Words: Steve White Photos: Craig Nicol
Langland Board Rider’s Patrick Langdon-Dark topped the podium in the Men’s Open, while Josie Hawke of Pembrokeshire Surf Club (PSC) won the Women’s Open title.
Thanks to its infrastructure that supports event live streaming, Llantwit Major is the usual venue of choice for the Welsh Nationals, but swell forecasts turned organisers’ eyes towards Pembrokeshire this year, and we were not disappointed.
Business was finalised across all other categories at Fresh West, where solid southerly swell and sunshine made for an outstanding three days of competition.
On the Friday, senior rounds got underway in 4-5ft surf with brisk offshores making for challenging conditions. Nevertheless, the sea was torn to shreds by Men’s Open heats which culminated in a final notable for its absence of 2025 Welsh champion, Eli Perrins-Davies. Despite storming through his early heats, the Channel Coast Surf Club (CCSC) youngster couldn’t quite find his rhythm in the semis and failed to progress.
Josie said:
“I wasn’t feeling that great after the heat before, but I was pleased to go out there and get some nice waves. The banks were starting to work a bit better so it was nice to get some good ones. I got a decent left and then a couple of rights, so yeah, I’m stoked.”
Standards stayed high for the Boys U18 finale, with LBR’s Max Davies’ confident display earning top honours. The Langland grom’s vibrant all-out approach reflected time spent under the supervision of coach, Patrick Langdon-Dark. Elijah Jones gave everything as always, his combined 8.33 landing second place. Pembs and Swansea shared the spoils in the remaining places, with Ryan Croucher (LBR) coming in third, and Fyn Bell (PSC) fourth.
WSF Director Mark Vaughan said:
“Big thank you to National Trust Wales and Pembrokeshire Council for helping us out at the last minute and allowing us to use Freshwater West as our back-up venue. Thank you to Phil Sadler for helping out with the organising, also to Tim Aylett, Craig Burrows, Steve White, Craig Nicol and WSF Chairman, Huw John. Also thanks to Jamie Bateman at Surfline for guiding us through the weekend’s swell forecasts.”
Huge thanks also to our sponsors: Puravida Boardriders, MiPost, Mystic, Welsh Coffee Co. and Barti.
Congratulations to all entrants and huge thanks to all involved.
RESULTS
U14 Girls
1st Katerina Roth-Gale (LBR) 10.66
2nd Summer-Marie Moore (WCSC) 9.64
3rd Alma Buick (PSC) 4.17
U16 Girls
1st Josie Hawke (PSC) 11.84
2nd Katerina Roth-Gale (LBR) 6.37
3rd Alma Buick (PSC) 4.94
4th Florence Curren (PSC) 2.60
U18 Girls
1st Katerina Roth-Gale (LBR) 6
2nd Indi Lynch (PSC) 5.63
3rd Josie Hawke (PSC) 5.10
4th Summer-Marie Moore (WCSC) 4.84
Women’s Open
1st Josie Hawke (PSC) 13.17
2nd Indi Lynch (PSC) 7.43
3rd Sindia Sosdian (CWSC) 4.33
4th Georgina Lewtas (PSC) 2
Women’s Longboard
1st Sindia Sosdian (CWSC) 6.27
2nd Amelia Dickinson (WSF) 6
3rd Georgina Lewtas (PSC) 4.5
2nd Elen Jones 2
· Pembrokeshire Surf Club Paul ‘Spyder’ Ryder Award: Alma Buick (PSC)
· Barti Wave of the Welsh: Shared between Patrick Langdon-Dark (LBR) and Harry Cromwell (PSC). Highest scoring wave: 8.33
