BUCS Surfing Championship 2018 Report

After arriving in Newquay in the early hours of Thursday morning from Edinburgh, everyone from Edinburgh University Windsurfing & Surfing Club  (EUWSC) was stoked to go and warm up at Fistral Beach before the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) Surfing Championship 2018 kicked off on Friday. An amazing all-day surfing session greeted us with clean lines and a beautiful sunset to round off the first day.

A weather warning and subsequent delay to the competition to Saturday did not damped any spirits in the camp and all 32 of the EUWSC members on the trip made the most of the conditions at Tolcarne.

Turning up bright and early on Saturday 13^th October, we were met by what the competition commentators described as “challenging conditions” for the Men’s Competition. Paddling out back where there were some waves to be had was a struggle but the University of Edinburgh performed well, winning many of our heats, with our own Adam Taylor qualifying for the last 8 from 230 competitors.

Sunday brought around the Women’s Heats and the Men’s finals. With some less than ideal surfing conditions but a £1000 winners prize to be had the standard of surfing was impressive to say the least. Adam put on a good show, narrowly finishing 3^rd in his heat, missing out on the final. The Men’s team finished 6^th overall out of 34 teams!

Over in the Women’s Heats, Sofia Urgoiti and Ruby Breadon both made it to the semi-final stages, finishing 3^rd and 4^th overall but unfortunately missing out on the final. But their fantastic performances combined with our other female surfers meant University of Edinburgh finished 3^rd place overall in the Women’s Team results, out of 25 teams!

Overall the trip down to Newquay was a great success, forming many new friendships within the club as well as with other Universities, and learning from the competitive environment down on the South Coast. Here’s to winning BUCS next year!

Written by Andy Holbrook,

EUWSC Publicity Officer