Returning for its 17th year in 2022, the BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE is continuing to build a strong legacy in encouraging young surfers from around the world to elevate their skills in the water and show their stoke for surfing to peers!
Presented for its second year by GoPro in 2022, the BL Blast Off Video Challenge has solidified its place within the global surfing community as being more than a fun competition and avenue for young surfers to make an impact as veritable stars in the making. The competition has also proven to be beneficial when it comes to cultivating a supportive and naturally inclusive environment for surfers across the globe to engage with their own surfing styles, and finesse their talents on the board.
Initially a physical, in-person event, the BL Blast Off Video Challenge pivoted to an online format with the onset of covid restrictions; yet since this move in 2020, the scope of the competition has broadened, and the momentum and love for the BL Blast Off Video Challenge has grown exponentially.
For the BL Blast Off Video Challenge in 2022, two new categories have been entered via GoPro: ‘Best GoPro POV’ (best single wave shot on a GoPro camera) and ‘Best GoPro Edit’ (best edit shot on a GoPro). Submissions for the competition are open now for a duration of six weeks, closing on December 3rd.
“GoPro has always been our principle choice as presenting sponsor and to have them onboard for the third year running is powerful for us all. We share so many goals from empowering the individual to capturing and sharing that moment and I can’t wait to see what this year delivers.” — BARTON LYNCH
"GoPro is excited to return as the presenting partner for the 2022 BL Blast Off, a new age content driven competition aimed at developing and stoking the younger generations of surfers. GoPro was born in the surf, and we continue to change the way that our community capture, create and share their experiences making memories that last forever."
CARLOS McCARTHY, GOPRO
Established back in its physical form in 2006 by 1988 World Surfing Champion Barton Lynch, initially as a coaching program and surfing championship based in Sydney, Australia, the BL BLAST OFF brand quickly grew into an internationally recognised and respected title.
Recent years have seen the competition branch out and expand into the international market, with world class surfers (Vahine Fierro, Jack Robinson, Kyuss King, Erin Brooks and more!) and coaches providing feedback and advice on each video submission entered. At its heart, the BL Blast Off Video Challenge remains part coaching program/part surfing championship, now inclusive of over 20 countries as it enters its third year in the video format.
KEY DATES FOR 2022 BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE
6am AEST October 22nd 2022 / 12pm PST 21st October: Submissions Open
12pm AEST December 3rd 2022 / 6pm PST December 22nd 2022: Submissions Close
As the world enters a post-covid brand of normalcy, the BL Blast Off Challenge is already thinking ahead to 2023 and their calendar of events. For now though, the 2022 BL Blast Off Video Challenge is the marquee event of the year, with Barton Lynch extremely excited to see video submissions starting to stream in.
“We will resume our program of physical events in 2023 with the Maldives in April and our pioneering Sydney Blast Off later in the year, but for now my focus is on spreading the stoke through the video challenge and helping more kids than ever before to rip and love surfing.” — BARTON LYNCH
Once videos have been submitted, a select panel of judges will consider each clip, deciding a series of age group champions, as well as awarding winners in special categories including Best Wave, Best Tube, Best Air and Worst Wipeout. Weekly prizes include the ‘Most Entertaining Clips’ and ‘Kids Who Bring The STOKE!’ and will be awarded each day of this six week period for the impressive grommets who land on their radar.
The 2022 BL Blast Off Video Challenge will be hosted on the official Barton Lynch website, as well as official YouTube Channels.
Surfers in both boys and girls 14 Years and Under (as of December 3rd), from anywhere in the world, can submit video entries shot any time during 2022. These clips can feature a single wave, a single manoeuvre, or fully edited clips of maximum one minute in length.
Winners will be announced in the following categories:
Best GoPro POV Best GoPro Edit Peoples Choice Experts Choice Worst Wipeoout Best Tube Best Air Best Wave Overall ‘Best Edit’ BL’s MVP
Divisional Winners in age groups 14s, 12s, 10s, 8s and 6s
2022 BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE SPONSORS
GoPro
Perfect Wave Travel
Channel Islands
Lost Mayhem
SunBum
Hurley
Futures Fins
Shark Banz
Surf Lakes
Spy Optics
Creatures of Leisure
Amazon Power
Beecraft
Mexicano Restaurant
Mink Systems
Sunrise Shack
beehive
For more information, click here.
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