Sunday 3 May: 2-3ft, choppy/messy surf with strong onshore NW winds and plenty of close outs in the afternoon.
My vantage point on Rat Island:
The competiton was finished off on the Sunday in testing conditions with strong NW winds making it feel very chilly if you were stood around watching or in my case filming but competitors made the most of it.
I saw Greg Owen get a lovely first couple of waves with some solid lip bashes gouging spray everywhere before blasting 2 more as he flew down the section. then Tom Anderson scored a nice floater on a right hander that briefly held up for him. Seeing the guys surfing was getting increasingly difficult due to a dip in the sandbank, constant close-outs no the inside and the glare of the sun directly above.
The awards finished up around 9pm and everyone was relieved to get back into their warm camper-vans as it was bloody freezing!
Saturday saw the best day with solid 4-6ft surf and strong rips.
Saturday surfing off Rocky Point:
The winds were light cross off but got progressively stronger as the day wore on. A great turn out though and a pleasure to meet everyone including Steve and Claire Beach who spent hours snapping all the action over the two days.
Women's U18 preparing for their heat. Gwen Spurlock is in the gath helmet following her nasty head injuries sustained in the Swansea wave pool last year:
Scotty aka 'Nineplus' kept me entertained for hours with his surf stories from past and present and helping me out spotting surfers in the sun's glare.
I also became a member of the newly formed Pembrokeshire Surfrider Club if I can sneak my name in past 'Fluff'. A great honour for an ex-pat like me. Now where's my car sticker?! ;)
This year the club had an honorary trophy for the best all round performance from the club and this went to local lad Jack Crisp. Fluff made a nice speech in memory of surfers we've sadly lost in recent years - Spyder, Benny and Jeff Price and a club contest is planned for October this year.
Back to the contest...Greg Owen blasted his way to victory in the Senior title again with a solid display in tricky conditions whilst Lloyd Cole was causing a commotion snatching the Open title for the 2nd yr running. Elliot Dudley won the Longboard contest, so no surprises there!
Beth Mason took home the women's title with Gwen Spurlock taking the U18's Simon Tucker showed us that old boys can still shred and took out the Masters with his son Max coming 2nd in the U16 division, pipped to the post by Tom Good.
A full list of the results can be found here.
Groms, trophies and goodie bags courtesy of Quiksilver:
Keep an eye out for some of my footage on Wales Today, BBC1 Wales on Tuesday, 5 May...they might just use some.
That's it for now.
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