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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
by George Mojo
08/07/2008:// The event threw up a mixed bag of conditions with small waves and challenging weather on the Saturday and stunning weather with solid 5ft waves on the Sunday.
The steely youngsters battled through each day to showcase the hottest grom talent that the UK has to offer.
Created in 2001, the annual Moskito Tour hosted by Electric has become an established part of the French and Spanish surfing calendars for young kids of all levels. Now in its eighth year, the 2008 Newquay contest was the second time the competition has taken place in the UK and there will now be seven further stops across Europe before the final culmination in August.
The Under 10s saw youngsters Oliver Rose, Alfie Tuner, Max Payne and Harry de Both competing for the final with Harry emerging victorious. The Under 12s created a finals mix of Dale Foster and Will Bailey, Connor Swan and Jack Davies with Will Bailey taking the pole position as the winner. In the Under 14s, a battle between Jobe Harris, David Williams, Luke Dillon and Miles Lee Hargreaves ensued with Jobe Harris emerging as the winner and in the Under 16s final Matt Rodwell, Leon Mansfield, Toby Donache and Josh Piper created some outstanding performances with Josh Piper taking the number one spot.
In the girls, the talents of Tassy Swallow were in plentiful evidence and she won both the Under 14 and Under 16s titles. In the Under 14s she faced Teah Munroe, Kensa Munroe and Lucy Campbell in the final heat and in the Under 16s Gabi Rowe, Poppy Barlow and Zoe Sheath made it through to the finals before being beaten by Tassy. Throughout the days, leading surf brand Santa Cruz provided 30 new boards for spectators and competitors alike to demo so there was lots happening on the beach and in the waves.
Simon Tucker from Santa Cruz said, “The Moskito Tour 2008 UK stop was a brilliant success. Although we had difficult conditions on Saturday, Sunday was much kinder but whatever the weather and conditions threw at them, the determination and talent of our youngsters was shining through. The atmosphere and support in the finals was superb and we’re really pleased with how it all went.”
Karen Walton, National Director of the BSA, says, “This weekend’s Moskito Tour really was a proper grom search as a number of the competitors who made it through to the final were completely new to national competitions. As a result we really have found some amazing talent for the future of British surfing and the philosophy of the Tour and its benefits shone throughout the whole event.”
The 2008 Beachley Classic got underway this morning, completing Rounds 1 and 2 as well as the opening two heats of Round 3 at nearby Freshwater Beach in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves
Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, has officially announced her retirement from full-time competition, effective at the end of the year
Former Exeter University student Josh Lewin first heat at the Ocean and Earth Pro in the Canary Islands has been delayed because the 2ft surf was deemed uncontestable
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