ntsouthwest
-
PIC: NATIONAL TRUST/APEX 04/09/2011
Pictured are competitors Rose Darling and Sam Boex from Cornwall.
The ever expanding community of traditional wooden 'prone' surfing enthusiasts descended on the cosy location of Chapel Porth beach in St Agnes, Cornwall to take part in the 9th annual 'World Bellyboard Championships', organised and hosted by the National Trust and sponsored by Skinners Brewery. The event has grown from humble beginnings with just a handful of entrants, into a genuine World Championship competition which has gone truly global in recent years with entrants from Australia, New York, San Francisco and British Virgin Islands
The traditional art of surf riding has deep roots in the British Isles. First produced in Britain in the 1920’s and known as surf riding boards, wooden bellyboards are a direct descendant of the ancient Hawaiian paipo boards. The competition embraces all aspects of prone wooden boards and will showcase the work of an evolving low key industry, which produces wooden surf riding equipment.
English poet John Betjeman regularly used the boards at Polzeath and perfectly summed it up by declaring that ‘I don’t know if there’s anything so exciting as getting a perfect surf, timing ones shoot off from the waves, riding along the waves…’
One thing that makes the World Belly Board Championships stand out from all other surfing competitions is the lack of wet-suits. Belly Boarders are not allowed to wear them in the competition so rather than the sight of monochromed sleek surfers you are greeted with views of traditional bathing costumes from knitted all-in-one bathing outfits and structured bathing costumes giving more than a nod to times long since past.
** APEX PICTURE DESK – 01392 823145 **
** APEX NEWS DESK – 01392 823144 **
-
PIC: NATIONAL TRUST/APEX 04/09/2011
Pictured are competitors Rose Darling and Sam Boex from Cornwall.
The ever expanding community of traditional wooden 'prone' surfing enthusiasts descended on the cosy location of Chapel Porth beach in St Agnes, Cornwall to take part in the 9th annual 'World Bellyboard Championships', organised and hosted by the National Trust and sponsored by Skinners Brewery. The event has grown from humble beginnings with just a handful of entrants, into a genuine World Championship competition which has gone truly global in recent years with entrants from Australia, New York, San Francisco and British Virgin Islands
The traditional art of surf riding has deep roots in the British Isles. First produced in Britain in the 1920’s and known as surf riding boards, wooden bellyboards are a direct descendant of the ancient Hawaiian paipo boards. The competition embraces all aspects of prone wooden boards and will showcase the work of an evolving low key industry, which produces wooden surf riding equipment.
English poet John Betjeman regularly used the boards at Polzeath and perfectly summed it up by declaring that ‘I don’t know if there’s anything so exciting as getting a perfect surf, timing ones shoot off from the waves, riding along the waves…’
One thing that makes the World Belly Board Championships stand out from all other surfing competitions is the lack of wet-suits. Belly Boarders are not allowed to wear them in the competition so rather than the sight of monochromed sleek surfers you are greeted with views of traditional bathing costumes from knitted all-in-one bathing outfits and structured bathing costumes giving more than a nod to times long since past.
** APEX PICTURE DESK – 01392 823145 **
** APEX NEWS DESK – 01392 823144 **