Freerange Sports Optics BPSA UK Surf Awards

=The 3rd annual Freerange Sports Optics (FSO) BPSA UK Surf Awards took place on Sunday 12th November, after the Gul Newquay Open at the Esplanade Hotel in Newquay.

The awards were a huge success and moved on from last year showing the ever improving nature of the BPSA and the British Surf scene as a whole. The evening started off with dinner followed by the actual awards. Highlights included a live link up in Hawaii with Russell Winter the end of year tour review dvd and the preview of Micah Lester’s new DVD, MVP!

These awards celebrate British surfing in 2006 and the winners were as follows:

Freerange Manoeuvre of the year – Alan Stokes
Soundworx most Inspirational Surfer – Lee Bartlett
Saltrock Rookie of the year – Fergal Smith (Ireland)
Fat Face Most Improved – Joss Ash
Gul Best Uk Surfer surfing Internationally – Russ Winter –
Island Style regional awards. X 5

Scottish – Chris Noble
Irish – Mike Morgan,
Channel Isle – Scott Eastwood,
Welsh – Nick Reid,
English Lou Whittaker

Headworx Riders Choice – Matt Capel
Surf Girl Best up and coming – Holly Donnelly
Carve Aerialist award – Ollie Adams,
Pit Pilot Under Dog award – Shaun Skilton
Wavelength Most promising Junior – Jayce Robinson
Services to the sport – Ester Spears
Best Judge – Jamie Owen

2006 BPSA Tour Champions Awards:
Longboard Champ - Sam Bleakley
Groms: u12 champ – Harry Timson
u16 Girls champ – Gwen Spurlock
u16 Boys champ – Stuart Campbell
Pro Junior Champ – Matt Capel
Womens Champ - £500 – Easkey Britton
Open Tour -1st £2500 Micah Lester, 2nd £1,000 Ruebin Pearce, 3rd £500 Lew Whittaker


Alan Stokes, FSO Move of the Year	Matt Capel, BPSA Pro Junior Champ and Surfers Surfer	Micah Lester, BPSA Tour Champ


Gul Girls	Jayce Robinson, Best Junior	Harry Timson, Grom Champ

BPSA Surfing


Damien Fahrenfort	Chilly looking groms at Croyde	Joss Ash

Surfing is a dance of balance and grace that has been practised for more than 1,000 years.


Sam Bleak	Stuart Campbell	Nicole Morgan

When you mention surfing, Britain is not the first thing that springs to your mind. Being an island and having a coastline that has faced up to one of the fiercest oceans since time began the UK shores are full of surprises. Our coastline provides such a variety with regards to wave shape and power that with the right conditions we are spoilt for choice. With sandy bays, rocky headlands and shallow reefs Britain’s got the playground to nurture some real surfing talent.


Sam Lamiroy (St Ives)	Sam Lamiroy (St Ives)	Skippy

was in 1998 that “The British Professional Surfing Association” was formed to raise the profile of the British surfing across the UK. Using a competition format that is visually exciting for the media and spectators the BPSA tour travels the UK giving surfers the chance to take on the best. After eight stops on the uk tour the final is held in the surf capital of England, fistral beach in newquay where the British champion is crowned. It does not stop there, as the bpsa strives to raise the performance level of each surfer it gives them an chance to qualify in the champion of champions event held in Arugam bay, Sri Lanka.

With all these opportunities,the competition level amongst our surfers is fierce. Past bpsa champions have included, alan stokes, sam lamiroy and ruben pierce who all look to going onto bigger things. Other stand outs included Martin Potter won the world championship in 1989, and now surfers like Russell Winter, Sam Bleakley and Robyn Davies who fly the flag all around the globe.


Thurso	Lou Whittaker	Russell Winters

With surfing being one of the most popular activities in Great Britain all eyes are on the bpsa tour to see who will raise the trophy and become the new British champion for 2006


Toby Atkins	Thurso Reef

more pics in the gallery

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