Saturday the 12th of April saw the Scottish Junior National Surfing Championships return to Fraserburgh on what would be the 50th Anniversary of Scottish Surfing Federation. The first ever Scottish national event first run in the Broch back in 1974.
A closely tracked weather system in the week leading up to the event was studied and the event was eventually called ON midweek, by event hosts Broch Surf Club, with signs of a favourable 2-3ft north swell forecast at main beach on the Saturday.
Competitors, judges & officials assembled at main beach Fraserburgh as the sun was rising welcomed by a lone Catamaran silhouette in the bay with clean blissful head high lines peeling onto the shoreline.
The Scottish National Junior Surfing Championships 2025 were well and truly on, with a busy day ahead to crown our 2025 National champions.
First heat was underway at around 07:30, a testament to the slick background support network, with the well-oiled machine now that is Scottish Surfing.
Under 18 Girls were first in the water with local shredder Lola Mitchell starting strong. Early surprise exit from the event was (North Shore Surf Club) and reigning Scottish Under 18 champion Olivia Mackay, surfing well in the event but just falling short in what was arguably the toughest heat draw in the event. Beatrix Brown now residing in Algarve Portugal along with Callie Cruickshank (Broch Surf Club) and Athena Santoris (Edinburgh & Borders Surf Club) progressing through to the Under 18 Girls Final.
The Boys Under 18 early rounds followed with some standout performances from Israel Noble (Broch Surf Club), Tam Hood, Ansel Parkin, Rudi Forrest & Charlie Pugh (all of Belhaven Surf Club) with all progressing through the rounds and into the Under 18 Boys final bar Charlie Pugh.
By late morning the sun was out and the temperatures on the beach were reaching the high teens. Crowds of spectators gathered throughout the day on what felt was a festival like atmosphere along the beach promenade, welcomed by background music from Iain Pugh @ vision events and the legend that is Scot Surf as MC for the day relaying the scores to the competitors & spectators alike.
The favourable conditions all morning allowed the young athletes to showcase their skills and display some real high performance & progressive surfing.
Under 16 Girls were next up in the water and it was the local duo of Callie Cruickshank and Lola Mitchell both of Broch Surf Club making the most of their local knowledge to progress comfortably through the early rounds along with Erin Paterson and Rae Hood both of (Belhaven Surf Club) into the under 16 Girls Final.
The Under 16 Boys was arguably the most hotly contested and most exciting category of the event with a real depth of talent in this age group. Local Broch Surf Club surfers Gabriel Noble and Kai Cruickshank were dangerous draws in the event, using their local knowledge and positioning to their advantage, mixed up with progressive surfing approach they made their way to the Under 16 Boys final along with Ansel Parkin and Tam Hood (both Belhaven Surf Club). Special mention to Kai Cruickshank, aged at only 12 years, stepping up a division was really making a statement to the older athletes that he is one to watch in the future.
The lunchtime high tide provided the Under 14 division an opportunity to showcase their skills to the large assembling crowd. The raised level promenade and the soars of spectators and supporters created an amphitheatre like environment and made for a brilliant atmosphere.
Great early performances from young North Shore Surf Club duo Scarlett Heddle and Skye Brock paved their way to the U14 Final along with event favourite Maya Kobedza (Sandend Surf Club) and Belhaven Surf Clubs Erin Paterson. Unfortunately for young shredder Rae Hood (Belhaven Surf Club) who picked up an ankle injury mid event and had to retire. Heal up quickly Rae and big thanks to our water safety on the day Martin Mcqueenie for looking after our competitors.
Over 45 x 20 minute heats progressed like clockwork throughout the day with thanks to the legendary beach marshals Marcelle Lockhart & Claire Mackay, keeping us all on our toes and a welcoming smile !
The national finals kicked off around 14:00, with the tide dropping out and the swell decaying. Waves remained very consistent in the shoulder high region but a stiffening south east breeze made for trickier conditions. Wave selection, equipment selection and good use of tactical priority would prove to be key in securing the sought after Scottish National Junior Titles.
The Under 12 division kicked us off to crown our national surfing champions. It was a 2 way affair with Oscar Morgan (Aberdeen Surf Club) and Reuben Milbourne (Tiree Surf Club) battling it out for the top prize, with Oscar securing the win ahead of Reuben, Skye Brock (North Shore Surf Club) and younger brother Finn Morgan (Aberdeen Surf Club). This young age groups always provides great entertainment to the parents and spectators, congratulations to you all for pulling on the competitors vests. Keep up the good work, we can see massive improvements on your abilities, young shredders !
Under 12
1 Oscar Morgan (ASC)
2 Reuben Milbourne (TSC)
3 Skye Brock (NSSC)
4 Finn Morgan (ASC)
Erin Paterson (Belhaven Surf Club) surfed her way to victory in the Under 14 Girls final with some smart surfing and excellent wave selection besting Maya Kobedza (Sandend Surf Club) into 2nd, Scarlett Heddle (North Shore Surf Club) 3rd and Skye Brock (North Shore Surf Club) into 4th. It really is great to see the high numbers in young female athletes entering our events in Scotland. Well done to you all and keep up the good work.
Under 14 Girls
1 Erin Paterson (BHSC)
2 Maya Kobedza (SSC)
3 Scarlette Heddle (NSSC)
4 Skye Brock (NSSC)
Kai Cruickshank (Broch Surf Club) kicked off the Under 14 Boys by dropping a massive 6.5 in the early seconds of the Under 14 Boys final placing early pressure on his fellow finalists. Followed up with some solid backup scores Kai kept solid distance on his competitors with smart heat strategy to secure the win over Joel Christopherson (Belhaven Surf Club), Aidan Innes (Broch Surf Club) and reigning champion Sebastian Ballantyne (Broch Surf Club).
Under 14 Boys
1 Kai Cruickshank (BSC)
2 Joel Cristopherson (BHSC)
3 Aidan Innes (BSC)
4 Sebastian Ballantyne (BSC)
The U16 Girls final was a relatively slow affair with (Broch Surf Clubs) Lola Mitchell & Callie Cruickshank keeping busier than the (Belhaven Surf Club) competitors Erin Paterson (BHSC) and Rae Hood BSC. A relatively slow and starved heat for waves and limited scoring potential made for a nail biting finish with Callie Cruickshank edging it over Lola Mitchell for the win with Erin Paterson (Belhaven Surf Club in 3rd and Rae Hood (Belhaven Surf Club in 4th).
Under 16 Girls
1 Callie Cruickshank (BSC)
2 Lola Mitchell (BSC)
3 Erin Paterson (BHSC)
4 Rae Hood (BHSC)
With the swell energy and size decreasing, Gabriel Noble (Broch Surf Club) opted for a board swap for his Under 16 boys final choosing a flatter, fuller volume design which would prove to be a good tactical move. Gabe started strong with great wave choice blasting some long walls with some high performance turns in the tight pockets. Tactical board selection, high level surfing and excellent wave selection proved too much for the others and Gabriel deservedly took the win over Tam Hood (Belhaven Surf Club), Kai Cruickshank (Broch Surf Club) in 3rd and Ansel Parkin (Belhaven Surf Club) in 4th.
U16 Boys
1 Gabriel Noble (BSC)
2 Tam Hood (BHSC)
3 Kai Cruickshank (BSC)
4 Ansel Parkin (BHSC)
In the Under 18 Girls Final Callie Cruickshank (Broch Surf Club) stayed busy with a 12 wave count in the 20 minute final. Learning from her earlier slow Under 16 Final Callie showed determination to create scores in the deteriorating conditions. Steadily building score after score Callie was able to see out the Under 18 Girls final with the win to make it an impressive Under 16 & Under 18 National Champion double. Beatrix Brown (Algarve Surf Club) made an interference mistake in the latter stages of the final dropping her into 3rd place with Lola Mitchell (Broch Surf Club) 2nd and Athena Santoris (EBSC) 4th
Under 18 Girls
1 Callie Cruickshank (BSC)
2 Lola Mitchell (BSC)
3 Beatrix Brown (ASC)
4 Athena Santoris (EBSC)
It was Broch Surf Clubs Israel Noble who took the Under 18 boys win, securing the Scottish junior National title ahead of Ansel Parkin, Tam Hood and Rudi Johnston (all of Belhaven Surf Club). Israel showed great agility throughout the event and in the U18 final where his vertical approach and high risk turns were the difference between himself and the other competitors. It was an extremely tight final with less than 1 point separating the top 3 but Israel did enough to hold out for the win. It made for a great day for the Noble clan with brother Gabriel also picking up the Under 16 Boys Title.
U18 Boys
1 Israel Noble (BSC)
2 Ansel Parkin (BHSC)
3 Tam Hood (BHSC)
4 Rudi Johnston (BHSC)
A massive thank you from Scottish Surfing & Broch Surf Club and to all who supported this event to make it a massive success.
Fat Man Skinny Camera, Duncan McLachlan and Malcolm Anderson for the photos.
Malcolm Anderson for the video edit
ST Tyres
Moira Wharton Driving School
Broch Skate Club
Jamie Bain Properties
The Gift Boutique
Blackhouse Watersports
Lost Shore Resort
Far Cabinet Makers
National Lottery Scotland – Awards for All
Far Cabinet Makers
Well done to all the competitors and congratulations to all the newly crowned National Junior Champions.
