The Gold Rush: It's Back

With huge winter swells beginning to pulverize our coastline, The British Surfing Association's surf experts are scanning the weather charts for the right swell for The Gold Rush, a speciality big-wave surfing event held at Fistral Beach and sponsored by Skinners Brewery. Last year’s inaugural event, reported here by Andy Cox, was a huge success. Spectators were treated to some of the best contest surfing the UK had ever seen as clean 8ft waves (created by the tailend of Hurricane Gordon) pounded the Cornish coastline. In a dramatic final, Jersey’s Scott Eastwood took the £1,000 winner' s cheque with a last minute barrel that earned him a perfect 10 from the judges - not to mention some serious respect from his peers.

The event, which is supported by Restormel Borough Council and the RNLI, is called ‘on’ at two to three days' notice, allowing the near certainty of big, clean waves. For safety reasons, and to ensure a high standard of surfing, the event is invite only, with a field small enough to allow the BSA to run the event in one day, which can be any day of the week.

Karen Walton, National Director of the BSA sums up the vibe. “Last year was the first ever Gold Rush and it was just immense! With the opportunity for us to call the contest at 24 hours' notice to coincide with superb conditions, we can ensure that we’re providing the very best canvas that the ocean can provide and therefore continually raising the bar of competitive surfing in this country.”

The contest date will be announced on the BSA website as soon as it has been decided. Check out www.britsurf.co.uk for more details. The picture here - of Eastwood on his winning wave - is from Newquay local and good guy Tony Plant. See Surf Twisted  for more info.

Comments

[Jay]

"With huge winter swells beginning to pulverize our coastline"

God I wish some winter swells would hit the south of ireland properly...really hit and miss this year :-(

[Pete]

Creative license Alex? No huge swells on the south coast of England since last winter... :-(

[Alex Wade]

If I'm being honest, it was the first line of a press release... no huge swells round here either at the mo :(