The atmosphere at Lost Shore Surf Resort, Edinburgh was electric this weekend as surfers, fans and industry figures gathered for the second edition of the Hi-Land Fling, Scotland’s premier inland surf competition. This prestigious event invited 23 of Europe’s top surfers to compete on world-class waves rolling through Europe’s largest wave pool in front of a packed crowd lining the lagoon. The event delivered high performance surfing and a festival atmosphere from start to finish.
At the centre of the action was Scottish standout Craig McLachlan, whose composed and technically sharp performances secured him top honours in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. McLachlan impressed judges throughout the competition with a combination of deep barrel riding, powerful carving turns and confident aerial manoeuvres that consistently earned some of the highest scores of the event.
The Hi-Land Fling attracted an international field of elite surfers, turning the spotlight firmly onto Scotland’s growing surf scene. Competitors pushed the limits on Lost Shore’s advanced wave settings, with the contest format rewarding creativity, precision and progression. Despite fierce competition from several experienced European surfers, McLachlan remained calm under pressure and delivered when it mattered most in the final rounds.
McLachlan’s victory was celebrated as a significant moment for Scottish surfing, reinforcing his reputation as one of the country’s leading competitive surfers. With the controlled conditions at Lost Shore allowing surfers to push performance levels higher than ever before in Scotland, the event offered the perfect stage for McLachlan to showcase his ability under pressure.
Another major talking point throughout the weekend was the appearance of Ben Larg, widely regarded as one of the UK’s most exciting surfing talents. The Tiree-born surfer, known internationally for his achievements in big-wave surfing, drew huge interest from spectators and fellow competitors alike. Although best known for tackling massive Atlantic swells and representing Scotland on the global big-wave scene, Larg adapted impressively to the high-performance environment of the wave pool.
Fans gathered in large numbers to watch Larg’s sessions, with many seeing him as an inspirational figure for the next generation of Scottish surfers. His presence added prestige to the event and highlighted the growing international recognition of Scottish surfing talent. Larg’s involvement also underlined the diversity within the sport in Scotland, where athletes are now succeeding across competitive, high-performance and big-wave disciplines.
Beyond the contest itself, the Hi-Land Fling created a festival atmosphere throughout the weekend, featuring live music, surf culture events, food vendors and community activities around the resort. Organisers praised the standard of surfing and the enthusiastic turnout, describing the event as another major step forward for surfing in Scotland.
With Craig McLachlan lifting the trophy and Ben Larg helping inspire crowds both in and out of the water, the Hi-Land Fling demonstrated that Scottish surfing continues to build momentum on both a national and international stage.
Photos – Malcolm Anderson.
