Radical Bodyboarding Moves in Full Flow at Solomon Hare British Championships

British Universities Bodyboarding Champion Pablo Sarrano is certainly making 2006 his best year yet as he doubled his tiles and added the British Bodyboarding Champion title to his pedigree this weekend at Fistral Beach, Newquay. Organised by the British Surfing Association (BSA), the biggest ever entry of 100 riders proved that bodyboarding is a water sport that is rising in competitive popularity and the action in the water certainly showed that Britain’s top talent is pushing it to new levels.

Changeable conditions saw Saturday’s contest being postponed due to poor visibility yet Sunday’s surf rolled in with clean, offshore 3 foot waves and sunshine, offering the perfect playground for the last heats. In the cadet section James Blackwell was voted as the one to watch turning the judges’ head with a radical ARS (air, roll, spin – one of the ultimate moves a bodyboarder can make) and a similar standout move was made by eventual Open winner Pablo Sarrano who pulled off the most extreme ARSs of the whole contest in his semi-final round.
The competition was fierce in all the categories including the women’s where last year’s winner Gemma Harris from Wales was determined to reclaim the title and prove just why she was selected for the Freespirit British Surf Team. Fresh from her strong form in California, she left the judges in no doubt that she is the best female bodyboarder this country has seen for years and some excellent moves earned her the top spot on the podium. In the Juniors Luke Brabyn triumphed, in the Seniors Alasdair Newby earned the number one award and Laurie Mcall won the Drop-Knee category.

Steve Berriman, in his last few weeks at the British Surfing Association before he sets off on his travels, also made it into the semi final and said, “It’s been an amazing couple of days that have shown just why British bodyboarding is on a continual high. We’ve seen some of the best possible action in the water this weekend and Sunday’s conditions in particular gave the guys and girls a chance to really show what they can do. A massive thanks go out to sponsors Soloman Hare, Smith & Williamson, the BSA, Threesixty magazine, KBB and Prone as we couldn’t put this all on without them. Big thanks also to the surfers, spectators, officials and lifeguards who also all make it all possible.”

Results:

Women Candice O'Donnell 4 Gemma Britton 3 Taz Sheppard 2 Gemma Harris 1 Cadet Tom Hammett 4 Ben Chandler 3 Alex Wake 2 James Blackwell 1 Junior James Blackwell 4 Jo Hone 3 Ben Chandler 2 Luke Brabyn 1

Senior Dom Provost 4 Steven Black 3 Davey Jones 2 Alasdair Newby 1 DK Brad Holt 4 Richie Peters 3 Ollie Midland 2 Laurie McCall 1 Open Chech Fleck 4 Remi Geffroy 3 Aaron Dinham 2 Pablo Sarrano 1

Open Finalists - L-R: Aaron Dinham, Remi Geffroy, Pablo Sarrano, Chech Fleck