Boardmasters will kick off next week and launch a series of events across Europe, bringing hundreds of aspiring pro surfers to your breaks, starting at Fistral beach. We've just caught up with local pro Luke Dillon who gave us a few insider's tips to enjoy the festival week.
Luke on a solid Ribeira d'Ilhas wall at the World Junior Championships in 2014. - WSL / Damien Poullenot/ Aquashot
Luke's career started as a junior six years ago and culminated with a win in 2014 at his final under-21 event in Lanzarote. Since then, he's been scouring the QS planet for points and looks forward to coming home for a bit.
"For me Newquay is home, it's where I've lived all my life," he said. "When you travel around the world and see all those different cool places it makes you appreciate where you live and where all your friends and family are. The end of summer, start of Spring, so August / September and October are the best time to visit. It's still really warm(ish) and the waves are pretty good!"
Bevilacqua & Campbell come out on top of a stacked field at the 2016 Boardmasters, Cornwall.
So what exactly are we in for when we hit the southwest tip of England next week?
"Obviously you have to start with going to the beaches," he continued. "In town there's also a few new quirky little coffee shops and food shops if you're into that like me, bakeries, and quite a few cocktail bars now popping out too. If you head down to Fistral beach you got the fish&chips stand there, the beach bar and also the fish house so pretty good restaurants down there as well."
And if you're looking to bring home a little souvenir from Kernow, Luke's got you covered: "Easy! Cornish pasty and Korev lager!"
When the event starts, all the focus will switch to Fistral for the QS and longboard action with about 160 surfers battling out for the prestigious Boardmasters title. A lot is on the line in Newquay, while the QS athletes only start their regional leg, longboarders hit their final stop with the European Title up for grabs!
View from the headland where the skate and bmx comps are held. - WSL / Unknown
"Boardmasters for me is all about competing internationally against the best at the beach where I've been my whole life, so it's good for everyone to see English surfers competing again at Boardmasters," Luke added. "We used to go down as a family and watch it when the Brits were on, particularly Russel Winter, Alan Stokes and the Newquay boys. We used to watch it from the headland with Russel's camp and we'd all cheer when he caught a wave. It's a really important event for Newquay and Cornwall to show English surfing to the world."
"I'm competing around the world all the time so for me it's perfect to come home, sleep in my own bed and walk down to the beach with my friends. The home crowd support is massive and I count on everyone to cheer me on, so bring everyone down!"
Aerial view of the main stage at Watergate Bay. - WSL / Sam Neill (Boardmasters Festival)
When the sun sets and competition wraps up, enjoy five days and nights of music between the Beach Sessions and Day Sessions at Fistral, as well as the main acts at Watergate Bay on the weekend and the after-parties into the morning. Full line up right here.
Luke Dillon's Guide to Boardmasters Festival
Nicolas Leroy
Boardmasters will kick off next week and launch a series of events across Europe, bringing hundreds of aspiring pro surfers to your breaks, starting at Fistral beach. We've just caught up with local pro Luke Dillon who gave us a few insider's tips to enjoy the festival week.
Luke's career started as a junior six years ago and culminated with a win in 2014 at his final under-21 event in Lanzarote. Since then, he's been scouring the QS planet for points and looks forward to coming home for a bit.
"For me Newquay is home, it's where I've lived all my life," he said. "When you travel around the world and see all those different cool places it makes you appreciate where you live and where all your friends and family are. The end of summer, start of Spring, so August / September and October are the best time to visit. It's still really warm(ish) and the waves are pretty good!"
So what exactly are we in for when we hit the southwest tip of England next week?
"Obviously you have to start with going to the beaches," he continued. "In town there's also a few new quirky little coffee shops and food shops if you're into that like me, bakeries, and quite a few cocktail bars now popping out too. If you head down to Fistral beach you got the fish&chips stand there, the beach bar and also the fish house so pretty good restaurants down there as well."
And if you're looking to bring home a little souvenir from Kernow, Luke's got you covered: "Easy! Cornish pasty and Korev lager!"
When the event starts, all the focus will switch to Fistral for the QS and longboard action with about 160 surfers battling out for the prestigious Boardmasters title. A lot is on the line in Newquay, while the QS athletes only start their regional leg, longboarders hit their final stop with the European Title up for grabs!
"Boardmasters for me is all about competing internationally against the best at the beach where I've been my whole life, so it's good for everyone to see English surfers competing again at Boardmasters," Luke added. "We used to go down as a family and watch it when the Brits were on, particularly Russel Winter, Alan Stokes and the Newquay boys. We used to watch it from the headland with Russel's camp and we'd all cheer when he caught a wave. It's a really important event for Newquay and Cornwall to show English surfing to the world."
"I'm competing around the world all the time so for me it's perfect to come home, sleep in my own bed and walk down to the beach with my friends. The home crowd support is massive and I count on everyone to cheer me on, so bring everyone down!"
When the sun sets and competition wraps up, enjoy five days and nights of music between the Beach Sessions and Day Sessions at Fistral, as well as the main acts at Watergate Bay on the weekend and the after-parties into the morning. Full line up right here.
Luke Dillon
The QS3,000 ABANCA Pantin Classic Galicia Pro continues in fun surf and wraps two more rounds of competition.
Epic surfing goes down in solid surf as the Animal Pro QS1,000 runs through the Quarters at Fistral.
The Animal Pro QS1,000 officially gets Boardmasters action underway at Fistral with opening rounds disputed in clean little waves.
With a massive swell and horrible winds at the contest, surfers find their way to a secluded point and score an epic free surf.
Check out a selection of imagery from the last held events in Caparica.
Boardmasters, Quiksilver Open
Check out a selection of the best shots from last year's Boardmasters.
Ella Williams and Lliam Mortensen claim QS1,000 titles at Boardmasters Quiksilver and Roxy Opens.
QS Champs emerge on final day of Boardmasters, Quiksilver and Roxy Opens.
A mammoth day of competition decides most of the events' quarterfinalists and set the pace for an exciting finish on the weekend.
A long day of competition in difficult surf sets the pace for a potential great finish on the weekend.