RedBull surf competition
On Friday night after week without walls my family and I along with my best friends family drove over to Hikkaduwa beach where we booked a small hotel. I had by board with me as we checked in and I was so excited but equally as nervous. Ethan and myself went exploring down the beach finding fun places and people who were in the competition too. We didn’t find that much so we went down the beach to dinner where we met an old OSC student who came to Sri Lanka with the Maldivian national surf team. At this point I didn’t have much hope but I decided I was in it for the experience.
I set my alarm for 6am where I woke up, showered, grabbed my board and ran down to the beach. I had a 5 minute walk down the the point where the comp was being held, the waves were pumping 4-6 foot and the A frame was looking really nice. I got down to the area and I had to register it took me 30 minutes but I was finally done, it took way too long. I got the heat sheet and realised I was heat 13 so I had a long wait, my heat was after lunch. I sat and watched the waves for about an hour while I waxed my board up, watching the heats so by, one of my friends comes over to me and tells me I have the best surfer in Sri Lanka in my heat. GREAT. I go back to my hotel and grab some breakfast and head straight back down with my board where I got in down the beach and had a quick practice surf to get warmed up. As my heat approached they switched over to the woman’s heats, so I had to wait even longer.
Finally all the heats were done and I was called up, my heart was racing as I walked over to the tent to collect my jersey. I got the purple jersey and went to see my family before I went out. They all said good luck and then I walked to the water stood there for a second and glided in. I started paddling on the far right so I wasn’t near the big waves yet I still had 10 minutes till my heat started. I had 30 minutes to get the highest score I could, as I was out there I was talking to the guys in my heat and I stood no chance but I was saying to myself “just have fun”. Thats what I did, the horn went and the heat started I caught the first wave of the heat it was one of the biggest waves I’ve ever caught, I think it was about 6ft and completely over head and it was on my back hand I had a good ride but only one turn. I then had a couple other waves and the last wave I got I caught it and managed to do 3 turns on it and I was really happy with it. I almost got a barrel also but I did quite get it. After 30 minutes the horn went and the heat was over and I definitely didn’t make it through but I had loads of fun and had some good waves. I also got 2 free RedBulls so that was a bonus. Overall great weekend and great comp and I am definitely doing it again next year.