BUCS Final: Perfect Surf All Around

Looks like the surf gods were looking down on the BUCS event today. With the winds on point, and long lines of sets apparent from the shore, the ocean delivered, and the competitors didn’t disappoint.

In the men’s quarter finals some effortless turns and roundhouse cutbacks were seen by Chapman, as he walked into the semis with a score of 15.

Taz Knight wasn’t far behind him with 14 as Taz displayed some serious shredding despite his knee injury. Good performances were also seen by Sam Mason who has been consistently good and Tomos Hawkins-Meopham, from Falmouth who came into the contest out of nowhere.

With the winds picking up ever so slightly in the men’s semi-finals, lower scores were seen – Chapman getting a 14 and Taz got a 12, and one person who struggled with this alteration in conditions was Tomos, as he was knocked out of the semi-finals.

As for the final, it was stuff of top notch quality. All four competitors got double scores, however Matt Chapman ran away with it, riding the waves like a true pro and earning the title of BUCS surf champion 2017 with a score of 15. Taz got a score of 12 which landed him second place. Between the other 2 finalists literally decimal places separated 3rd and 4th, and it seemed Sam Mason was just unlucky as Jack Geake secured 3rd place.

“The conditions were good today, but that wind just picked up at the end” Chapman told us “I’m shattered now, think I’ll put the board down for a few days!”

The women’s semi final results came as no surprise as Flora led the women’s semi finals with a score of 11, and Ellen having the second highest score of the women’s semi-final with a score of 8.

However the final came as quite a surprise, as Ellen stepped up her game. Catching some beautiful waves, Ellen took Flora’s title and was crowned the new female BUCS surf champ. Behind her Jaide Lowe took second place and Flora finished in 3rd.

“It was just really fun surf today” Ellen told us “the conditions were so much nicer than yesterday and I really enjoyed it!”

So there you have it Chapman and Harding the new champions of BUCS surf.

photos: Leanne Priseman