The 2023/24 European Qualifying Series (QS) and Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) seasons are set to get underway today at Boardmasters Open.
Pictured: Thomas Ledee (FRA), unmatched at Fistral last year. Credit: © WSL / Masurel
The QS1,000 Animal Pro and LQS1,000 Boardmasters Longboard Pro are here to launch regional surfers’ efforts to qualify for the superior tier of competition. In the shortboard division, this is the Challenger Series (CS), an international tour taking surfers across the world for a chance to reach the ultimate dream, the Championship Tour (CT). Longboarders fight directly on the European LQS to join the world’s best surfers on the Longboard Tour.
It’s the first time European surfers will compete on home turf since the previous season wrapped in April, and anticipation runs high among tour stars, young up-and-comers and the local brits eager to join the party and battle with the continent’s best.
The reigning event winners at Fistral will all be there to defend their titles, namely Thomas Ledee (FRA) and Yolanda Hopkins (POR) in the QS as well as Nicolas Andrade (ESP) and Alice Lemoigne (FRA) in the LQS. A lot hangs in the balance as surfers vye to start their campaign with a bang at Fistral. The summer leg features multiple back-to-back events across England, France, Spain and Portugal and it’s important to kick it off the right way and carry momentum into the bigger events of the late summer.
The opening day will see the men's Round of 64 hit the lineup first and the women's Round of 32 scheduled for later in the day. Small conditions for the opening two days of the event's waiting period will then be long forgotten when a big pulse of swell and strong winds reach the Cornwall shores on Friday and hang on for the weekend.
Boardmasters, a True Surf & Music Festival Experience
If our focus remains on the lineup when the horn sounds, there will be plenty of entertainment on land as well during Boardmasters week at Fistral. The Surf Village makes its welcome return hosting a wide range of local and international brands, charities and traders including Carve and SurfGirl, WWF, Greenpeace, TUCCA Swim and many more. There will even be a photo booth to capture those unforgettable summer memories.
Music is also a big part of the vibe at Fistral, especially at the Beach Bar that offers unparalleled sea vista views across The Atlantic Ocean. Join festival-goers from day into night as they enjoy a drink with friends in the sunshine, watch the pro surf competitions and soak up breathtaking sunsets with top DJ’s soundtracking the Boardmasters experience.
Boardmasters Open surfing events are scheduled from August 9-13, 2023 at Fistral Beach, Cornwall - England and registrations are now open. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com.
Boardmasters Open surfing events including the QS 1,000 Animal Mens and Womens Pro, the LQS 1,000 Boardmasters Longboard Pro and the Boardmasters Junior Open are supported by Rubicon RAW Energy, FULFIL and Animal as well as media partners Carve and SurfGirl.
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