34 of the UK’s best surf athletes will be heading to Surf Snowdonia in North Wales this weekend to compete in its unique one-day inland competition: the Surf Snowdonia Pro Surf Challenge.
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The Surf Snowdonia event, which is now in its third year, will take place on Sunday September 16th, 2018.
The UK Pro Surf Association (UKPSA), organisers of the UK Pro Surf Tour and Europe’s only pro surf competition event to take place inland, has also announced it will introduce equal prize money for male and female competitors from 2019.
David Reed, director of the UKPSA said:
[/aoa]“We’re delighted to make our milestone announcement about equality as we head to what is one of the event highlights of our year at Surf Snowdonia.
“Surfing has clearly reached a point where it needs equality in how we reward our athletes. Our decision to offer equal prize money across male and female divisions represents our commitment to all surfers, regardless of their gender.”
The UKPSA’s announcement comes in the same week that the World Surf League announced gender parity when it comes to competition prize money.
Andy Ainscough, managing director of Surf Snowdonia said:
“The UK Pro Surf and World Surf League’s announcements about equal prize money are something we applaud and endorse one hundred percent. Surf Snowdonia is totally committed to equal opportunity regardless of gender – it’s what inspired our Girls on Board initiative and the Women in Sport Conferencewhich we hosted in partnership with the Network She Foundation earlier this year.
“Our surf community is a great example to the world, and we hope sports organisations around the globe will sit up, take notice and take appropriate action of their own.”
The Surf Snowdonia UK Pro Surf Challenge will get underway at 8:00am on Sunday 16th September 2018 and is set to draw a large family crowd for a day of intense but friendly knock-out competition. The world-first inland lagoon offers a unique opportunity for surf fans to get up close to their heroes and see exactly what is happening on the waves.
Head of Surf Snowdonia’s surf academy, multiple Welsh Champion and former Surf Snowdonia Pro Surf Champion Jo Dennison will be competing. Jo is currently top of the UKPSA’s women’s open leader board. Surf Snowdonia instructor Zac Pierce gets a wildcard to join the competition.
Parking and entry to watch the event, which has been sponsored by Conwy County Borough Council, will be free of charge. There will be indoor as well as outdoor seated and standing viewing areas, and free parking on site. Refreshments and snacks will be available all day at the Surf Snowdonia restaurant, deli and bar.
