On Friday 21st September, local Newquay surfer Russell Winter dominated the finals of the second annual Nike Night Surf at Fistral Beach in Cornwall. In the first UK Pro Tour stop of the year, Winter's wave selection and quality of surfing manoeuvres left the other finalists struggling to find a winning response in the 2 - 4ft swell.
Under the artificial flood lighting, which make the waves more difficult to read, Winter's confidence and natural ability shone through to take a points lead over the original final favourites Lewis Clinton and an in-form Jayce Robinson.
In the Women's event 14-year-old Croyde surfer Peony Knight claimed her first senior women's title and became one of the youngest surfers to ever take a win at this level in the UK.
The Pro Jnr. title was won by rising star Jobe Harriss from Bude who, after progressing through three rounds in the Open category, picked off his opponents in the Pro Jnr. division and battled in the finals to take the top podium position after being pushed hard by 2nd place surfer Luis Eyre.
Dave Reed of the UK Pro Surf Tour said "This was another fantastic Night Surf event by Nike, with competitors giving a display of progressive surfing in contest conditions over both days."
All podium finishers shared competition winnings from the largest prize purse on the UK Pro Tour and picked up the first points in the tour series. On Saturday night spectators also enjoyed a special screening of Kai Neville's Surfing film 'Dear Suburbia', featuring Nike Surfing's Kolohe Andino & Julian Wilson.
Open
1st Russell Winter 2500
2nd Jayce Robinson 2150
3rd Johnny Fryer 1825
4th Lewis Clinton 1675
Pro Jnr
1st Jobe Harriss 2500
2nd Luis Eyre 2150
3rd Luke Dillon 1825
4th Taz Knight 1675
Womens
1st Peony Knight 1500
2nd Evie Johnson 1290
3rd Holly Donnelly 1095
4th Jaide Lowe 1005