Every year surf pundits good and bad argue the merits of running a surfing event in August. They’ll always be accusations of selling out and that somehow some purity has been lost. Add to this a music festival and wave sliding at the UK’s top event often felt sidelined.
Yet this year’s Boardmasters was a great event. It had something for everyone. Competitors saw the contest bookended by punchy if challenging waves. Spectators got to see some of the world’s best young riders rip Fistral apart and had a few days of sweltering bliss to top up that tan and justify the volume of Crabbies drunk.
Lead singer of Reef Gary Stringer proves the boys still have it during their packed gig
Music lovers got sunsets, showers and Seasick Steve as well as the magical Rae Morris, Nick Mulvey and of course Drift chums Sunset Sons and Reef. Faithless, Rudimental and Bastille took over as night descended over Watergate Bay and tore the place up. And for those without any taste or style there was always Clean Bandit. Something for everyone!
Top longboarder and Drift contributor Kat Beddoe after her surf. Check out Kat’s latest articles here
Hodei Collazo took the Men’s Open Presented by Carve from local boy Luke Dillion whose guts and glory in Nias seem to be paying dividends. Peony Knight took out Sara Taylor in the Rocket Dog Women’s Open, while Edouard Delpero bested Antoine Delpero in the final after knocking out Ben Skinner in the semis of the WSL Men’s Longboard.
Drift contributor Katrina Beddoes made it to the quarterfinals before being knocked out by eventually runner up Justine Mauvin who lost to Alice Lemoigne in a challenging final of the WSL Women’s longboard presented by Surfgirl.
Full results here.
Fistral was rammed with long queues snaking back through Newquay
Young and old joined in on the surfing action
The skate and bmx comps were the other highlight of Fistral beach
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