WAVES were not the only things Jersey’s best young surfers had to ride as a major international competition got under way in Morocco over the weekend.
They also found themselves waving to the crowd from the back of camels. A 14-strong team of under-18 Channel Island boarders are in Africa to compete in the Euro Junior Surfing event at Immourane beach. They will be taking on some of the world’s finest surfers.
Jersey Surfboard Club president and team manager Dave Ferguson said: ‘After a colourful and cultural opening ceremony on Saturday afternoon, the business end of the Euro Junior started at 7.45 am yesterday morning with round 1 heats. ‘Immourane beach was the perfect setting for a dramatic day of competition that showcased the very best young surfing talent in Europe.’
As the competition got into full flow, the CI team had mixed fortunes. Both under-18 and under-16 boys were forced to surf in the repercharge round on Monday, to try to qualify second time round for the main event. ‘It was the bodyboarders who stuck to the game plan and will be moving forward into round 2 with one exception, Philip le Neveu, who, unfortunately, was not judged for his last wave as he was deemed to be riding the wave after the end of heat horn had sounded,’ said Mr Ferguson.
‘Tess Letherbarrow, David Speller and Matthew Chapman will all move into round 2,’ he said, adding that Cole Jouanny would also progress through to Round 2 in the longboard division. The Under-14 division was due to start, together with the round 1 repercharge heats, on Monday Morning.
• Picture: The CI team enjoy the atmosphere during the opening parade in Agadir (00604070). Pictures by David Ferguson
Article posted on 1st December, 2008 - 2.58pm
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