Newsletter join now Keep in touch with all the latest surf news, green scene and partner info by joining the Drift weekly update. SIGN UP NOW
What are we made of? Drift Magazine is made from ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) FSC Certified pulp and low VOC vegetable inks. Studio power by Ecotricity and delivery made using Biopower V100 waste oil.
28/05/2005:// More than thirty British surfers are returning to an area of Sri Lanka devastated by the Asian tsunami to compete in a special leg of a UK professional contest.
Hundreds of local people lost their lives when a tidal wave devastated Arugam Bay on Boxing Day last year.
Six months on, and UK surfers have been helping to rebuild the area and raise funds for a new school. Over 1,000 villagers remain homeless and are living in tents.
The surf at A-Bay, near Pottuvil, is legendary with the competition being staged on a world-class right hand point break on the outskirts of the once-bustling fishing village.
In the Boxing tsunami, the bridge connecting Arugam Bay to the mainland was swept away leaving the area isolated for two months. All the homes and hotels on the the seaward side of the main road were destroyed.
The staging of the second Sri Lankan Air Champion of Champions BPSA event will aim to bring some normality back to the area and raise awareness the world-renowned surf destination is open for business.
As well as the current top 32 rated male surfers, four wildcards will also feature. Former English champion Eugene Tollemache, from South Devon, may miss the event after undergoing surgery for a fractured neck.
Twelve months ago, Cornwall's Spencer Hargraves ended a year away from competition in style to win the men's final.
Hargraves battled through the quarters and semi's before securing victory in the men's final with a gritty display of power surfing.
The England international dug deep in class 4-5ft waves to outpoint fellow finalists Llewellyn Whittaker, Micah Lester and British pro champion and former Plymouth University Surf Club captain Sam Lamiroy.
In the ladies final, Cornish teacher Kay Holt added the Sri Lankan women's title to her 2004 English crown.
Holt defeated Helston's Robyn Davies, newly-crowned English champion Nicola Bunt and Sunshine Ash, from Bude, in the final.
Holt has since been back to A-bay to help the local surf community.
Up until two years ago, the region was a stronghold of the Tamil Tigers who were fighting for independence from the Sri Lankan government.
A ceasefire has been in place since then and the area has reopened up to the outside world.
Many fund-raising events have taken place in the UK including surf auctions, sponsored competitions and a special BPSA calendar has also been published. Surf Relief Day in April this year raised £20,000.
The Champion of Champions contest will run from June 26 to July 3.
[TJ Barron en-route to victory in Macy's E-Series Event #1 at Maili Point]
[Tassy Swallow]
[Toby Donachie]
The second of three events comprising the Macy's E-Series, presented by ASP Hawaii, will get underway as early as tomorrow at Ala Moana Bowls, surf pending
A Hundred groms from across the country congregated on Fistral Beach in Newquay to pit their wits and talents for the Moskito Surf Tour 2008 presented by Electric, Santa Cruz, Globe and FCS
St Merryn’s Toby Donachie fought one of the hardest contest battles of his career this weekend to ensure that he retained his title as the Quiksilver King of the Groms
Skype us.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Surf art 
Surf environment