Gwithian Surf Academy, The premier surf school based in St Ives Cornwall - No Pro Surf Comp

The 16^th annual Gwithian Academy of Surfing / Down the Line‘No Pro’ competition was completed on Saturday 19th of September under clear blue skies at Gwithian Beach, St Ives Bay. The No Pro is a unique competition in that it is a grass roots surfing extravaganza where professional or sponsored surfers are barred from competing. The surfers may be amateurs but the quality of competition is still incredibly high and this year’s cosmopolitan field boasted surfers from as far away as South Africa, New Zealand and Watergate Bay.

The competition began in small, low tide waves with the 16 and under category. Despite tricky conditions St Ives’ Simon Trebilcock held off a strong challenge from local boy Connor Swan to take the title. Adam Bayfield and Jake Janes placed 3^rd and 4^th respectively.

As the tide pushed in through in the afternoon it brought with it a rise in wave size.  Poppy Barlow Griffin made the most of this new swell and rode several quality left-handers to victory over Elfie Hamilton and Katherine Cunniffe.

By high tide the swell was reaching its peak and the Open surfers tore into the waves with gusto. A early stand out was Kiwi surfer Al TeMoananui  who dazzled all with his broad repertoire of manoeuvres and 13 year old Connor Swan. Unfortunately neither surfer could make it past the quarter finals. In the Open final another New Zealander, Dan Grey, just beat South Africas Josh Roberts to take first place. Third place went to G Rommet when Dave Foster was penalised for a crude interference.

A special thanks to Alder, Rip Curl, Tiki and South to South for providing the prizes.