Newsletter join now Keep in touch with all the latest surf news, green scene and partner info by joining the Drift weekly update. SIGN UP NOW
What are we made of? Drift Magazine is made from ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) FSC Certified pulp and low VOC vegetable inks. Studio power by Ecotricity and delivery made using Biopower V100 waste oil.
23/02/2006:// Guernsey surfer Matt Le Maitre has been selected for the Plymouth University squad at next months British Universities Surfing Championships in Cornwall.
Le Maitre won the trials, scoring a nine-point wave on his way to victory. Plymouth are the reigning men's champions and the event at Fistral Beach, in Newquay, in early March is expected to attract 1500 competitors and supporters.
Fistral Beach is world famous for staging the Rip Curl Boardmasters each August. That event boasts some of the top names in the sport.
The Universities Championships (or the Student Nationals, as the event is also known) is also major date on the UK's annual surfing calendar. The competition is renowned for being the single largest surfing event in Europe with over 450 competitors.
The event will consist of individual men's and ladies open divisions, with a concurrent team competition. Universities battle it out in teams of four for the prestige of being the UK's top surfing university.
As part of the wider BUSA competition, the university teams will also accumulate points towards the British University Sports Association Championships which includes sports as diverse as Karate and Table Tennis - as well as surfing.
In the men's division, all eyes will be on South West based surfer Nick Tiscoe as he attempts to defend the title he won last year, but as always there will be tough competition.
Leading the pack will be last year's runner-up Christian Boletta, and 2004 winner James Hick from Exeter Uni.
Former winners of the event include Nick Reid, Dan Joel and Sam Lamiroy - all of whom have gone on to pursue professional surfing careers. The stakes are high for some of Britain's best up-coming talent.
In the ladies division, last year's winner Zoe Parsons from Marjons will face challenges from the likes of Plymouth's Nina Blake and Swansea's Beth Price.
In the team event Plymouth Uni (who have won the men's title three times in the last five years) will be defending their 2005 title from usual challengers Exeter, Bristol, and Marjons. Meanwhile, Marjons' ladies team will be hoping to see off Swansea and Exeter who have long traditions of success in the women's event.
This year promises to be an exciting contest as the standard continues to improve with inland and northern universities fielding better and more experienced teams.
Students wishing to take part should contact their Student Union.