Steve Horn - the daddy of the WCSC contacted 'Off The Lip' HQ and asked if we were prepared to do battle against them, The Christian Surfers, the mighty OLA (Ogmore Liberation Army) and various others in aid of the Tsunami surf appeal. Naturally, we jumped at the chance to raise some money for a great cause and stamp our authority on the surfing world! ;)

Our team consisted of some of the messageboards finest! Shortboarders and Longboarders set aside their differences and stood tall, united, for this monumentous occasion. Our team consisted of:

Shortboarders:
Mart, Rattz, Walker Texas Ranger, Johny Rainbow, Bonz, Martin, Henry,
Longboarders:
Aran, Dan, Squirrel, Kev, Werg
Womens:
Chelle, Nerys, Nicola, Vicky

Sat morning 7.30 am...I met up with Steve Horn and he introduced me to the new love of his life - a pre-fab scaffold/judging tower, complete with wheels and seating area! As we assembled the mechano monster, Rest Bay was shaping up nicely. The wind was light with clean 3ft waves and warm sun. We couldn't have asked for more.

The judges from each team were briefed and the first heats got underway. The format consisted of four man, 15 minute heats. A maximum of ten waves were allowed with a riders best two best waves counting towards their final score. The event brought together many top riders including Simon Tucker, Greg Owen, Rhino, Elliot Dudley, Dan Harris, Anne Gallagher and Renee Godfrey.

The comp got underway around 9.30am with the Juniors and Womens events going first. The turn out was amazing with around 90 surfers eventually made the trip up and down the coast for the event. WCSC, Christian Surfers - Wales, Off The Lip and OLA all produced teams. Where they all dissapeared to on Sat night for the bbq is anyone's guess though?

By the end of day one, most of the round one heats had taken place and the sun went down on a clean 3-4ft swell. OTL had taken a few casualties on the way with only Mart, Squirrel, Vicky and Chelle left in the event. Squirrel bailed on his heat so Ratter stepped up and an epic Longboard battle ensued...

With Elliot Dudley in our heat it was always going to be a battle for third place but to our surprise a longboarder from the Christian Surfers - Wales finished last! I snuck 2nd and Ratter came in a close third.

Sat night arrived and so did the rain! The rain had given us all a good soaking throughout the day with warm sunny spells breaking through every now and again. Specatators definitely deserve medals for standing out there during the down pours. At one point we had thunder and lightening but the heats went on nevertheless.

Despite the rain Steve Horn pressed on with the bbq and we all ate and drank into the early hours, some of us more than others! Ratter, Werg and Malcom - the landlord of the Jolly Sailor managed to push the boat out and there were a few casualties the following day, notably Kev!

There were alot of sunglasses being worn early on Sunday morning...The Semi Finals, Quarters and Finals of Longboard, Shortboard and Womens events all had to be decided.

The wind had swung more Southerly so Rest Bay wasn't as clean but there was definitely contestable surf so we battled on. The first heat of the morning was my shortboard heat two...Sadly the waves had all but dissapeared and I was duly knocked out in 1ft slop with 'Worm' and 'Simon Tucker' progressing. The competition was then put on hold for two hours due to a lack of swell but within half an hour, the banks started firing again so the call went out to round up the competitors - it was back on with the swell suddenly picking up to a clean 2-3ft!

The womens heats were up next and by the end of it all we had two OTL girls in the final! No mean feat considering the other two have both won National Championships!

The waves steadily improved throughout the day with some perfect 3-4ft peaks appearing around 3pm. I almost became a Longboard convert during the semi'a of the Longboard as wave after perfect wave appeared and I even managed to turn Kev's board! Tim and Dan went through to the finals and I duly took my place back up at 'Malcs Cafe'.

The wind unfortunately picked up and went onshore. The waves for the finals were nudging 4ft+ on sets but very lumpy and messy. The Longboarders made the best of it with some impressive nose rides and gouging cutbacks in the tricky, high tide conditions. Steve Horn, Elliot Dudley, Dan Harris and Tim Aylett all had nice rides but Elliot was on fire and took victory.

Elliot had also reached the shortboard final so literally had to paddle in, swap boards and get back out there. The waves had gone horribly lumpy and getting a decent ride was proving difficult. Elliot took an early lead with a couple of nice rights and some useful snaps.

Greg and Rhino had a mini battle going on out on the far left but Greg manage to snag most of the set waves and strung together some impressive rides with 2-3 big snaps per wave. Worm and Rhino struggled to find the waves and after 25 mins, Greg was the clear winner.

Back up to 'Malcs Cafe' for the ceremony where prizes were awarded to the best unsponsored riders and highest placed scorers in the teams. OTL's best were in the Womens category with Vicky coming in second and Chelle fourth in her first ever event so well done to the girls!

Thanks to Malc for keeping us fed and watered, Steve Horn for organising the event, all the teams and surfers who entered, the judges, Surf Life saving club for use of their facilities, The Jolly Sailor, Realm, Guru and the guy who built the judging tower!

Open:
1. Greg Owen
2. Elliot Dudley
3. Rudi 'worm' Davies
4. James 'rhino' Thomas

Longboard:
1. Elliot Dudley
2. Dan Harris
3. Tim Aylett
4. Steve Horn

Junior:
1. Josh Trotman
2. Rob Blythe
3. Tom Bentley
4. Max Tucker

Women:
1. Renne Godfrey
2. Vicky
3. Anne Gallagher
4. Chelle