Surfers on crest of a winning wave

NUIG were hosts of the surfing intervarsities which were held in Strandhill, Co Sligo on February 13^th to 14^th. The NUIG Surf Club has been the title holder of the Irish Surfing Association Student Intervarsities for the past five years. A very poor swell forecast meant that on Friday morning the contest was almost called off. Instead a decision was made to run the entire event on Saturday, which promised to have better waves. A total of 120 competitors took part in five different categories: men’s open, women’s open, longboard, body board, and beginners. The event was held in one to two foot surf, with a light offshore breeze for most of the day. Clear skies and sunshine allowed spectators to watch from the car park, and Incide Surf Shop from Cork provided entertainment in the form of music and a much-appreciated barbeque. The beach was split into two separate contest zones to allow the beginners competition to take place at the same time as the main event.

Over 43 beginners took part, making it one of the biggest completions of the event and the only beginner competition in the British Isles.

After the finals of the men’s and women’s open, 30 people took part in a fun expression session, with spot prizes being awarded for the best fancy dress costume, best wipeout, best headstand and the best tandem surf attempt.

Next year the event will be held in Bundoran, and co-hosted by UUC and NUIG.

Rip Curl were the main sponsors, and the competition was judged by the Irish Surfing Association.

Pictured below is Mens Open Champion Ollie O'Flaherty.

Galway Winners

Mens Open

1st Ollie O’Flaherty NUIG

2nd Owen Murphy GMIT

3rd Hugh Galloway NUIG

4th Rob Cahill NUIG

Womens Open

3rd Rebecca Pigott NUIG

4th Elisha Hickey NUIG

Longboard

Ist Stephen Kelleher NUIG

2nd Baron Tomlinson NUIG