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| Issue 54: News |
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Page 17 of 24 The real heroes of surf Time and tide may wait for no man, but around 80 surfers with an average age of 65 turned the clock back in style at Chapel Porth Beach, near St Agnes, for the Skinners Brewery World Bellyboard Championships. With the under-60s counting as the ‘junior’ section, ‘grey power’ dominated the day as senior citizens of the sea manned traditional wooden boards that in many cases were scarcely any younger than themselves. Competitors included surfers from the United States and Australia. The belly boarders created an impressive spectacle with their traditional surfing – lying down on wooden boards to practise the type of surfing that began in the 1920s and is thought to be the origin of surfing in Britain. Competitors arrived dressed in traditional bathing gear, with the only rule being ‘no wet suits’. Prizes were awarded for categories including best antique board, best varnish, best swimwear and best paintwork. |
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