The talented teenager scoops the Junior, Senior and Lowland titles on 24 May at Pease Bay.

Words: Beth Franklin Photos: Malcolm Anderson

A Scottish teen has become the first person to ever claim three title wins at the Scottish Longboard Championships.

Ansel Parkin became the first person ever to come in first for the men’s category, as well as in the under 18’s and Lowland category.

The 16-year-old said he was “over the moon” to take home the win in the three categories.

“I came into the competition this morning trying to do my best in all my categories, I knew I could do okay but didn’t think I would be able to do this,” he said.

“The competition was great this year, it was so tight with all the other competitors, most of the heats were super close especially in the finals.”

Ansel said he found his love of longboarding after joining Belhaven Surf Club, and was inspired by Sam Christopherson, who co-runs the club and owns local surf school – Coast to Coast.

“A couple years ago I joined a surf club started by Sam, so he helped me get good at shortboarding and he did a lot of longboarding so he inspired me to get into it,” he said.

Hannah Sharp secured the Scottish Women National Champion title.
Hannah Sharp secured the Scottish Women National Champion title.

Belhaven Surf Club had multiple surfers entered in each category including Hannah Sharp who secured the Scottish Women National Champion title.

Speaking on her win, Hannah said: “It feels really good, it’s been a really fun competition.”

“You never really know, I got a couple of okay waves, then I got a good one, it was quite a hard heat as the waves were inconsistent as times,” she said.

“The heat was quite close too so anything could’ve happened. I tried not to think about it too much in the water.”

She added that the inspiration behind longboarding was being able to surf every kind of condition.

“I want to be good at shortboarding, I want to be good at longboarding, I want to just have fun in the water and surf the best board for the day, rather than doing one thing,” she continued.

Sam Christopherson spoke on the clubs success saying it “really opens up doors” for our surfers

“With Ansel and Hannah they get to represent Scotland at the European championships,” he said.

Sam Christopherson.
Sam Christopherson.

“Scottish Surfing is expanding to support more than just shortboarding in Scotland, and it’s great because we have such a strong range of multi-disciplined surfers here.”

The club, which relaunched in 2021, has scouted the best junior surfers on the South East Coast and trained them in shortboarding and longboarding.

He added that the club is working to inspire a generation of water men and women rather than surfers.

“Both styles of surfing feed into one another, if you can do a turn on a longboard you can really turn on a shortboard, with longboarding you get the flow and artistry that comes with that too.”

The annual event ran at Pease Bay in East Lothian from May 24 to 25.

Paul Stark, CEO of Scottish Surfing, said the contest demonstrated the “strong talent” Scotland has to offer.

“The Scottish National and Lowland Longboard Championships is a key event in the calendar, and this weekend highlights just how important it is.

“We had a great turn out of Scotland’s best longboarders as well as the conditions to deliver an outstanding championships,” he said.

“In Scotland we have some of the best talent in the world, and at Scottish Surfing we are working to support every discipline of the sport, from shortboarding to longboarding to bodyboarding.”

Paul continued: “Special thanks to our main sponsor Finisterre and to our other supporters including Coast to Coast Surf School, Lockett Brothers, Vision Events and Lost Shore Surf Resort.”

Full Event Results

Under 18 Girls

  1. Sylvie Christopherson (BHSC) – National Champion
  2. Erin Paterson (BHSC)
  3. Rosie Moore (BHSC)

Under 18 Boys

  1. Ansel Parkin (BHSC) – National Champion
  2. Charlie Pugh (BHSC)
  3. Rudi Johnston-Forrest (BHSC)
  4. Alfie Tully (EBSC)

National Women

  1. Hannah Sharp (BHSC) – National Champion
  2. Iona Turner (BHSC)
  3. Elspeth McIntosh
  4. Phoebe Strachan (NSSC)

National Men

  1. Ansel Parkin (BHSC) – National Champion
  2. Sam Christopherson (BHSC)
  3. Finn Clark (EBSC)
  4. Mark Boyd (NSSC)

Lowland Women

  1. Emily Grimes
  2. Hannah Sharp (BHSC)
  3. Iona Turner (BHSC)
  4. Phoebe Strachan (NSSC)

Lowland Men

  1. Ansel Parkin (BHSC)
  2. Sam Christopherson (BHSC)
  3. Finn Clark (EBSC)
  4. Gonzalo Zapater

Past Championships

YearChampionsClubs
2024Craig McLachlan(NSSC)
2023Craig McLachlan(NSSC)
2022Mark Boyd(NSSC)
2021Craig McLachlan(NSSC)
2020N/A(Covid-19 Pandemic)
2019Mark Boyd(NSSC)
2018Mark Boyd(NSSC)
2017George Watt(BSC)
2016Mark Cameron(BSC)
2015Chris Noble(NSSC)
2014Chris Noble(CBR)
2013Chris Noble(CBR)
2012Mark Cameron(BSC)
2011Chris Noble(CBR)
2010Mark Cameron(BSC)
2009Mark Cameron(BSC)
2008Mark Cameron(BSC)
2007Chris Noble(CBR)
2006Mark Cameron(BSC)
2005Chris Noble(CBR)
2004N/A
2003N/A
2002N/A
2001N/A
2000N/A
1999Mark Cameron(BSC)
1998Iain Masson(BSC)
1997Iain Masson(BSC)
1996Iain Masson(BSC)
1995Malcolm Findlay(BSC)
1994Neil Harris
1993Iain Masson(BSC)
1992Iain Masson(BSC)
1991Iain Masson(BSC)
1990Iain Masson(BSC)
1989Stephen Clelland
1988Peter Strachan(BSC)
1987Ian McKay(SSC)
1986Malcolm Findlay(FSC)
1985Ian McKay(SSC)
1984Ian McKay(SSC)
1983Ian McKay(SSC)
1982Malcolm Findlay(FSC)
1981Eric Davies
1980Eric Davies
1979Ian McKay(ESC)
1978Malcolm Findlay(FSC)
1977Malcolm Findlay(FSC)
1976Bill Batten(ESC)
1975Andy Bennetts(ESC)
1974Bill Batten(ESC)
1973Bill Batten(ESC)

Past Championships

YearChampionsClubs
2024Phoebe Strachan (NSSC)
2023Phoebe Strachan (NSSC)
2022Phoebe Strachan (NSSC)
2021 Phoebe Strachan (NSSC)
2020 N/A (Covid-19 Pandemic)
2019Iona McLachlan (NSSC)
2018Phoebe Strachan (NSSC)
2017Megan Mackay (MFSR)
2016 Shoana Blackadder (NSSC)
2015Shoana Blackadder (NSSC)
2014Shoana Blackadder (CBR)
2013Shoana Blackadder (CBR)
2012Shoana Blackadder(CBR)
2011Dianne Ripoll
2010Jill Noble(BSC)
2009Shoana Blackadder(CBR)
2008Sheila Finlayson(CBR)
2007Jill Noble(BSC)
2006Angie Fraser(BHSC)
2005Jill Noble(BSC)
2004N/A
2003N/A
2002N/A
2001N/A
2000N/A
1999N/A
1998Fiona Logan
1997N/A
1996Jill Noble(BSC)
1995Jill Noble(BSC)
1994Sheila Finlayson(NSSC)
1993Sheila Finlayson(NSSC)
1992Sheila Finlayson(NSSC)
1991Sheila Finlayson(NSSC)
1990Sheila Finlayson(NSSC)
1989Sheila Finlayson(NSSC)
1988Sheila Finlayson(NSSC)
1987Barbara Wilson
1986Sheila Finlayson(NSSC)
1985Carol Wilson
1984Carol Wilson
1983N/A
1982N/A
1981Marianne Bearicke
1980N/A
1979N/A
1978Joyce Campbell