Image: Team manager Jessie Tuckman
The cream of the crop surfers of Europe will be gathering in Casablanca, Morocco over the next two weeks to compete for their continental title at the European Surfing Championships.
The EuroSurf kicks off on 12th Sept with an opening ceremony, with the competition running from 13-20th. Teams announced by the European Surfing Federation are:
England / Ireland / Scotland / Wales / Channel Islands / France / Norway
Sweden / Denmark / Germany / Italy / Holland / Morocco / Spain
Here is an introduction to the English Team 2015:
Women’s Team
Photo: Will Bailey
Georgie Timson – Georgie has been competing against other girl groms and in some womens events for a few years successfully and has many sponsors securing the belief in her talent. Winning the famous Night Surf womens title this year, she is showing that she is a competitor to be taken seriously and definitely someone England should be proud to showcase.
Photo: Will Bailey
Flora Lawton – Croyde surfer Flora has many achievements in surfing including English and British titles and she has already competed in on the world stage for our country. She pushes herself constantly in competition and it is exciting to see what will come next for her.
Open Team
Sam Smart – Hailing from Sennen Cove, England’s most westerly beach. Sam is the founder of the family surf school and the eldest of the Smart brothers. A true sportsman known not only for his impressive surfing but also a skilled professional boxer.
Seb Smart – Sharing the stoke of surfing along with his family, Seb has been smashing comps since he was a grom with wins in his age group at events such as the Ripcurl Grom Search and British Nationals under his belt. Forward a few years and he’s still one of the most exciting young male surfers to see in a competitive event.
Sam Harwood – Young and frothing Newquay local, Sam Harwood is one to watch. Recently appearing in Carve Mag with the statement unknown tube hound pulling in at Little Fistral in the run of surprise summer swells. His family is focused around the beach and surf scene with his sister also competing and father’s restaurant business on the famous Fistral Beach.
Bodyboard
Megan Penny – Top UK bodyboarder and winner of the Nationals, Megan has been spending her summer converting her Mercedes Sprinter into a camper ready for the winter swells. When she’s not surfing she works as a deck hand / support worker for a mental health charity, The Sea Sanctuary.
The Support Team and Judges
Team Manager – Jessie Tuckman – Newquay surfer Jessie has been recognised by the ESF for her personal skills, organisation and as a capable leader to put her in position to manage the team. She surfs competitively and can use her experience of contest surfing and also travel experience from Morocco to support team England in Casablanca.
Kerry Powell – Surf Judge on the UK Pro Surf tour with international judging under her belt also. Kerry has worked in judge, marketing or other surf related capacities with UKPSA, Wave Project, Newquay Activity Centre, Surfing Croyde Bay and Surfgirl just to name a few.
Coach – Dave Renaud – Dave brings over 20 years of competitive surf experience to the table as head coach for the English team. He has won and placed well in many South African and European events. His wealth of surf travel experience is valuable to the surfers alongside the surf coaching expertise.
Norman Wright – Longboarding Judge for the British Longboard Union as well as club contests such as those run by the Hotdoggers. has judged both national and international events.
Behind the scenes and before the surfers and support can even jet off to the European Surfing Championships there has been heaps of hard work by all at the English Surfing Federation. We need to thank them for putting a team together to represent our country.
The ESF would also like to greatly thank Newquay Activity Centre for its support and Ticket To Ride for the team kit.
