Despite some early wet weather this morning at Newquay’s Fistral Beach, the Rip Curl Boardmasters launched into action at 8am this morning with the opening round of the 5 star Men’s World Qualifying Series (WQS) contest. The opening round featured 12, four-man heats, with the event’s unseeded competitors battling the tricky 2-3ft (0.5-1m) surf in 20-minute spurts.


Eight British surfers paddled out in Round 1, all hopeful of winning through their opening heats and impressing the large local crowd.

Mark Harris (GBR), Johnny Fryer (GBR), Sam Lamiroy (GBR), Matt Capel (GBR), Oli Adam