Photography by Luke Gartside
It’s here. The annual descending on Cornwall has begun, with more than 50,000 people due to make their way to the south west for the biggest surf and music event of the year.
Boardmasters has landed, and with it, some of the tip-top surfing talent out of Europe, who have been getting to grips with a short-period, wind-strewn swell wrapping into Newquay’s Fistral Beach.
At the time of publishing, conditions are supposed to clean-up today [and were looking mighty contestable at 5.30am] for day one of the Boardmasters competition. Looking out over Fistral, there’s a fun enough bank on the north side – where contest judges will be training their lenses on dozens of heats, across hundreds of competitors.
Reigning champ Lukas Skinner, just feeling it out in the pre-game session last night [Tuesday August 5th].
Today, the rain has stopped humming and the streets are packed with visiting tourists who are unprepared for the sudden onslaught. The temperature is just fine, a humble 18 degrees C. And looking at the long-range forecast, will remain dry for the festival period.
As for the waves, there’s going to be plenty of swell to get competition going and maintain throughout. An unseasonably fun-looking forecast for the Boardmasters competition. Latter part of the event window is still a bit up in the air but the opening days are looking summer-tastic.
Portugal’s two-time national champ, Maria Salgado, getting used to the Fistral grind.
Today, Wednesday August 6th will be a fine morning with light onshore wind, raising through the day. A 3ft swell, 10 seconds period will remain from Tuesday, with a kink of north in it to set those North Fistral banks off.
More wind Thursday but potentially a full day of competition from Friday, smaller surf but great wind for August. At the moment, the back half of the week is fine, Saturday and Sunday have ok wind, that northerly hint in the swell still remains and could be a great option for the longboarders to get out there.
Everyone’s been trying to get their fill in the run up to the competition. Wales’ Alys Barton was out there on Monday: “It’s a bit onshore and windy, but it’s still fun,” she said. “Guess that’s kind of good because it meant there were only a few of us out there.”
Far away from France, Tristan Guilbaud, coach, surfer, extending through some rough classic UK beachie close out.
Meanwhile, homegrown local talent Fynn Gillespie’s been putting in the hours ahead of the event kicking off: “Been some fun waves over the last couple days,” he said. “Getting really busy with all the QS surfers here now. Banks have been OK and should be fun with the swell forecast for the competition. Looking forward to getting the rash vest on.”
Will we see Lukas Skinner bring it back for the home town again, with a back-to-back win in the men’s? Lukas has been looking sharp at Fistral, boards are totally tuned and dialled under his feet. His pop above the lip grows with confidence every year, so we’ll see how it looks in the comp event.
Last year’s runner-up, Patrick Langdon-Dark.
Making the most of the onshore wobble.
Another of the Skinner dynasty, Lila.
Luan Nogues, tapping out at Fistral.
