Boardmasters 2012, part of the ASP World Qualifying series started today here in Newquay. With only a few rain showers, but not enough to dampen spirits. It’s a shame the surf does not pump when it is needed! This is a 6-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) event, which means it has the biggest prize money for any WQS event, hence the 6 stars rating. It sits on the 3rd tier of the ASP, with the first being the World Tour itself and then the Prime events, then WQS.

Summer in Newquay usually means weak windswell rather than pumping world-class surf, which is what we hope will arrive for an ASP event. The problem organisers have is holding an ASP event here with some of the world’s top surfers taking part – do you choose winter, with let’s be honest – awful weather, but some good pumping groundswell – or summer with better weather for tourists and sponsors alike?  Well they have plumped for summer – so they reap what they sow and with little in the way of surf on the forecast these top surfers will be competing on small weak waves with a poor wave period. Many of the surfers entered are seeking points to qualify for the world tour, so you won’t see Kelly Slater pumping his board on these waves!! If you do want to see some of these events, then watch it here.

If however you want to surf world-class waves that the top surfers actually want to surf too, then come to either South West France, or Jeffrey’s Bay South Africa on our amazing surfing holidays.