UstA Surf Team rode the waves at the Lowlands Longboarding Competition
The UStA Surf Team represented St. Andrews at the Lowlands Longboarding Competition at Belhaven Bay in Dunbar last month. Amber Cowans securing 2nd place in the Women’s Division.
12 members of the Surf Club headed down to Dunbar for the Lowlands Longboarding Competition on September 16th, leaving St Andrews in the wee hours. The team consisted of the fierce Amber Cowans, Callum Ainge, Ollie Meek, Jacob Timney, Alice Perry, Rachel Kimbell-Jack, and Will Holmes! The competition was organised by the Scottish Surf Federation (SSF) and was open to any Scottish resident to ride a longboard (9ft+). The surf conditions were ideal with decently sized waves for the East Coast and the usual strong winds.
The team spent the day on the blustery beach, competing against long boarders from all over Scotland. Amber Cowans stole 2nd place in the women’s division and Ollie Meek made it to the men’s semi-finals! Superb performance from our team all around.
Amber Cowans is PhD student in Ecology at the University. Having grown up in Cornwall, she started surfing at the age of seven and has been a member of the UStA Surf Club for two years. She has also competed in the Scottish University Championships and was placed 4th in 2021 and 2nd in 2022 in the Women’s Division. This was her first time competing in a non-university event. There were three participants from St Andrews in the Women’s Division and Amber was placed 2nd in the finals. As per Amber, “It was great to go as a university club to a competition open to all students and non-students alike”.
Ollie Meek is a fourth year, French and Spanish student and is a part of the committee as a Charity Officer, having been in the club since his first year. He started surfing at the age of 10 in Cornwall, but got hooked onto it when he was 16 years old. He was previously a part of the Scottish University Championships in Aberdeen. At the Lowlands Competition, Ollie competed in the Open Men’s competition and got into the semi-finals.
In his role as Charity Officer, Ollie works very closely with the Wave Project and recommends anyone who loves being at sea to volunteer, “It is a really special community of locals and students who help out with local children struggling with their mental health and the positive impact is so visible. It’s been such a valuable part of my time at St Andrews and absolutely no surfing experience is necessary!”
This was the club’s first tournament of the academic year and what an amazing way to start!