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Newquay' s own aiming for second title
by George Mojo
29/03/2008:// The Headworx English nationals are scheduled to take place during the first weekend in May at Watergate Bay.
Adams, who last season competed on several legs of the World Qualifying Series tour, is the current Skinners Gold Rush big wave champion.
Now in its 36th year, the English Nationals will see over 300 surfers competing for the coveted division titles, but the winning junior surfers will also enhance their chances of representing England at the European Junior Surfing Championships later this year.
Last year’s Open final saw Adams take command in stormy 6-8ft waves to defeat Mitch Corbett in the final - Corbett was awarded the Randall Davies Memorial Trophy - with Constantine Bay's Reubin Pearce in third.
“Winning the English title last year meant a lot me,” said Adams. “I have been training hard this winter and am very focused on doing well in the competitive season ahead, and can’t think of a better start than holding on to the Open trophy.”
One young surfer to watch at the event is Extreme Academy team rider Harry Timson.
Widely acknowledged as one of England’s most exciting young surfing talents, Timson has exercised total domination in the under 12 division for the past two years, and will hope to continue his winning form as he moves up to the under 14 category.
Headworx UK team riders Johnny Fryer, from the Isle of Wight and South Devon' sMatt Capel will also be competing in the event.
Devon-born Capel has spent the winter in Australia and Hawaii, and the 22 year old is keen to start the season with a good performance at his sponsor’s event.
“You always want to win the English, it’s a big event and it’s different to the other competitions because the points count for national places,” said Capel.
“I made it to the quarter finals last year, but not it’s not what I’m in if for! I’d really like to do better this year. I’ve been training hard recently - there were three really good swells while I was in Hawaii with the team, and right now I’m in Scotland for a photo shoot. I surfed 6ft Thurso East for eight hours this week, so I’m feeling pretty good at the moment.”
This year will also see some new categories.
Already one of the largest surfing events in Europe, the English will expand again this year to a total of 24 divisions, including for the first time standup paddle surf.
The discipline, which combines elements of longboarding with traditional Polynesian outrigger canoes, sees surfers standing up on their boards using a single canoe paddle to power them into the waves.
The event is run by the English Surfing Federation (ESF), a non-profit-making organisation dedicated to the support and development of English surfers.
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