With challenging swell predictions and a tough weather forecast leading into the weekend, Surfing England, working closely with our partners at Newquay Boardriders, made the call to postpone Stop 3 of the Junior Surf Series from Saturday 13th September to Sunday 14th. The decision proved the right one, with 47 frothing groms, plus families and supporters, arriving early to Great Western Beach to be greeted by clean 2–3ft waves and light offshore winds.
After check-in at 7.30am and an 8.00am start, the U12 Boys quarterfinals got underway, kicking off a full day of competition that ran seamlessly through to the last final around 3.00pm. Conditions for the first four to five hours were dreamy, with clean, peeling waves and fantastic performances across the board. As the afternoon wore on, the wind picked up and the rain set in, creating challenging conditions – but the energy and commitment of the surfers never dipped.
A showcase of grassroots progression
All four divisions were highly competitive, underlining how important the Junior Surf Series has become as a training ground since its inception three years ago.
-
U12 Girls: Martha Edwards took the win in a close battle with Mila Barber, with Willow Craxton narrowly missing out and previous event winner Katarina Roth Gale in fourth.
-
U14 Girls: Bella Llewellyn delivered an outstanding performance to claim victory, followed by Ellie Hickie in second, new finalist Lila Readdy in third, and a strong showing from Kira Connolly in fourth.
-
U12 Boys: Once again, Cassius Woudberg took the win, though closely pushed by Monty Cole, with Bobby Smith third and Casper Kershaw fourth.
U14 Boys: The final played out in heavy rain and wind, but with still powerful surf. Harvey Waters edged a close battle with runner-up Joshi James to secure his second series win of the season. Bobby Wilkinson finished third, with Scotland’s Kai Cruickshank impressing in fourth.
This stop also saw the introduction of priority in the U14 divisions, a valuable step forward in preparing surfers for higher levels of competition.
Community at the core
As always, the series was about far more than results. The camaraderie, sportsmanship and shared stoke were clear all day. Surfers travelled not only from across England but also from Scotland and Wales, adding to the sense of community.
Phil Williams, Surfing England’s Junior Surf Series lead, reflected:
“The camaraderie and fun was evident throughout this event, whilst at the same time the competition was fierce in the water. It was fantastic to see surfers not just from England, but also Scotland and Wales, coming together in such a strong community atmosphere.”
Eddie Wilson, Chair of Newquay Boardriders, added:
“Great Western as always delivered, and the Newquay community ensured a great success with extra gazebos, staffing and quality judging. The groms showcased their talents, and we were proud to see so many enjoying themselves.”
A collective effort
Events such as this depend on teamwork. Surfing England extends thanks to Newquay Boardriders and their volunteers, the judging team, beach marshals, tabulators, priority operators, water safety crew and Newquay Surf Life Saving, as well as the RNLI and the Great Western Beach Café team. Special recognition also goes to the media crew who braved the weather to capture the action.
Our gratitude also goes to headline sponsors Boardmasters Foundation, whose continued support makes this series possible, and to RYD UK for providing fantastic prizes.
Looking ahead
The Junior Surf Series continues this autumn with Stop 4 in Croyde on 27th September, followed by Bantham on 10th October in partnership with Bantham Boardriders.
Stop 3 once again highlighted the importance of grassroots competition as a pathway for the next generation of surfers — combining progression, challenge, and above all, fun.
