analog_standby_contest
Held around the afternoon’s low tide, the rain-lashed event was a showcase for Croyde’s renowned waves, with 24 surfers battling for the £150 top prize.
With solid 3 to 4ft waves, the contest rattled along with outstanding surfing from the off.
The close-fought final was a nail-biting battle that saw Adam Thornton and Reubyn Ash trading high-scoring waves from the outset.
Ash pushed hard and looked to have won it until Thornton, riding a borrowed board having snapped his fins out in the semis, picked off a left and smashed out a turn followed by a huge floater that had the soggy crowd cheering.
“I’m so stoked with the win,” said Thornton. “I saw Reubes get some ace waves and just hoped I could match him.”
Tubemeister Mike Placket, from Westward Ho!, won the Monster Move — awarded for the highest-scoring wave by an unsponsored rider — bagging himself VIP tickets to see Metallica at the Sonisphere Festival.
Contest director Andrew Cotton said: “It was a great contest with everyone charging hard. The standby format allowed us to wait for the best waves and Croyde duly delivered.
“Big thanks to everyone who turned up despite the rain and well done to our champ Adam.”
Matt Jenkins finished third and Placket fourth.
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