A Newquay surfing club has launched a fundraiser after being invited to compete in a world-famous surf event in Australia.

Newquay Boardriders based at Fistral Beach has been selected to take part in the Usher Cup World Cup challenge at Snapper Rocks between January 17 to 19, 2025.

The club has to select one female and three male surfers to make up the team to compete against the best surf clubs from around the world, which will include 24 international clubs and 24 Australian clubs.

Lauren Sandland, the Boardmasters junior champion and reigning British women’s champion, has been chosen as the team’s women’s competitor. Lukas Skinner, the Boardmasters open men’s and junior champion and reigning world Rip Curl Grom Search under 16 champion, has been selected to fill one of the men’s spaces.

Newquay Boardriders surf contest director Zoe Sheath decided the fairest way to decide the two remaining men’s places is to stage two surf competitions when conditions were favourable.

Excitement is building about the Usher Cup at Newquay Boardriders (Picture: Warren Wilkins)

Fynn Gillespie is currently in top spot and Johan Pegg is in second following the first contest held at Fistral on October 6, which saw 20 competitors take part. Hot on their heels is Gadge Llewellyn in third, Gabe Llewellyn in fourth, Alex Ashen in fifth and Sol Hawkins in sixth.

Newquay Boardriders will be raising funds in the next few months to send its team to the Usher Cup. A raffle and auction will be held at Fistral Beach Bar on Saturday, November 30.

The finalists in the first surf comp (Picture: Geoff Tydeman)

Gazzer Collins, Newquay Boardriders vice chairman, said: “As a local club Newquay Boardriders is overwhelmed and over the moon that we have been officially invited to compete in the Usher Cup World Club.

“It is the first time an English club has been invited to this world-famous surfing event.

“This invite not only has huge ramifications for the future of Newquay Boardriders but also the progression level of British surfing as a whole.

“Snapper Rocks located at the southern end of the Gold Coast is an iconic destination known the world over for its flawless waves, vibrant atmosphere and the surfing lifestyle it embodies.

“Famous for its consistently perfect waves and peeling right handers. To paddle out from behind the rocks at Snapper is the stuff bucket lists are made of.

“The level of excitement running through Newquay Boardriders members at the moment is literally at an all-time high and from a club perspective it doesn’t get any better than this.

“This invite is testament to the impact Newquay Boardriders has had over the last few years due to the hard work put in by its committee members.

“This event will be live streamed and people will be able to watch all of the Newquay Boardriders competitors in action as it unfolds. It will also give some of our lucky club members an opportunity to take their surfing skills to the next level competing against past and present world famous elite surfers which otherwise would be virtually impossible.”

A surfer carves a huge cut back in the trails competition (Picture: Geoff Tydeman)

Snapper Rocks Surf Club president Jay Phillips said: “As a contest our journey began with a vision to create a one-of-a-kind surf contest.

“We wanted to shine a spotlight on grassroots Boardriders clubs giving young talent from around the world a chance to shine and compete against the best surfers on the planet.

“Once again, the response from the world’s Boardriders clubs has been epic and we have secured record international entries and locked in the biggest Boardriders clubs from round Australia.

“It’s fair to say the eyes of the world’s surfing community will once again be firmly set on Snapper Rocks in 2025 as the Usher Cup World Cup challenge lifts to a whole new level.”

Anyone who would like to support Newquay Boardriders send its team to the Usher Cup can email [email protected]

Pictures in the video taken by Geoff Tydeman.