Oceanperf Challenge 2023 Announcement.
Oceanperf Challenge UK, Wednesday 16th August, Branksome Chine
Lifesavers will get the chance to race off at the famous shore break of Hossegor on the 5th and 6th of August, then follow it up in front of the crowds at Branksome Chine on the 16th of August.
The Oceanperf Challenge is expanding to the UK, happening at Branksome Chine on Wednesday 16th August, this will be the first time the competition has happened in the UK.
The French edition attracting 400 plus athletes from all over Europe such as Robert Whitaker, Ellie McCloy, and Santo Etcheverry.
2022 Oceanperf Challenge in France, Etcheverry from Biarritz won the ocean-man ahead of Whitaker, in a spectacular finish that had Whitaker from Woolacombe diving off his board in the shore dump.
Nikita Nijssen-Seran from Hossegor at the age of 16 was victorious in the ocean-woman.
Expect world class athletes like Gyllyngvase’s Thomas Trebilcock in the swim and Piran Phillips of Portreath in the ski to be there going for the maiden challenge titles.
McCloy spoke on the Oceanperf podcast about racing lifesaver’s from around the world: “Racing people you don’t know, it’s pretty scary… but I just love it and it’s an awesome experience.”
This summer, lifesavers will be able to compete in the iron, swim, board, ski, and flags at the British edition.
The format for the day of racing at Branksome, will be heats during the morning, then finals for each race in late afternoon, the flags being the final event in front of the bar and DJ decks.
Ages of people turning 15 this year and older will be eligible to race, in one open format.
The first ever edition of the Oceanperf Challenge took place in 2010 at Hossegor.
Since then, famous faces like Australians Naomi Flood and James Lacy have been victorious at the challenge, but the iron has been dominated by “The French professor” Jonathan Despergers.
Despergers from Biarritz has won the iron at the challenge seven times, the now 36-year-old will still be a hot favourite for victory.
Portreath’s Charlie Haynes is Britain’s only ever champion in the iron event at the Challenge.
The Brits now have a home race, can the luck of the sea favour towards the hosts?
