Scotland's top surfers to compete for national title at Scottish National Surfing Championships at Thurso-East

Scotland’s top surfers are set to compete for a national title as the championship event returns to Thurso.

This year’s Scottish National Surfing Championships offers bigger stakes as it could act as a qualifying step for the Scotland team ahead of the ISA World Surfing Games in 2025.

The event is set to take place from March 29-31 and will see the likes of five-time champion Phoebe Strachan hit the waves to protect her title in the Open Women event.

Phoebe Strachan competing at Gathering of the Clans in 2022. Malcom Anderson

Mark Boyd, last year’s champion in the Masters category, will hope to take home his third consecutive championship win.

Boyd will also take part in the Open Men event and hope to claim his fourth Open Men title after coming second to Craig McLachlan, who also won the junior event last year.

“I’m really looking forward to competing in this year’s event as there is such a high calibre of surfers coming through really pushing the level of surfing in Scotland,” the surfer said.

Spectators at the 2023 Scottish National Surfing Championship. Supplied

The contest will once again take place at one of Scotland’s most formidable surfing locations, Thurso-East, overlooking the remains of Thurso Castle.

The location is famed for its cold water surfing and has welcomed surfers from all over the world to take on the brutal conditions.

The competition divisions at the event will include Open Men, Open Women, Masters (35+) and Grand Kahunas (50+) with the Longboard division will take place at Pease Bay in the Scottish Borders in April and the Juniors will take place in Tiree later in the year.

Jason Simpson, director at the Scottish Surfing Federation, said: “The Scottish Surfing Championships have been going for more than 50 years now and it is always one of the highlights in the Scottish surfing calendar.

“Thurso-East is an incredible location to surf and will provide excellent conditions for competition as well as a memorable spectator experience.

“We have a really strong field this year in all of our categories and are expecting some great rivalries.

“We are hugely grateful to all of our partners and sponsors for their support which will ensure this weekend will be a brilliant event.”

Paul Bush OBE, director of events at EventScotland, said: “EventScotland is delighted to be supporting the Scottish National Surfing Championships through our National Events Programme.

“Events play an important role in our communities by offering us the chance to come together and share memorable experiences while also bringing social and economic benefits.

“Thurso East will provide the perfect stage for the Championships, and I wish everyone competing over the Easter weekend the best of luck.”