, ThreeSixty and Sick Lame and Lazy. Not forgetting sub-sponsors The Blue Bar, Seasmith Images and Corona. Join us at Porthtowan again on the 1-2 November for the rescheduled main Open event.

The British Bodyboard Club and the BSA would like to thank main sponsors Auto-Sleepers Group; along with Divisional Sponsors Alder Wetsuits, The Beach Hotel, SUSO Drinks, Smith & Williamson, Bradfords, ThreeSixty and Sick Lame & Lazy; and Sub Sponsors, The Blue Bar, Corona, Printwear Clothing and Seasmith Images.