Top surfers to battle for titles at Rip Curl English Champs

The Extreme Academy at Watergate Bay are again hosting the first major domestic surfing event of the year – the 2005 Ripcurl English Surfing Championships presented by Davidoff Cool Water.

England’s top surfers will battle it out for the prestigious titles in 15 different disciplines, including several junior divisions for boys and girls, longboard, seniors, and the highly competitive men’s and women’s Open titles.

Now in its 33rd year the annual event will be held at Watergate Bay from Saturday 30th April to Monday 2nd May. The three-mile long beach is renowned for producing excellent waves at all stages of the tide, promising three days of non-stop surfing action.

Last year the men’s Open division was won by a storming display in small performance waves from former world top 45 surfer Russell Winter. Winter took time off from a gruelling world tour schedule to return to his roots and compete in the event that launched his career over 15 years ago. Winter will be looking to come back to defend his title this year, but Rip Curl team rider Mark Harris - currently ranked second on the British Professional Surfing Association circuit - will be pushing for a place on the podium.

“I’m really stoked to be able to come back to my home turf to surf against some of my best friends and the freshest new talent the country has to offer,” said Harris. “The English is one of the biggest attended events for up and coming talent in the UK and a win here would be a great start to the contest season for me.”

Extreme Academy team rider Chris Thomson will be competing in the longboard division. After a string of solid performances in last year’s events, Thomson is looking forward to reaching new heights in 2005.

Said Thomson: “The English is always a really competitive event, it’s a great warm-up for the rest of the year as it’s the first contest when everyone is back from their winter travels. I’m planning to compete in the European leg of the world longboard tour this summer and the English is going to be really good preparation.” 

Adding an unique dimension to the event this year will be the Davidoff Cool Water Tag Team Event, in which the presenting sponsors are offering a £1000 prize purse for the winning team. Newquay surfers will also be competing for the Randall Davies and Dave Gent memorial trophies, which are awarded to the highest placed surfers from the town in the Open and Junior categories respectively.

The social highlight of the event will be the Fosters official contest party on Sunday 1st May in the Beach Hut Bistro, from 7pm to midnight. The £7.50 tickets are available from the Extreme Academy on 01637 860840 and include a buffet barbeque and a pint of lager, live music, and the latest Ripcurl surf movie screening. For more information on how to enter the event please call 01637 877329, or go to ripcurl.com or watergatebay.co.uk.

Source: Global Surf News

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