Queens of the Rip Short board and longboard

Queens of the Rip rule the waves at Bantham

The Bantham Boardriders was proud to host its first ladies Surf competition on Saturday April 18th after having to cancel last years event due to poor conditions. It was a different story this year with sizeable 3-4 ft waves, plenty of swell and a brisk westerly wind to guarantee some challenging conditions.

Competition Director Jess Harvey called the Comp "on" and the girls showed up in force to compete in three divisions; a fun foamie heat, for those new to the competitive scene followed by the longboard and shortboard categories. Our younger members competed against the more mature entrants which saw a coming together of the generations from the fourteen year olds to the fifty somethings!

With a dropping tide, proceedings got underway to ensure the first heat for the foam boards was manageable in some messy conditions with the swell pushing in some bumpy but decent enough waves for our competitors. Well done to Lydia, Saffron, Esther, Hannah and Vicky for kicking off the competition and braving the chop!

More demanding conditions followed for regular local longboarders Als Vowels, Lucy Findlay, Lydia Hill and Emily Price in the first heat but our ladies dug in with some notable performances all round.

Next to paddle out were Immy Nute, Margo Vowels, Izzy Hodshon and Megan Pratt who kept up the standard in difficult, choppy waves made even more so by an increasing off-shore wind.

Megan, Izzy, Lucy and Emily all got through to a tough final showing off their skills in some decent although turbulent sections. Things didn’t get any easier for the shortboard heats and surfers battled their way through a strong rip and a massive amount of water movement.

Not to be undeterred shortboarders Jess Harvey, Kirra Connolly, Eva Isselis, Meg Pratt, Immy Nute and Annika Connolly definitely displayed some grit as they took on some dumpy drops necessitating a precise take off in Bantham’s difficult rip side low tide zone.

With the competition concluded, surfers and their families gathered around the fire for a post surf hot drink and prize giving ceremony led by Bantham Boardriders chairman, Paul Hatton.

Massive thanks go out to all the Committee Members who helped run the event, head judge Malcom Findlay and assistant judges Tommie and Matt Hamilton Willoughby Tucker and Gary Sinclair. A big shout out to Matt Hamilton for his assistance in the water during the heats, Gracie for filming and to all our sponsors and supporters who made the day possible including Flat Spot for our event shelter and to Salcombe Brewery, Volcom, Tri-Ocean Surf, Vivo Barefoot shoes and Simpel wetsuits for their generously donated prizes, gratefully received by;

Shortboard division

1st - Megan Pratt

2nd Annika

3rd Kira

4th: Eva

Longboard division

1st - Megan Pratt

2nd Emily Price

3rd Lucy Findlay

4th Izzy Hodson

Foamie division

Most Frothed: Esther Pearson

Most Stoked:

Best Vibe:

Megan Pratt was duly pronounced ‘Queen of the Rip’ but we like to think all our participants were absolute champions for taking part, joining in the stoke and ruling the waves for our day of celebrating female surfers at our home break of Bantham. Well done!