Boardmasters upgrade brings world's best surfers

Boardmasters is set to bring some of the world's best surfers to Cornwall this summer after its flagship competition was upgraded to one of Europe's biggest events.

The Boardmasters Open at Fistral Beach in Newquay will run from 5 to 9 August with a new Qualifying Series 4,000 status, up from QS 2,000 last year.

It means the winner can get up to 4,000 points towards progressing up the rankings, instead of 2,000.

Organisers said the move placed it among the top three events of its kind in Europe and they expected the festival to attract a stronger international line-up.

The Boardmasters Open runs alongside the music festival which takes place just outside Newquay with highlights including Fatboy Slim, Kasabian and Lily Allen.

World Surf League Europe tour manager Rob Gunning said the added Qualifying Series ranking points "will be impactful with a stronger field of athletes making the trip to Newquay to battle it out for this year's trophy".

The event also offers local surfers the chance to take on Europe's best and chase big points on familiar waves.

Defending champion Lukas Skinner, from Cornwall, said: "I'm super looking forward to Boardmasters this year, being upgraded to a QS 4,000 is massive."

Skinner said he felt confident going into the event and wanted to push for a third straight win.

Alys Barton, first ever British Surfer to qualify for the WSL Challenger Series, a step above the Qualifying Series, said: "Boardmasters is one of my favourite comps on the calendar.

"I love the atmosphere and the energy of the event, and it is always great to compete in front of a home crowd."

Vicky Gosling, chair of GB Surfing, said the upgrade was a "significant milestone for British surfing".

"It gives our athletes the opportunity to compete against Europe's best and earn valuable ranking points on home waves, while reflecting the continued growth and progress of the sport in the UK," she said.

"Our LA 2028 Olympic hopefuls will be competing, and we are seeing them develop with real confidence and consistency as they progress along the Olympic pathway.

"We believe they have the talent and potential to achieve outstanding results on the Olympic stage in the years ahead, while inspiring the next generation of British surfers to pursue their own Olympic ambitions."

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