From Wednesday 6 – Sunday 10 August.  A record number of fans, family and friends are expected to watch the thrilling surf competition unfold at arguably the most picturesque festival site in the UK. Over five days at Fistral Beach, a host of the UK and the world’s best surfers will compete in the Boardmasters International Surf Competition, hoping to take home their share of the £22,000 total prize purse, £2K more than last year’s total. This year’s categories include: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s Longboard, Pro Junior (under 20s), Grom Masters (under 16s) and Air Show. Boardmasters 2014 looks set to once again be an international affair following last year’s competition, which saw New Zealand’s Billy Stairmand battling it out against Australia’s Chris Friend in the Men’s Open. Stairmand came out triumphant winning the category, however this year the Brits will be giving it their all to try and be crowned the Boardmasters champion. Not since the UK’s most successful surfer, Russell Winter won the Men’s Open back in 2002 has a British surfer graced the #1 podium spot.

Thousands watch the culmination of the surf festival every year at Fistral Beach. Photo Courtesy of Mike Spencer.

Local favourite Ben Skinner is sure to be back to defend his title of Men’s Longboard champion. The UK’s top female surfer, Sarah Beardmore narrowly missed out on the #1 spot coming second to Portugal’s Keshia Eyre and Boardmasters 2013 also became a platform for emerging surfing talent with the Pro Junior (under 20s) and Grom Masters (under 16s) competitions. Jobe Harriss, one of the UK’s brightest prospects lived up to expectations winning the Pro Junior comp and 16 year-old Cornwall local, Angus Scotney was named Grom Masters champion after a gripping final at Fistral Beach

“Boardmasters is quite simply the biggest surfing event in the UK. With bigger prize purses than last year and some of the top European surfers competing, it’s fantastic to see the Pro Junior and Grom Masters categories returning. There’s no better stage for our young British surfing talent to develop and showcase their skills and we’re hopeful to see a British champion in the near future. The future’s bright for British surfing!” – Dave Reed UKPSA

Andrew Topham, Festival Director, said: “We’re really pleased to confirm all 6 categories of surf competitions and to be able to increase prize money this year.  Last year we introduced the Women’s, Grom Masters and Pro Junior and they were so well received, attracting the biggest waterside crowds we’ve ever had, it was an easy decision to build on that success. In the Men’s Open, we’re hoping one of our British surfers will beat the internationals and claim the Boardmasters 2014 title which hasn’t happened since Russ Winter won the event over a decade ago.”

In addition to the International Surf Competitions, Boardmasters will also host the ‘Beach Sessions’ gigs in the evenings of Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 August. Acts performing will be announced soon! The festival will then continue down at Watergate Bay for a weekend of explosive live music.

Confirmed headliners so far are Bastille and Chase & Status. Other acts also performing across the weekend include:  Ben Pearce, Palma Violets, Reel Big Fish, George Ezra, Dan Croll, Bipolar Sunshine, The Cuban Brothers, Raleigh Ritchie, Coves, Kidnap Kid, My Nu Leng, TCTS, Billon, Big Deal, Lyger, Emily & The Woods, DJ EZ, Roska, Toyboy & Robin, Monki, The Golden Boy, Eton Messy Presents: Friend Within, Blonde, Isaac Tichauer, Bodhi and Eton Messy DJ Set with more still to be announced including a third headliner. For more info head to Boardmasters.

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Boardmasters International Surf Competition Winners 2013

Men’s Open         Billy Stairmand (New Zealand)

Women’s Open                     Keshia Eyre (Portugal / UK)

Men’s Longboard                  Ben Skinner (UK)

Pro junior                                 Jobe Harriss (UK)

Grom Masters (under 16)      Angus Scotney (UK)

Air show                                  Billy Stairmand (New Zealand)